Cybersecurity solutions that you should apply in your company
Protecting your company's information, nowadays, is no longer an option to consider, it is a necessity. Cyberattacks are on the rise, and with them, the risks to businesses of all sizes. If you're not prepared, you could face financial loss, reputational damage, and, in some cases, legal consequences.
In this article, we'll discover the most important cybersecurity solutions for businesses, both preventive, such as our Enthec cyber surveillance solutions , and reactive, and how you can implement them in your organization.
The Need for Enterprise Cybersecurity Solutions
Digital transformation has revolutionized how businesses operate, but it has also expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals. The risks are more varied and sophisticated than ever, from ransomware to phishing attacks to sensitive data breaches.
Enterprise cybersecurity solutions protect information, ensure business continuity, increase customers' trust, and comply with legal regulations such as GDPR. However, choosing the proper measurements for your particular case is key.
Key cybersecurity solutions to protect businesses
Threats are not the same for all organizations, but several cybersecurity tools and strategies can be tailored to a business's specific needs. Here, we show you the most important ones.
Perimeter Protection Solutions
Perimeter protection is the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your network. This involves establishing controls at entry points, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and network segmentation. These tools act as a wall that prevents cybercriminals from accessing internal systems.
For example, a firewall can block suspicious connections, while an IDS detects anomalous activity in real-time. This perimeter cybersecurity is specially relevant to preventing attacks targeting servers and connected devices.
Cyber Intelligence Solutions
Cyber intelligence is about collecting and analyzing data about potential threats before they occur. This includes using advanced platforms to monitor the digital environment for signs of malicious activity, such as suspicious patterns in emails or irregular network movements.
This approach allows companies to anticipate attackers and respond quickly. Corporate cyber-surveillance tools like Kartos identify vulnerabilities and plan mitigation strategies before irreversible damage occurs.
Data Protection Solutions
Data protection is essential for any company that handles sensitive information, whether from clients, employees or internal projects. Encryption tools, multi-factor authentication, and regular backups are essential measures. Furthermore, it is important to know that data protection solutions not only guarantee the privacy of information, but also protect its integrity. If an attacker manages to break into your systems, backups and encryption can be the last barrier to avoiding a catastrophe.
Differences between proactive and reactive cybersecurity solutions
A comprehensive approach to cybersecurity combines proactive and reactive security measures. Both approaches are complementary and necessary, but understanding their differences will help you prioritize according to your resources.
Proactive Threat Prevention Solutions
Proactive solutions seek to prevent an attack from occurring. They include security audits, training staff to identify phishing emails, attack simulations to assess system weaknesses and real-time detection of exposed vulnerabilities before they can be used by a cybercriminal to execute an attack, such as the Kartos platform.
These measures are crucial for businesses looking to stay ahead of cybercriminals and reduce risk before something happens.
Reactive solutions for incident recovery
Conversely, reactive solutions focus on responding to an incident after it occurs. This is where disaster recovery plans (DRP), system restoration via backups, and post-incident investigations come into play to prevent recurring problems.
While prevention is ideal, having a solid response strategy can make the difference between a brief disruption or a complete shutdown of the business.
Kartos: the advanced solution in enterprise cyber surveillance
Choosing a trusted provider to manage your company's cybersecurity is as important as the tools you implement. In this sense, Kartos is a leader in enterprise cyber-surveillance solutions.
Kartos offers a personalized approach through constant monitoring, vulnerability detection, and real-time support. This platform is designed for companies that want to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Why choose Kartos?
- Real-time cyber intelligence. Identify threats before they become problems.
- 100% non-intrusive AI. It analyzes information on the Internet, Deep Web, Dark Web, and open sources to identify exposed data that cybercriminals could use. It is delivered to companies to protect themselves without carrying out attacks.
- Third-Party Risks In addition to protecting the organization and its risks, Kratos allows organizations that need it to manage third-party risks.
Investing in cybersecurity solutions is not just a technical issue but a strategic decision protecting your company's present and future. Whether you take proactive or reactive measures, the most important thing is to act now.
