The Six Types of Cyberattacks You’re Most Likely to Face

Do you know what the most common types of cyberattacks are? If you’re not sure, you’re not alone: Many people don’t know the different types of cyberthreats that are out there. But as more and more businesses move their operations online, it’s important to have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect yourself against cybercriminals.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common cyberattacks and explain how you can defend yourself against them. To learn more, check out EC-Council’s Certified Secure Computer User (C|SCU) certification, which is designed to teach you about the types of cyberattacks that you’re most likely to encounter. The C|SCU course covers a wide range of security topics, from avoiding identity theft to recognizing social engineering tactics.

1. Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are one of the most common types of cyberattacks. These occur when cybercriminals send emails that appear to be legitimate but are actually designed to manipulate the recipient into providing sensitive information, clicking on a malicious link, or downloading a malicious attachment.

Read More: EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA v10)

Attackers can successfully pull off a phishing attack by sending a message that contains an urgent request for help, which tricks users into clicking on a link that will supposedly provide additional details or direct them to the correct location. Phishers may also execute attacks by creating websites that look extremely similar to legitimate ones; if a user isn’t paying close attention, it can be easy to mistake the fake website for the real one.

2. Social Engineering Attacks

Social engineering attacks are another common form of cyberattack. Social engineering techniques attempt to trick individuals into providing sensitive information to an attacker or enabling the attacker to use their computer for the attacker’s purposes without the user’s knowledge.

This kind of attack requires not just technical knowledge but also a certain level of social skills on the part of the attacker. Unlike most other cybercrime methods, social engineering relies almost entirely on human interaction. Social engineering is also one of the most challenging types of cyberattacks to prevent because it’s not always easy to identify that an attack is taking place.

3. Ransomware Attacks

A ransomware attack starts when hackers take control of a target’s computer and encrypt the files stored on it. The attacker then demands that the target pay a ransom to decrypt the files, usually in the form of an untraceable means of payment, such as Bitcoin.

This type of cyberattack is typically carried out using Trojans or another type of malware spread using phishing emails or social engineering techniques. Ransomware costs businesses more than $75 billion per year, according to PurpleSec’s (2021) ransomware statistics report.

4. Malware and Virus Attacks

Cybercriminals often attempt to install malware or a virus on a target’s computer to gain access to it and use it for their own purposes—for example, launching an attack against another machine or network. According to Purple Sec’s (2021) malware statistics, 92% of malware is delivered by email.

If you find that your computer is running much more slowly than usual or is crashing frequently, an attacker might be using it without your knowledge. If you notice any unusual activity on your machine, try to figure out what’s causing the problem as soon as possible. To protect yourself against malware and virus attacks, it’s important to keep all of your antivirus and security software up to date and to practice safe browsing habits.

5. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is one of the most common types of cyberattacks. DoS attacks are designed to take an online resource offline by flooding it with so much traffic that it crashes or becomes extremely slow. Cybercriminals might carry out DoS attacks because they want to gain access to information stored on a machine or website or to disrupt the activities of the person or organization responsible for running the targeted resource.

If you’re responsible for managing websites or machines that store important data, try using services like Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to protect your resources against DoS attacks. EC2 and AWS provide automatic scaling options that increase server capacity as you experience more traffic, making it more difficult for attackers to successfully carry out a DoS attack.

6. Spyware and Adware Attacks

Spyware and adware cyberattacks often go undetected. These forms of attacks generally involve the installation of software applications on a user’s computer without their knowledge or consent. Cybercriminals typically carry out these types of attacks because they want to use the target’s machine for their own reasons, such as engaging in cyber espionage or delivering ads for products that generate revenue for the attackers.

You can protect yourself against spyware and adware by keeping your antivirus and security software up to date, avoiding suspicious websites and apps, and regularly checking your browser settings to make sure they haven’t been changed without your knowledge.

