Understanding the Cyber Security Landscape
Whether you’re looking to protect your business or you’re looking to learn more about cyber security, understanding the cyber security landscape is important. From supply chain attacks to cloud runtime environments, there are many threats to your company, and a few tips to help protect you.
Mobile devices are increasingly being targeted by hackers
Increasingly, mobile devices are being targeted by hackers, who exploit the software and hardware vulnerabilities present in these systems. This enables them to steal personal data, disable safety features, and even sell stolen data. In addition to this, these attacks can also rob the user of his or her device.
The most common attack vectors include Bluetooth, WiFi, and GSM. These technologies allow attackers to exploit the vulnerabilities of the communication modes.
Another popular method involves installing rogue applications without the user’s knowledge. The applications are often advertised as performing advertised functions, but in reality they can be malicious. They can also leak data.
Botnet attacks
Throughout history, botnets have been used in various cyberattacks. They have been utilized for distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, network attacks, financial crimes, and more.
Botnets are composed of malware-infected computers and devices. They can be remotely controlled by hackers. They can also be used for data theft. These threats can be hard to stop once they have taken root in a user’s device.
A good way to protect against these threats is to adopt cybersecurity best practices. This includes employee awareness training and strong passwords. It also means installing new devices with solid security settings.
Adversarial learning
Using machine learning algorithms to identify and prevent threats is a growing concern in the cybersecurity domain. In the past decade, a number of companies have invested in machine learning. These companies include Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. However, they all have a common challenge: how to protect these systems against adversarial attacks.
The best defense against adversarial attacks is a multi-tiered approach that incorporates defences from multiple perspectives. A zero-trust security model will prevent insiders from compromising your system, while network security protocols will thwart malicious traffic.
A new generation of attack methodologies requires the adaptation of existing defence frameworks. This is why it is important to have a clear roadmap for the future.
Unprotected cloud runtime environments
Increasingly, threat actors are targeting unprotected cloud runtime environments in the cyber security landscape. They often use information stealers and malware to compromise victims. They are also leveraging misconfigurations to gain access to networks.
As businesses shift toward the cloud, the need to protect sensitive data and systems has become more complex. A comprehensive security solution can protect against an ever-evolving array of threats.
A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) provides an enhanced DLP capability for cloud environments. It can detect potential compliance violations, alert IT teams, and prevent the installation of malware. Its granular controls are based on device, job function, and location. The platform can also provide visibility into the relationship between assets.
Phishing scams
Despite all the research and solutions being released, phishing scams are still a threat in the cyber security landscape. It’s important for companies to educate employees on identifying and reporting suspicious emails and websites.
Scammers will create fraudulent emails that appear to be from a trustworthy person or organization. The goal is to get the recipient to click on the link and divulge their credentials. Then, the attacker can access multiple company accounts.
The spear phishing attack is a highly effective form of phishing that targets specific people. The email includes details to make it credible. The email can contain embedded Excel spreadsheets. These spreadsheets look and act like a normal HTML attachment. However, they’re difficult to analyze.
Supply chain attacks
Using a supply chain attack, an attacker can access an organization’s network undetected. This can result in a massive loss of corporate revenue and brand reputation. Luckily, there are ways to detect these attacks and prevent them from occurring.
One of the most important things an organization can do to protect itself from these threats is to perform an internal risk assessment. It is also a good idea to take a closer look at your suppliers and assess their cybersecurity posture. If the vendor has been targeted in the past, you may want to take additional steps to protect yourself.
Ransomware
Regardless of the security measures an organisation takes, ransomware is a threat that will persist. This is why it is important to keep your employees informed on the latest ransomware and maintain a regular backup schedule.
In addition, your organisation needs to take the time to learn more about ransomware. This will help you ensure that you respond quickly when an attack occurs. You need to have access to all of the information about the incident in order to conduct a thorough root-cause analysis. This will identify all the systems that were affected.
Gregory Towns, a seasoned Cyber Security enthusiast and writer, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the digital security realm. With a background in Ethical Hacking and a passion for educating others, Gregory’s articles offer insightful and practical solutions for navigating the complex world of cyber threats.