If you are looking for an ally to help you implement these measures effectively, Kartos is the answer. With their experience and advanced technology, you can be sure that your company will be in the best hands. Contact us today and take the first step towards a safer digital environment.
What is spyware and how to protect your digital assets
Our devices have become gatekeepers of personal and professional information. However, they have also become targets for cybercriminals. One of the most common, though not always visible, risks is spyware.
But what is spyware, how does it affect your digital assets, and, most importantly, how can you protect yourself? This article explains it all.
What is spyware?
Spyware is malicious software designed to infiltrate devices and collect information without your consent.
This software works in the background, spying on your device's activity, such as the websites you visit, the passwords you enter, or even your private conversations. Sometimes, it can even take partial control of your computer or mobile to perform malicious activities.
Spyware compromises your privacy and digital assets, such as bank details, access credentials to sensitive services, or critical corporate information.
Most prominent types of spyware
Now that you know what spyware is, you should know that not all of them work the same way. Here are some of the most common types of spyware:
- Keyloggers. These programs record every keystroke you make on your device. They are used to capture passwords, usernames, and other sensitive data.
- Adware. While their primary intent is to display unwanted ads, some adware also collects browsing data to personalize those ads and sell your information to third parties.
- Remote Access Trojans (RATs). They allow attackers to control your device remotely. They can activate your camera, access your files, or even install other malware without you noticing.
- Mobile spyware. These programs are specifically designed to collect data from mobile phones. From text messages and GPS locations to contact lists or call recordings, this spyware can turn your phone into a spying tool.
Spyware: Famous Examples
Some spyware cases have achieved worldwide notoriety due to their massive impact:
- Pegasus. An extremely sophisticated spyware used to spy on journalists, activists, and politicians. This program infected mobile devices without the need for user interaction.
- CoolWebSearch. This spyware modifies the web browser to redirect to malicious pages and collect information from users.
- FinFisher. Used by governments and criminals alike, this spyware is designed to monitor devices in advanced ways.
These examples remind us that spyware is not a minor problem or limited to famous people. We can all be at risk at some point.
How do you remove spyware?
If you suspect that your device is compromised, here are the basic steps to detect and remove spyware:
- Identify signs of infection
- Your device is slower than usual.
- Unexpected pop-up ads appear.
- Changes to your browser, such as a new homepage.
- Unusually high battery or data consumption.
- Use anti-malware tools. Install reputable programs like Malwarebytes or Norton to scan your device and remove any detected spyware.
- Update your operating system and apps. Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Always keep your programs up to date.
- Reset your device to its factory settings. If the infection persists, this can be an extreme but effective solution. Make sure to back up your important data before proceeding.
- Consult a professional. If you're unsure how to proceed, contact a cybersecurity expert who can help you clean and protect your device.
How to protect yourself from future spyware attacks
You already know the primary keys to knowing what spyware is and should understand that prevention is the best defense against this attack. Here are some key practices:
- Only download apps from trusted sources. Avoid installing programs from unknown or dubious websites.
- Be wary of suspicious emails. Don't click on links or download files from senders you don't recognize.
- Use up-to-date security software. Install and keep a good antivirus and antimalware program active.
- Set up strong passwords. Use unique combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters, and avoid using the same password for different accounts.
- Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds an extra layer of security, making it difficult to gain unauthorized access even if someone gets your password.
Your Cyber Surveillance Ally: Protect What You Value Most
In today's landscape, protecting your digital assets is not an option but a necessity. At Enthec, we offer cyber surveillance solutions to protect your information from threats like spyware.
If you're looking to identify breaches and spot issues that have overcome guardrails, we're here to help.
Spyware is a real threat that affects both individuals and businesses. By knowing what it is, how it works, and how to prevent it, you can take a firm step towards protecting your digital assets. Remember: in cybersecurity, staying one step ahead of attackers is crucial.
Would you like to know more? Enthec is here to help.