Source: eccouncil.org

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5 Must-have components for every Business Continuity Plan in a Coronavirus World

Businesses have had a rough start to the beginning of the new year, 2020, and new decade. From COVID-19 to Puerto Rican earthquakes, from volcanic eruptions in Alaska to powerful tornadoes of Tennessee, enterprises have faced several challenges. During such unanticipated situations, organizations need a contingency plan to continue their business operations. Moreover, a dedicated team of security professionals is needed to build a robust business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) plan. It would be the team’s responsibility to keep the business afloat during the tough times, i.e., unexpected events, including coronavirus. 

The Key Elements of a Business Continuity Plan in a COVID-19 Coronavirus World   

Disaster recovery professionals should be able to predict potential interruptions. Check out this detailed coverage by Tim Foley, Director of Information Security for the CYBER division at Dataprise. In the video, he comprehensively covers whether the organizations are ready to combat cyber threats:

Here’s a list that you can refer to while drafting a business continuity (BC) plan –   

1. Risk Assessment – Conduct BIA (Business Impact Analysis)  

The Business Impact Analysis (BIA) anticipates the possible repercussion of disrupts on regular business operations. It analyzes and gathers details to draft a recovery strategy. In other words, BIA is an assessment of potential loss during a disaster. Using BIA, staff identify mission-critical activities and suggest an optimal recovery time.   

2. Risk Mitigation   

Mitigating cyber risks is a must. Eliminate the loopholes risking the safety of company assets and business operations. The professionals should draft a comprehensive module dealing with the minimization of the risks. To serve the purpose, the team can incorporate the following in the plan –   

◉ Either cut or drop points of dependency   

◉ Check third-party readiness    

◉ Detailed IT backup strategies    

◉ Maintain stock of critical equipment or tools to repair 

◉ Split functions and resources at multiple sites    

◉ Keep substitutes handy    

◉ Build preventive maintenance and testing programs    

◉ Cross-functional training for the team   

3. Be Ready with Business Continuity Strategies  

It is a must that organizations should have the listed strategies in place –   

◉ Alternate practices to continue daily operations    

◉ Outsourcing or third-party service providers    

◉ Secondary or backup suppliers    

◉ Prioritizing business operations and demand of customers    

◉ Work from home strategies    

◉ Availability of mobile offices   

4. Establish Clear Roles and Responsibilities  

Depending on the size of the organization, build a planning team that is clear about their roles and responsibilities. If it is a small-scale enterprise, then involving all the employees would be a great idea.   

5. Implementation and Testing  

The involved professionals should undergo regular training sessions and simulation exercises. Based on the outcomes of these “fire drills,” organizations adopt the required changes. After this, enterprises are free to put the drafted business continuity plan in place.  

In conclusion, the team should consider the listed elements for prioritizing key business processes. A detailed program can spot potential cyber threats and include mitigation strategies. For this, businesses need a disaster recovery professional with skills in business continuity.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Cybersecurity and coronavirus: keeping your business safe

As governments and businesses work on mitigating the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing measures are leading to an increase in remote working across all sectors.

The reasoning behind the measures is best left to health authorities, and are discussed at length elsewhere. The purpose of this article is to shed light on some of the key cybersecurity challenges around the sudden spike in remote work arrangements, and propose potential measures to keep networks as secure as possible during these times.

Today, the idea of working from home is not exactly a new thing. Plus, we are well equipped to work away from the traditional bricks and mortar, as our cloud infrastructure has matured a lot in the past years.

That said, conducting activities remotely poses complex challenges from a number of perspectives.  We’ll focus on the impact of infrastructure, remote working security, and how organisations can help mitigate threats to their cybersecurity.

Infrastructure Concerns

One immediate risk that has been raised is that the telecommunications infrastructure wouldn’t have the capacity to support the increase in demand. Experts have warned that bottlenecks could appear, especially in the parts of the country that are not operating on fibre.

The pledges to have full-fibre broadband across the UK by 2025 may prove to be a little too late for the moment. Although the UK average speed is still behind that of, say, Germany and France, there have been assurances from providers that the country has the necessary capacity.

Another issue that has been highlighted to me in my conversations with large organisations is the individual company’s infrastructure. With employees in the tens of thousands, remote working systems have not yet been tested at potentially critical levels.

From an infrastructure perspective, these are unchartered waters, and it can potentiate any existing shortcomings in both internal company infrastructure as well as specific country capacity.

