The contemporary world is rife with digital thieves. They’re penetrating the complicated data structures of huge credit monitoring companies like Equifax, scooping up the personal information of millions of people. They’re releasing sensitive customer data to the public from discreet businesses like Ashley Madison.
They’re watching webcam feeds of celebrities without them knowing; they’re locking down the systems of public utilities like the German railway system; they’re even managing to steal thousands of gigabytes of information directly from high-profile government entities like the CIA.
They’re also targeting small businesses exactly like your own and extorting them for thousands and thousands of dollars. When running a company, it’s vital to have a dedicated security team, equipped with the most up-to-the-minute security technology, on your side to protect you from these malicious cyberthreats. But, it’s not enough to leave security to somebody else. You and your team need to be informed as well.
5 of the Most Common Ways Hackers Infiltrate Your Network:
1) PHISHING SCAMS
You receive an email in your work inbox coming directly from a high-ranking employee with whom you’ve been working on a project. Inside is a link he needs you to click to access some “vital information,” but when you click it, it rapidly installs a host of malware on the computer, which spreads through the network and locks out everyone in the company.
Phishing scams are the oldest trick in a hacker’s book, but they’re still wildly successful. (Ever receive an email from the “Nigerian Prince” imploring you for help?) Not only that, but they’re becoming increasingly more sophisticated. Clint Crigger, a professional security penetration tester, informed Newsweek that the best messages look like they’re trying to protect the company. He went on to mention that one well-meaning system administrator even offered to post a PDF that could deliver malware on an internal server because it was called, “How to avoid a phishing attack.” How’s that for irony?
2) SOCIAL ENGINEERING
Social engineering is a type of “hacking” that uses real, well-intentioned people to carry out its schemes, rather than intricate lines of code. This is especially effective for gathering sensitive information that can later be used in another type of attack (email passwords used for phishing scams, for example). Maybe your IT person receives a call from the “secretary” of one of your clients, pretending that they’re experiencing problems with your service due to some firewall, a problem that your IT professional is more than happy to help out with. Before you know it, the caller knows the ins and outs of your entire security system, or lack thereof. Social engineers have been known to use phone company customer service departments, Facebook, and other services to gather Social Security or credit card numbers, prepare for digital robbery, and even change the passwords to your central data network security.
3) PASSWORD HACKING
You may think that your passwords are clever and complicated, filled with exclamation points and random numbers, but it’s rarely enough. With information gathered carefully from social engineering or a simple check on your employees’ social media accounts, hackers can easily use brute-force to figure out that your password is the name of the family dog, followed by your anniversary (for example). That’s if they didn’t already manage to steal your password through one of the techniques listed above.
4) FAULT INJECTION
Sophisticated hackers can scan your business’ network or software source code for weak points. Once they’re located, they can surgically attempt to crash the system through snippets of code they splice in expressly for that purpose. Different commands can do different things, whether they want to deliver a devastating virus, redirect links on your website to malicious malware, or steal and erase vast swathes of information.
5) USB-BASED MALWARE
At the last conference you attended, someone probably handed out free branded USB sticks to keep their business top of mind. Hackers will sometimes covertly slip a bunch of infected USB sticks into a company’s stash. The instant somebody tries to use one, their computer is taken over by ransomware.
So, What Can You Do About It?
It’s a scary world out there, and virtually everyone is vulnerable to digital attack. Knowing the strategies hackers deploy is half the battle. But, frankly, these techniques are constantly changing; it’s impossible to keep up by yourself.
That’s why it’s so important to utilize only the most up-to-date security solutions when protecting your business. Hackers move fast. You and your security technology need to stay one step ahead.