Is Your Network Experiencing A Data Breach Right Now? Check it Out!
2021/01/19 Cloud Backup & Disaster Recovery Solutions 1453 visit(s) 3 min to read
Ctelecoms
Just as terrifying as it sounds, a data breach comes as a result of a cyberattack that enables cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network and steal any private, sensitive, or confidential personal and financial data of the customers or users within the network.
How do data breaches happen?
A data breach can disguise in several ways, and wait patiently to hit its target right where it hurts. Most of the time, it can come in the form of:
An Exploit
An exploit is a type of attack that takes advantage of software bugs or vulnerabilities, which cybercriminals use to gain unauthorized access to a system and its data. Commonly exploited software includes the operating system itself, Internet browsers, Adobe applications, and so on. Cybercriminal groups sometimes package multiple exploits into automated exploit kits that make it easier for criminals with little to no technical knowledge to take advantage of exploits.
An SQL Injection (SQLI)
An SQL injection (SQLI) is a type of attack that exploits weaknesses in the SQL database management software of unsecure websites in order to get the website to spit out information from the database that it’s really not supposed to. Here’s how it works. A cybercriminal enters malicious code into the search field of a retail site, for example, where customers normally enter searches for things like “top rated wireless headphones” or “best-selling sneakers.” Instead of returning with a list of headphones or sneakers, the website will give the hacker a list of customers and their credit card numbers. SQLI is one of the least sophisticated attacks to carry out, requiring minimal technical knowledge.
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that infects your computer or network and steals information about you, your Internet usage, and any other valuable data it can get its hands on. You might install spyware as part of some seemingly benign download Alternatively, spyware can make its way onto your computer as a secondary infection via a Trojan like Emotet. Once your system is infected, the spyware sends all your personal data back to the command and control (C&C) servers run by the cybercriminals.
Phishing
Phishing attacks work by getting us to share sensitive information like our usernames and passwords, often against normal logic and reasoning, by using social engineering to manipulate our emotions, such as greed and fear. A typical phishing attack will start with an email spoofed, or faked, to look like it’s coming from a company you do business with or a trusted coworker. This email will contain aggressive or demanding language and require some sort of action, like verify payments or purchases you never made. Clicking the supplied link will direct you to a malicious login page designed to capture your username and password. If you don’t have multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled, the cybercriminals will have everything they need to hack into your account. While emails are the most common form of phishing attack, SMS text messages and social media messaging systems are also popular with scammers.
Broken / Misconfigured Access Controls
Broken or misconfigured access controls can make private parts of a given website public when they’re not supposed to be. For example, a website administrator at an online clothing retailer will make certain back-end folders within the website private, i.e. the folders containing sensitive data about customers and their payment information. However, the web admin might forget to make the related sub-folders private as well. While these sub-folders might not be readily apparent to the average user, a cybercriminal using a few well-crafted Google searches could find those misconfigured folders and steal the data contained in them. Much like a burglar climbing right into a house through an open window, it doesn’t take a lot of skill to pull off this kind of cyberattack.
Now that we’ve explored what a data breach is - along with different ways that allow a data breach to take place – how do you know if your network is currently under attack?
At this particular point, there are two ways to go:
Use Ctelecoms Free Security Assessment Service
Use our free security assessment service that’s designed to help you thoroughly analyze your organization’s security posture, giving you a holistic view of the current and potential threats (such as malware, malicious URLs, phishing, BEC messages…) harming your organization so you can effectively close your security gaps and block all current and future malicious activities.
Check for any potential symptoms that include:
- A sudden reduction in your computer's performance
- Presence of unexpected IP addresses on stored and wireless networks
- System rebooting or shutting down for unknown reasons
- Unexplained new user accounts
- Antivirus programs malfunctioning or becoming disabled for unknown reasons
- Changes to financial accounts and billing statements
- Phone calls, emails, or direct mail indicating purchases you did not make
- Strange text messages, calls, websites, or emails on your smartphone
- Strange ticking or other noises occurring during your phone calls
- Your inbox is full of MAILER-DAEMON rejection notices for emails you didn't send
- People you know are receiving emails from you that you didn't send
- Your address book contacts have been erased
- Emails you attempt to send are suddenly being refused or returned
- Unknown software applications are installed on your device
Hopefully your company never experiences any of these symptoms, but if you are, call Ctelecoms expert security support team at +966 12 261 9667 or get in touch with us using our dedicated form.
Ctelecoms Team
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