External Threats to Digital Systems and Data Security
External Threats to Digital Systems
External threats are attacks that originate from outside an organisation. Unlike internal threats, which involve employees or others with legitimate access, external threats typically come from individuals or groups with no authorised access to the organisation's systems whatsoever.
They range from highly technical attacks targeting software and networks, to more human-focused approaches that exploit trust and psychology. Organisations need to be aware of all of them.
Unauthorised Access / Hacking
A black hat hacker is someone who breaks into computer systems without permission, purely for personal gain, malice, or criminal intent. They actively seek out vulnerabilities — such as weak passwords, unpatched software, or poorly configured networks — to exploit for unauthorised access. One common method is a brute force attack, where automated software systematically tries every possible password combination until it finds the correct one.
Example: A hacker uses brute force software to crack a weak admin password and gains access to a company's customer database.
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