5 social media security strategies
With the evolution of technology and its general implementation in all areas of individual action, security on social networks is essential to protect personal information and avoid various cyber threats that can endanger people's personal and patrimonial integrity.
Importance of privacy and security in social networks
Social media has become integral to our lives, allowing us to connect with friends, family, and coworkers, share experiences, and access various content. However, with its increasing use, the amount of personal information we share online has also increased.
Therefore, privacy and security on social networks are crucial to protect our personal information from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, and other threats.
In addition, it allows users to control what information is shared, when, how, and with whom. This includes personal details such as location, wealth, interests, ideology, relationships, etc. Without proper security measures, cybercriminals can exploit this data for malicious activities such as identity theft, fraud, and harassment.
Conversely, a lack of privacy can lead to a loss of control over personal information, exposing users and their contacts to significant risks.
Social media security is also vital to protecting account integrity and preventing unauthorized access. Implementing robust security strategies helps prevent attackers from taking over accounts, stealing personal information, or conducting malicious activities on behalf of the victim.
Consequence of not protecting your social networks
Failing to implement social media security measures can have serious consequences. Some of the main ones are:
- Identity theft. Cybercriminals can obtain enough personal information from social media to impersonate the person and commit fraud. This can lead to opening credit accounts in your name, making fraudulent purchases, deceiving contacts, and many other malicious actions.
- Harassment and cyberbullying. A lack of privacy can expose users to harassment and cyberbullying. Attackers often use personal information shared on social media to harass their victims.
- Financial fraud. Personal and financial data shared on social media can be used to commit fraud. This includes accessing bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial services and other actions likely to cause significant financial loss to the victim.
- Loss of reputation. Personal and professional information exposed on social media can be used to damage a person's reputation. This is especially detrimental to professionals who depend on their reputations for their careers.
- Unauthorized access to sensitive data. If not properly protected, social media accounts can be hacked, and sensitive data, such as private messages and photos, are exposed and susceptible to malicious use.
5 Social Media Safety Measures
The following measures must be implemented, at minimum, to protect personal information and maintain security on social media.
Privacy settings on profiles
Privacy settings on social media profiles allow users to control who can view and access their information. Reviewing and adjusting these settings regularly ensures that only authorized people can see personal details.
- Limiting access to personal information: ensuring that only close contacts and family members can see personal information such as location, marital status, and contact details.
- App Permissions Review: It is essential to be aware that third-party apps connecting to social media accounts may have access to significant personal data. Non-essential apps should be reviewed, and permissions should be revoked.
- Post control: It's a good idea to set up your account so that only the owner can view and approve posts in which they are tagged. This will give you control over what appears on your profile.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security measure that protects social media accounts. Requiring a second form of verification in addition to the password, 2FA makes it harder for attackers to access an account, even if they know your password.
- 2FA implementation. Two-factor authentication must be enabled on all social media accounts. This usually involves receiving a verification code on the mobile phone or email.
- Authenticator apps. There are authenticator apps like Google Authenticator or Authy that generate temporary, one-time verification codes to access the account.
Secure password management
Strong, unique passwords are critical to protecting social media accounts. Reusing or using weak passwords significantly increases the risk of an account being hacked.
- Strong passwords. It would be best to create passwords that are difficult to guess, using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable personal information such as names or dates of birth and passwords that are common or repeated in other accounts.
- Password managers. Using a password manager to generate and store unique and strong passwords for each account is advisable. This makes password management easier and reduces the risk of reusing passwords.
- Periodic password changes. Although it is a routine that involves mental effort and conservation due to the number of accounts and passwords each person manages, it is essential to change passwords periodically and never share them with others or store them in places that are easy for others to reach.
Never access from third-party devices
Accessing social media accounts from third-party devices, such as public computers or borrowed devices, can put your security at risk. These devices can be compromised, and access credentials can be recorded and stored. We advise you to take into account the following recommendations.
- Use of trusted devices. Social media accounts should be accessed only from trusted devices protected by antivirus and firewalls.
