The only way to truly outsmart a cybercriminal is to start thinking exactly like one. With the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape and constant news reports of breaches, we all need to up our cybersecurity game. Attacking threat actors with a layered defense strategy is one of the only ways to win the ongoing battle and keep them at bay. Essentially, this strategy is known as “Defense in Depth” (DiD), which leverages multiple security measures to protect an organization’s assets.
NIST includes countermeasures in a layered way to achieve the security objectives of the organization. The methodology entails a stack of diverse security technologies that can cover all types of cyber threats and catch those that aren’t caught by others; sort of like a double-lock door. So, if a cybercriminal were to enter through one door, there would be another locked door right behind that traps them and doesn’t allow them to get any further.
The truth is no one defense measure can completely protect a business from the threat landscape, and that is why combining proactive strategies is the only appropriate approach.
To think like a hacker, you need to start by familiarizing yourself with what the most common attacks are right now.
These Are the Most Common Cyber Attacks
1. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software which threatens to publish the victim’s data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks are typically carried out using a Trojan that is disguised as a legitimate file that the user is tricked into downloading or opening when it arrives as an email attachment. Failure to pay on time can lead to data leaks or permanent data loss.
2. Phishing Attacks
Phishing has always been one of the most common cyber-attacks used to obtain sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details from unsuspecting targets. Threat actors successfully pose as a trusted source or contact of their victims and trick them into clicking on a malicious link or downloading a spam file sent over email, text messages, phone calls, or social media.
3. Cloud Jacking
The cloud is a common place where businesses store their data and that is why cloud jacking has become a very serious threat to SMBs. Cloud jacking/hijacking involves taking advantage of vulnerabilities that exist in the cloud with the goal of stealing account holder information and gaining access to their server. These attacks are executed by injecting malicious code into third-party cloud libraries or injecting codes directly to the cloud platforms.
4. Internal Threats
Some of the most dangerous people could very well be right in your organization. Whether it’s a current or former employee, a vendor, or a partner who has access to sensitive business data. Because it is an attack from within the business, it is harder to detect.
5. Denial-of-Service Attacks
These attacks are common and easy to carry out. When DoS or DDoS attacks happen, hackers flood the targeted system with multiple data requests, causing it to slow down or crash.
A DoS attack is easy to carry out and it is meant to cause a disruption in web services. If there are any essential business processes over the Internet, then they can cease to function. The hacker(s) uses many unique IP addresses to flood the victim’s network from different sources. While it is impossible to stop the attack, it is very difficult to figure out what is legitimate user traffic from attack traffic.
6. A.I. & M.L. Attacks
Artificial intelligence (AI) attacks involve machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions and (ML) is two trending topics within the IT world for their path-breaking applications. However, AI and ML help hackers are more efficient in developing an in-depth understanding of how businesses guard against cyberattacks.
7. IoT Attacks
Due to the lack of human intervention and inadequate legislation, IoT Attacks have become a favorite for cybercriminals. With the increasing number of unsecured devices connected to corporate networks, hackers can infect those devices with malware and turn them into botnets that search access points for valid credentials which they can use to break into a network.
8. Application Attacks
Many web applications have vulnerabilities that hackers can penetrate to access databases and sensitive data. These are targets especially since they contain sensitive data, like banking details and private client information.
9. Deepfakes
A deep fake is a cyberthreat that uses artificial intelligence to manipulate or generate audio/video content, mainly of people’s faces and body to deceive end users into believing something untrue.
Leverage DiD For Your GTA Business
Your business needs a robust DiD strategy, to keep cyberthreats away. It is essentialayering multiple defensive methods, like firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, endpoint detection and response (EDR), network segmentation, etc., to build a security fortress that’s hard to crack.
Source:
- Statista
