The internet can be a dangerous place, and many of its users have already either heard about the things that can happen or had them happen to them, personally. The dangers are many, from viruses and malware to hackers, stealing data, and selling your private information.
Sometimes, the ones that are collecting and selling your info aren’t hackers at all, but your own ISP. The point here is that many dangers wait for you online, which is why you need to learn about them and be ready, instead of simply hoping that you won’t be affected by them. So, let’s talk about exploits today. Especially Windows exploits.
What are exploits?
Well, by the definition, they are programs that can be used to modify the targeted system. They often target some vulnerability that they managed to find, or perhaps a bug that they discovered while scanning the system. Of course, the system’s creator doesn’t realize they have a bug or a flaw, otherwise, they’d probably patch it up.
The exploits can come in several different forms, like a malicious software, a collection of data, or a string of commands. They’re designed to, well, exploit a weakness and that way gain access to the system for the attacker that sent them in the first place. This makes changing the way the system works much easier. Exploits like the ones mentioned, including many others, are quite commonly found in Windows devices.
Why are they a threat?
Exploits are a threat, and of that, there is no doubt. They’re specially made for the purpose of breaking into systems by finding flaws and taking advantage of them. They’re part of the every cyber attacker’s arsenal, and for good reason, since they’re very useful in their own right. Hackers are often using them for many illegal actions, like:
- Executing security and privacy breaches
- Gaining the privileges of administrator on the infected device
- Steal victim’s identity, files, and other data
- Infect the already breached device with malware
- Make the device a part of a botnet
- Use the device for harvesting resources
- Disable the victim’s entire system
And of course, these actions are only a very simplified tip of the iceberg when it comes to what it can be done to the victim and their device. Mostly, it depends on the hacker’s goal, as well as their imagination.
The attacks themselves are often done in secret, where the stealth is the hacker’s best option, as well as the greatest advantage. No one expects to find you in their system, so they probably won’t look for you, unless you make too much noise.
Hackers also don’t tend to share the vulnerable systems, but instead, they try to infiltrate as many of them as they can. Attacks like these can only be prevented if the system flaws are discovered and fixed, which is something that only the author of the system can do.
How to protect your devices?
Of course, there are several methods of protection that you can go for, so let’s see what they are:
Updating the operating system
Your operating system needs to be as perfect as possible, which is why Windows always has some new updates for you and asks you to restart your device every once in a while. The perfect system doesn’t exist, and there’s always something new that must be fixed, otherwise, the flaw might be found and used to harm you. Basically, patches and updates are fixing your system and reducing the chance of falling victim to exploits.
Update the security software
As the new viruses, malware, exploits, and similar threats are being discovered every day, while the previously discovered ones are getting perfected, the security software developers seem to have their hands full. They’re always making and testing new fixes and patches for the new threats, and it’s their goal to close as many vulnerabilities as they can.
Update your apps as well
App developers, just like the ones that are making and fixing operating systems, always scan for flaws in their systems as well. It’s not profitable to sell vulnerable apps, so it’s in their best interest to fix any and all flaws as soon as they can.
Don’t visit shady websites
Malware is often found on adult websites, and if your system picks it up, you might end up with a lot of problems, since there’s no telling what it can do to it. It’s best to simply don’t take that risk.
Be careful what you click on
A very well-known form of cyber attacks is an email attack. Basically, the hackers pretend to be someone or something who you might trust just enough to open that little attachment on the side. When you download it, it asks for lowering defenses in order to fully open, and if you do that, it’s done, and your system is infected.
Use the VPN
VPNs are experts when it comes to protecting you from both, online threats, as well as prying eyes. Many of them, like TorGuard, for example, are very secure and safe. They can protect you from malicious codes, exploit attacks, hide your IP, encrypt your content and much more.
TorGuard is the best security VPN!
TorGuard is a great choice when it comes to your online security, and it can protect you from any sort of attack from the internet. Through TorGuard, every one of yours, of your family’s, browsing sessions will be as safe as it can get.
It has a database off many websites that are known to be malicious. It will block all of those attacks, and the first step is informing the user of the dangers of the website they’re trying to visit. It’s user’s choice if they want to block the website or not, but we recommend doing it, as will TorGuard itself. After that, the database that the VPN uses will update itself, all for the purpose of protecting you and the other users from getting infected.
There are many features that professional VPNs like TorGuard are offering, and you can learn even more by going to their website. The prices are very low for everything that it offers, and if you like the offer, we recommend getting it as soon as you can. Hopefully, you now know a bit more than you used to about the threats online, and how to protect yourself. It’s better to do it in advance since you never know if you yourself might fall victim to a hacking attack.