- Logout. Always log out of social media accounts after using them, especially on shared or public devices.
- Safe browsing. It is advisable to use private or incognito browsing modes when accessing accounts from devices that do not belong to the owner to prevent browsing data and credentials from being saved.
Setting up a cyber surveillance system
The most innovative cyber-surveillance tools enable continuous monitoring of social media accounts and their online activity to quickly detect and respond to potential security threats. This helps prevent malicious or criminal use of both social media accounts and personal data.
The cyber surveillance system allows the user to set up alerts for suspicious activity. This way, you can receive real-time notifications about any suspicious activity on your social media accounts, such as login attempts from unknown locations or posts of unusual content.
How Qondar can help you improve social media security
Qondar Personal Threat Watchbots is the innovative cyber surveillance platform developed by Enthec for the online protection of people's personal data and digital assets.
With its army of bots deployed across all web layers, Qondar protects the integrity of personal profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, and Telegram from hacking and manipulation.
Qondar is an automated tool that works continuously and provides real-time data on malicious attempts to use personal social networks.
Its use is also very simple: all you have to do is enter the social profiles that you have to protect on the platform, and Qondar starts working autonomously. If you hold an important position in an organization, have public or social relevance, or are simply concerned about the integrity of your social media accounts, contact us to learn more about how Qondar can help you.
Proactive security: What is it and why use it to prevent and detect threats and cyberattacks?
Proactive security involves a combination of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect organizations from attacks or unauthorized access before they occur.
What is proactive security?
Proactive security is an approach to cybersecurity that focuses on preventing cyber threats before they occur rather than simply reacting to them once they have occurred.
This approach involves identifying and remediating security vulnerabilities and anticipating future threats to prevent potential security breaches.
Proactive safety is based on the premise that prevention is better than repair. Rather than waiting for a security incident to occur and then taking steps to minimize or repair the damage, organizations with a proactive approach to cybersecurity seek to prevent these incidents by identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities before cybercriminals can exploit them.
A key component of proactive cybersecurity is regularly assessing information systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities. This may involve conducting penetration tests, in which security experts attempt to breach the organization's systems to uncover weaknesses before attackers do.
Another proactive strategy is the continuous monitoring of the attack surface external to the organization – the internet, dark web, deep web, social media, and other sources – to detect leaked information, open breaches, exposed system vulnerabilities, and suspicious activity. This involves the use of continuously functioning automated cyber intelligence tools for real-time threat detection.
Security training is also an important aspect of proactive cybersecurity. By educating employees on security best practices and keeping them informed about the latest threats and attack tactics, organizations can reduce the risk of security breaches occurring due to human error or a lack of security knowledge.
By taking a proactive approach to security, organizations empower themselves to prevent threats before they occur, minimizing the risk of cyberattacks and protecting their valuable information assets.
Why use a proactive approach to security?
Today, cybersecurity is a critical concern for all organizations. However, many companies still take a reactive approach, responding to threats as they occur, and organizations need to adopt a proactive attitude to security due to the advantages it brings:
- Attack prevention. Proactive security focuses on preventing attacks before they happen. This is achieved by identifying and remediating vulnerabilities and anticipating future threats. By doing so, organizations avoid the costly downtime and data loss associated with consummate cyberattacks.
- Cost savings. Although implementing proactive security measures may require an upfront investment, the cost of these measures is often much lower than the cost of responding to a cyberattack and its aftermath. In addition, successful cyberattacks can lead to regulatory fines and litigation, which cause financial damage.
- Reputation protection. A cyberattack can significantly damage an organization's reputation. Your customers and business partners will lose trust in a company that can't protect their data. By taking a proactive approach, organizations demonstrate their commitment to data security, thereby enhancing their reputation.
- Compliance. Most countries have strict rules and regulations around data security. By taking a proactive approach, organizations can ensure they comply with these standards, thus avoiding fines and penalties, while facilitating partnerships and internationalization.
