["< sod > computer system threats come in many different forms. some of the most common threats today are software attacks, theft of intellectual property, identity theft, theft of equipment or information, sabotage, and information extortion. most people have experienced software attacks of some sort. viruse < ref > { { cite book | title = cissp study guide | last = stewart | first = james | publisher = john wiley & sons, inc | year = 2012 | isbn = 978 - 1 - 118 - 31417 - 3 | location = canada | pages = 255 - 257 | via = online psu course resource, ebl reader } } < / ref > s, worms, phishing attacks, and trojan horses are a few common examples of software attacks. the theft of intellectual property has also been an extensive issue for many businesses in the it field. intellectual property is the ownership of property usually consisting of some form of protection. theft of software is probably the most common in it businesses today. identity theft is the attempt to act as someone else usually to obtain that person's personal information or to take advantage of their access to vital information. theft of equipment or information is becoming more prevalent today due to the fact that most devices today are mobile. cell phones are prone to theft and have also become far more desirable as the amount of data capacity increases. sabotage usually consists of the destruction of an organization ′ s website in an attempt to cause loss of confidence to its customers. information extortion consists of theft of a company ′ s property or information as an attempt to receive a payment in exchange for returning the information or property back to its owner. there are many ways to help protect yourself from some of these attacks but one of the most functional precautions is user carefulness. < eod > < sod > information security threats come in many different forms. some of the most common threats today are software attacks, theft of intellectual property, identity theft, theft of equipment or information, sabotage, and information extortion. most people have experienced software attacks of some sort. [ [ computer virus | viruses ] ], < ref > { { cite book | title = cissp study guide | last = stewart | first = james | publisher = john wiley & sons, inc | year = 2012 | isbn = 978 - 1 - 118 - 31417 - 3 | location = canada | pages = 255 - 257 | via = online online psu course resource, ebl reader } } < / ref > [ [ computer worm | worms ] ], [ [ phishing | phishing attacks ] ], and [ [ trojan horse ( computing ) | trojan horses ] ] are a few common examples of software attacks. the [ [ intellectual property infringement | theft of intellectual property ] ] has also been an extensive issue for many businesses in the it field. [ [ identity theft ] ] is the attempt to act as someone else usually to obtain that person's personal information or to take advantage of their access to vital information. theft of equipment or information is becoming more prevalent today due to the fact that most devices today are mobile. { { citation needed | date = october 2016 } } [ [ mobile phone | cell phones ] ] are prone to theft, and have also become far more desirable as the amount of data capacity increases. { { citation needed | date = october 2016 } } [ [ sabotage ] ] usually consists of the destruction of an organization ′ s [ [ website ] ] in an attempt to cause loss of confidence on the part of its customers. information extortion consists of theft of a company ′ s property or information as an attempt to receive a payment in exchange for returning the information or property back to its owner, as with [ [ ransomware ] ]. there are many ways to help protect yourself from some of these attacks but one of the most functional precautions is user carefulness. { { citation needed | date = october 2016 } } < eod >"]