The cybersecurity community is on high alert. This is due to the current and latest emergence of cybersecurity risks continuing to grow resulting in massive numerous security breaches. Cyberattacks have placed company, government, individuals, and properties in constant danger.
What is troublesome is the significant shortage of specialists and analysts in cybersecurity. That makes the stakes more significant than ever. The scourge of cybercrime also threatens to shatter the community’s trust in cybersecurity.
Defending Your Company Against Possible Attacks
These possible attacks that may result in a security breach include ransomware, phishing, computer learning and artificial intelligence, blockchain, and more. It is essential to decrease the vulnerability position of your company. Note the actions you may take to build your defenses.
First, consider the dangers, challenges, and vulnerabilities of cybersecurity in your environment. The second step is to understand the cybersecurity issues as best as possible to plan a clear solution. Execute your preferred countermeasures and protections intelligently. That will help to establish protection around your most critical properties. Make sure your computer operating system like Windows 10 is properly protected from any possible attack.
It will be helpful as well to familiarize yourself with the methods that cybercriminals may use to threaten and attack your system.
Techniques Used By Cybercriminals To Breach Security
There are many ways cyber criminals use to penetrate sensitive information illegally. Here are some of the most common and latest ways hackers use to do a security breach.
1. Phishing attacks
Phishing has become becoming more sophisticated in deliberately targeting digital communications. Phishing is being used to trick people into clicking malicious links. These links will install malware or reveal sensitive data.
Workers are more aware of the risks of email phishing. They are becoming aware before they click on suspicious looking links. As this happens, hackers are raising the stakes in developing ways to complete a security breach. They now use machine learning to craft and deliver believable false messages. It is even quicker now to make recipients breach the systems and networks of their company.
Such attacks give hackers access to private accounts and steal user logins. They can also steal credit card passwords easily. Other forms of personal financial information are now also at risk.
2. Evolving Malware Tactics
It is estimated that ransomware attacks cost victims a billion of dollars per year. Hackers use technology that allows them to capture the accounts of a person or company. When this happens, cybercriminals keep all the information for ransom. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is often credited in helping fuel these attacks. This kind of currency allows ransom demands to be paid anonymously.
Companies are now developing defenses against ransomware attacks. This makes analysts think that hackers will eventually target high-profit victims and large companies which have a lot to lose when a security breach happens.
3. Cryptojacking
In other aspects, the crypto-currency trend also impacts cybersecurity. Cryptojacking means cybercriminals hijacking home or work machines to “mine” for cryptocurrency. Hackers earn money by piggybacking on someone else’s networks. Cryptocurrency mining takes enormous quantities of computer processing capacity. Cryptojacked systems can create severe performance problems for companies. It can create expensive downtime as IT workers attempt to track down and fix the problem.
4. Attacks by XSS
In recent years, XSS attacks have been one of the most commonly used forms of security breaches. Cross-Site Scripting or XSS threats are accounted for nearly 40 percent of all accounted security breaches globally in the past years.
When a cyber attacker injects a malicious script into a particular web page’s markup body, a cross-site scripting or XSS attack happens. The malicious script will then be run against the web user’s browser when an internet user accesses the infected website. That will provide the intruder with easy access to the victim’s web browser and its data.
There are different ways in which cyber attackers can use an XSS attack to penetrate an enterprise’s data security. The attacker can render screenshots of sensitive information pages and files. To get access to other logins, they could log keystrokes. Or they can use cookies to hijack the session, where the intruder gains remote access to the infected web browser. The hacker may take any behavior that might be accessible during an authenticated web session from this stage.
5. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
A cyber attacker can intercept communications between two parties. This acts as a man-in-the-middle ( MITM) attack that obtains access to information, such as logins, key dates, locations of devices, and more. In 2018, 35 percent of all vulnerability attacks were identified with MITM attempts. That makes it one of the most common forms of security breaches that companies can guard against the MITM attacks.
Tech analysts have also found flaws in 3G, 4G, and 5G wireless networks. That could be abused in man-in-the-middle attacks. Mobile devices and mobile applications are also highly at risk from MITM attacks. These mobile-based attacks pose a much larger danger to firms whose workers operate from home.
6. Cyber-Physical Attacks
The technology that has helped modernize and computerize things have also become a great risk. A significant weakness is the continuing problem of hackers affecting power supplies. It also affects transportation networks, water treatment facilities, and more.
7. IoT Attacks
The Internet of Things is getting more ubiquitous by the day. IoT covers computers and smartphones, routers, webcams, kitchen appliances, and smartwatches. Medical devices, machines for engineering, vehicles, and home surveillance systems are part of IoT.
Linked devices are useful for users. Many companies are now using them to save money by capturing massive volumes of insightful data. It can also streamline business processes. More related computers, however, suggest a greater risk and a security breach. This is rendering IoT networks to being more susceptible to cyber infections and invasions. IoT devices may cause chaos, swamp networks, or shut down critical infrastructure. That may happen if hackers get to control these interconnected devices.
Final Thoughts
Security breaches may happen anytime. Vulnerabilities found in the digital infrastructure can cause this. Flaws in companies’ defenses like poor username and lack of password rules can make a company susceptible to any possible attack. Without the use of two-factor verification and failing to educate employees can make a company weak during attacks.
It is crucial to understand that knowledge of common attacks and the latest threats can be vital in defeating cybercriminals. Encourage each employee to take part in the battle against attacks. Companies’ defenses can be strengthened from cybersecurity threats by being unified in its battle cries. It is beneficial to be always mindful of physical attributes that can strengthen defenses. Do not leave the working desk unattended, or limit access to company files. Doing this can be an excellent start in defending against any way cybercriminals can gain access to cause a data breach.
About Author
Maricar Morga worked as a marketing professional for almost a decade. She became part of the biggest real estate company/mall operator in the Philippines and handled concerts, events and community service-related activities. One of her activities became a nominee in the ICSC Asia-Pacific Shopping Center Awards 2018. Leaving her corporate job for good to pursue her dreams, she has now ventured in the path of content writing and currently writes for Softvire Australia – the leading software eCommerce company in Australia and Softvire New Zealand. A Harry Potter fan, she loves to watch animated series and movies during her spare time.