Security Concerns

Working remotely also throws up a number of security concerns that cause headaches for any internal networking/cybersecurity team.

With networks becoming more complex, initiatives such as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and literally thousands of access points to police, cybersecurity professionals have it tough.

Throw into the mix the fact that the reasonably new GDPR regulation has made data protection a crucial part of any strategy, and having the majority of staff working from home adds yet another layer to an already large checklist of concerns.

Here are some of the most pressing challenges facing security professionals in the current situation:

◉ Is the employee’s Wi-Fi connection secure/are they using an open Wi-Fi?

◉ Do they have appropriate anti-virus/firewall/security tools in place?

◉ Have they received adequate training?

◉ Will they adhere to security protocols?

Wi-Fi hacking is a staple skill for Ethical Hackers and Penetration Testers around the world, and I’m sure less technical readers would be horrified to find out just how easy it is. Despite this, a recent study from the UK showcased that 82% of those surveyed had never changed their Wi-Fi admin password.

We won’t delve into the devil’s detail too deeply, but this sort of statistic is the stuff of nightmares for an organisation’s cybersecurity team when employees are returning to work with their devices.

If devices have been compromised or have unwittingly initiated a malicious download, they can pose a threat to the internal network. Similarly, with open Wi-Fi networks, there is the potential for various credentials to be stolen and accounts to be hijacked.

Companies often have a number of security tools that can range from firewalls, anti-virus software, VPNs, and penetration tests – all part of a robust protective layer. Of course it depends on the types of tools each organisation employs, but the security tools at the disposal of companies are usually far superior than those of the individual. But when away from the office, the influence of such an armoury can be weakened.

In this age of convenience, running routine scans or taking an additional 30 seconds to fire up your VPN may seem like annoyances, but are all the more important now.

Training is usually the most reliable way to ensure not only solid, up-to-date knowledge, but also the accountability of security professionals. Training plays a huge role in building a culture of security, and the cyber awareness market has seen unprecedented growth over the last few years as organisations scramble to train employees.

Security Tools such as OhPhish can help – not only by testing against regular phishing campaigns, but also to support train the end-user.

Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, we have grown accustomed to evolving technology making our lives easier, more efficient and more convenient. But in this age of information, we are at a crossroads where convenience and security are often a trade-off.

Protocols are an important feature of network cyber security. That said, humans are prone to errors, which means protocols that are put in place may not be adhered to – even though they are there to protect both companies and employees’ data.

So how can companies influence a culture change from convenience to secure?

Mitigation

How do organisations mitigate the various risks posed by having their workforce work from home? There are a number of best practices that can be adhered by both the individual and the organisation.

Companies should create a checklist with key measures and circulate them across their workforce in a plain and clear format so as to minimise friction. Employees, on the other hand, should remain vigilant and conscious of threats outside the usual work environment.

The following lists can serve as a starting point, and are by no means exhaustive:

Companies

◉ Clear policies and procedures for your employees to follow when working from home

◉ Put an action plan and guidelines for employees returning to the office

◉ Incident response and handling should be in place

◉ Ensure appropriate tools, such as VPNs, are available to all remote employees

◉ Training (ideally certification training) is important.

◉ Put out clear, straightforward communication aimed at getting buy-in from employees

For the employee

◉ Adhere to the company security policies and protocols

◉ Always use the VPN if provided with one

◉ Don’t use open wi-fi connections – ideally, use a wired connection if possible

◉ Always use two-factor authentication for personal and work accounts

◉ Avoid working from public networks

◉ Protect access to your work computer at home

◉ When handling customer data, always double-check that you are following relevant data protection policies

Working remotely doesn’t have to be risky. However, without the right protocols and tested infrastructure in place, issues can escalate a lot quicker and can be much harder to mitigate than in a centralised office environment.

We are facing a uniquely challenging situation in our response to the coronavirus threat, and this carries some cyber security risks. But with the correct approach, training and policies in place, your business can potentially make through these times even more efficient, well-oiled, and safe.

