Known vs Unknown

In the realm of cyber security, threats can be classified as known or unknown based on their familiarity and the level of awareness about them. Understanding the difference between these two types of threats is essential for effectively implementing security measures and mitigating potential risks.

Known Threats

Known threats are those that have been identified, studied, and documented by the security community. They are the types of threats that security vendors have had the opportunity to analyze and develop protective measures against. These threats include:

To defend against known threats, organizations should keep their security software, operating systems, and applications up-to-date. Regularly patching vulnerabilities, training employees to recognize phishing scams, and following best practices for secure configurations can help protect against these known risks.

Unknown Threats

Unknown threats are those that have not yet been identified or documented by the security community. They represent a greater challenge to organizations due to their unpredictable nature and the lack of available defense mechanisms. Examples of unknown threats include:

Defending against unknown threats requires a proactive approach. Incorporating threat intelligence, network monitoring, and behavior-based anomaly detection can help organizations identify potential threats before they cause damage. Additionally, following the principle of least privilege, segmenting networks, and maintaining strong data encryption can reduce the impact of unknown threats when they are discovered.

In conclusion, understanding the difference between known and unknown threats is crucial for implementing effective cyber security measures. By staying informed about the latest threats and investing in the right security tools and practices to tackle both known and unknown risks, organizations can better protect their networks, systems, and data from cyber attacks.