90% of all cyber incidents begin with phishing, which is delivered mainly through deceptive emails, which trick users into clicking on malicious links and opening attachments that are also infected or even revealing your credentials and making your inbox the main entry point for attackers.
Attackers will send emails which look legitimate and mimic trusted sources like popular services, colleagues, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, Amazon, eBay etc.
And these deceptive emails use psychological manipulation or social engineering to create curiosity or urgency to prompt your action being taken on the email.
Users are then lured into clicking links that lead to fake login pages like credential phishing, downloading malware, ransomware or spyware or even transfer money like through a business email compromise.
Even a small percentage of employees that fall for a phishing attempt like even 4 % of employees in a large organization can result in significant data breaches, which highlights the vulnerability of human factors in security.
Always think before you click and never click on or download links or open attachments that you're unsure of and use multi factor authentication which adds a crucial layer of security beyond just passwords and key software updated and keep servers patched and secure.
Level 7 in cyber security is the Application Layer or Layer 7 of the OSI model, which is the user facing part where applications like web browsers interact with work services like HTTP, FTP.
Layer 7 in cybersecurity also describes advanced, postgraduate level cybersecurity qualifications like a Level 7 Diploma, which focuses on deep expertise in security management as well as forensics and even ethical hacking for leadership roles.
For the application layer, the Layer 7 in cybersecurity is the topmost layer of the OSI model, the application layer, and serves as the interface for communication between users or processes and the network.
It also provides specific services like HTTP requests, file transfer and also email.
Level 7 in cybersecurity is the highest layer in cybersecurity, which directly supports end user applications and handles data formatting for user facing software.
It also includes the protocols of HTTP, SMTP and FTP, which manage file transfers, email and web browsing.
Layer 7 attacks like sophisticated DDoS or application level exploits also target these user facing protocols, which are distinct from network level attacks or layers 3/4.
Some models also define 7 layers of defense, from access control and network security to the human layer or awareness and training and business continuity.
Cybersecurity helps to protect computers, networks, programs, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, and damage by implementing security measures, technologies, and processes to defend against threats like malware, phishing, and ransomware, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information for individuals and organizations.
Cybersecurity also involves a multi-layered approach including network security, application security, incident response, and educating users on safe practices to maintain trust and business continuity in an increasingly digital world.