Source: eccouncil.org

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4 Cybersecurity Challenges affecting Business Continuity since the Coronavirus Outbreak

With the rise of coronavirus (COVID-19), businesses around the world are facing major disruptions. They are struggling to continue business operations and secure their corporate assets. At the same time, employees are combating a tough fight against the virus itself. To make things worse, cybercriminals are riding on this opportunity, trying to make the most of the situation. A couple of weeks ago, Proofpoint researchers discovered coronavirus-themed attacks. Apart from the increase in malicious messages, experts observed a form of attack budding on the fear of purported unreleased cures for coronavirus.

Amid the spread of this global pandemic, employers are tossing between allowing their employees to work from home or continue to operate from the established offices. Regardless, organizations need to consider the risks associated with their data security and data privacy in the wake of potential impact.

As coronavirus is not only affecting one’s health but also the continuous growth of businesses, it is time for them to expand their IT disaster recovery and contingency plans to address unforeseen scenarios. Enterprises need a plan that covers all possible types of fabricated attacks during the rapid emerging outbreak of COVID-19.

Address These Cybersecurity Risks in the Wake of Coronavirus

With threat actors entering the picture, enterprises and their management board should consider the listed security risks that have surfaced after the birth of COVID-19.

1. Phishing frauds thriving on fear

Recently, WHO released a warning, alerting individuals to beware of the phishing emails appearing from “WHO representatives.” These emails ask for sensitive login credentials or encourage individuals to either click on a link or download malicious software. Other renowned publications also came forward, showing similar phishing scams that seemed to be generated from ‘authorized professionals.’

Source: Wired

How to mitigate the risk?

In such a situation, organizations should raise awareness to make their employees follow valid COVID-19 related alerts and subscribe to official institutions only. For instance, The Office of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) published its insights on ‘Risk Management for Novel Coronavirus.’ Furthermore, the management team should concentrate on finding a secure way to communicate with their employees.

2. Challenges of working from home

For smooth business operations, companies may decide to permit their employees to work from home. In that case, employees may use a VPN to access the company’s network remotely. Evidently, in today’s world, dependency on VPN not only exposes sensitive data to security risks but, with the adoption of cloud services, multiplies the existing cyber risks exponentially.

How to mitigate the risk?

The increased network traffic on VPN exposes the larger community to security risks. The solution to this problem may start with the patching of installed software regularly. But the inability of IT representatives to be available on various remote sites adds on to the primary challenge. Companies should accommodate a disaster recovery plan that can deal with the issues of a remote workforce. The plan must contain timely solutions to address all the associated problems.

3. Accessing sensitive data on public Wi-Fi

Do not presume that employees will use corporate assets on a safe wireless network. A few may expose corporate accounts to insecure public Wi-Fi networks. Cybercriminals can attack these networks to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. For instance, when an unencrypted form of information is transmitted through an unprotected network, a threat actor can intercept it to steal the data.

How to mitigate the risk?

The best solution to prevent the theft of information is not to disclose sensitive data on unknown public networks. Apart from that, use SSL (Transport Layer Security) connections to set up a layer of encryption for all your communications. Employees can do this by enabling the “Always Use HTTPS” option that will protect their login credentials even on public Wi-Fi.

4. Easy Communication for Outsourced Services

The dependency on third-party service providers can also affect the business after COVID-19’s ill-effects on the outsourced parties. Especially if the enterprise is relying on these providers for critical services, including specific IT operations, website management, or many others. The viral outbreak can lead to disruption, creating loopholes in the existing system.

How to mitigate the risk?

To deal with the issue, the company must consider a factor addressing supply chain management. This plan should help the IT team to identify and connect with alternative service providers quickly.

Under critical circumstances, organizations should review their existing business continuity and disaster recovery plans to address the challenges born out of a pandemic. The program should be able to adapt in the face of additional changes.

A specialized disaster recovery plan steps should include pandemic events, such as COVID-19, and must possess the following –

• Inclusion of a proactive program that ensures the firm’s business operations will run uninterruptedly during a pandemic event. It will work on smooth communications and coordination with third-party service providers.
• The documented plan must identify and follow the company’s process and controls.
• Contain a framework that covers all the business locations of the enterprise and check whether they are capable enough to continue regular business operations.

Source: eccouncil.org

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