- Guarantee of business continuity. Organizations can avoid system downtime and keep their operations running smoothly by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
- Competitive advantage. Organizations that demonstrate a solid commitment to cybersecurity have a competitive advantage in an increasingly digitized market. Customers and business partners often prefer to do business with companies that take data security seriously.
Proactive Security Best Practices for Detecting Cyberattacks
A proactive security attitude involves deploying a series of best practices in the organization's cybersecurity strategy.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
It provides continuous visibility into network endpoints and enables rapid responses to cyber threats. EDR collects and analyzes endpoint data to detect, investigate, and prevent threats.
This proactive solution enables organizations to identify abnormal behavior, perform forensic analysis, and mitigate risks before they become security incidents, thereby improving their overall security posture.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
It focuses on identifying, monitoring, and protecting data in use, in motion, and at rest. DLP uses security policies to classify and protect sensitive and critical information, preventing users from sending, storing, or using sensitive data inappropriately.
By detecting potential data breaches before they occur, DLP helps organizations prevent the exposure of valuable information, comply with regulations, and protect their reputation.
Vulnerability Detection
Monitoring the external attack surface and locating exposed vulnerabilities is an effective proactive cybersecurity practice. It consists of identifying, classifying, and prioritizing vulnerabilities in the corporate system that are accessible to the public.
This practice allows organizations to detect potential cyberattack entry points, providing a clear view of potential threats. By locating and remediating these vulnerabilities, organizations strengthen their cybersecurity strategy, prevent intrusions, and minimize the impact of any attacks. This practice is essential for effective cybersecurity management.
Disaster Recovery Plan
It prepares an organization to respond to a cyberattack. It includes procedures for detecting, evaluating, and recovering from security incidents.
This plan helps minimize damage, accelerate recovery, and protect data integrity. It is essential to maintain business continuity, protect the company's reputation, and ensure customer trust. The goal is to restore normal operations as quickly as possible after a cyberattack.
Benefits of Proactive Security
Staying one step ahead of cybercriminals makes it possible to neutralize attacks before they are executed or minimize their consequences if they cannot be avoided.
A proactive attitude to security provides the organization with the following advantages:
Threat Anticipation
By anticipating threats, organizations can take preventative measures to protect their systems and data, reducing the risk of security breaches and minimizing the impact of any attacks.
Strengthening the relationship with the customer
Proactive cybersecurity strengthens the customer relationship by building trust and security. Customers value their privacy and the protection of their data.
By implementing proactive measures, organizations demonstrate their commitment to customer data security. This increases customer satisfaction, improves retention, and attracts new customers. In addition, in the event of a cyberattack, a quick and effective response can minimize the impact on customers, maintaining their trust in the organization.
Reducing business risk
Proactive cybersecurity reduces business risk by preventing cyberattacks. By identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities, exposure to threats is minimized, protecting the integrity of data and systems.
This avoids costly outages and information loss, maintaining customer trust while complying with privacy and data protection regulations. Proactive cybersecurity protects the company's value and reputation.
To stay up-to-date in this sector, we encourage you to access our content→ The 5 cybersecurity trends you need to know.
Discover the Kartos by Enthec CTEM platform
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots, the Continuous Threat Exposure Management platform for companies developed by Enthec, provides organizations with the most evolved Cyber Surveillance capabilities on the market to respond to attacks' evolutions and trends.
Using Artificial Intelligence internally developed and working automatedly and continuously, Kartos by Enthec obtains and delivers data on companies' open and exposed vulnerabilities, providing real-time alarms and issuing reports on their cybersecurity status and that of their value chain.
In this way, Kartos allows organizations to implement a proactive approach in their cybersecurity strategy and ensure the detection and nullification of open breaches and exposed vulnerabilities before they are used to execute a cyberattack.
If you would like to learn more about how Kartos can help you implement a proactive approach in your cybersecurity strategy, don´t hesitate to contact us.
What is a CVE?
CVE, Common Vulnerabilities, and Exposures is a list of standardized names and codes for naming information security vulnerabilities and exposures to make them publicly known.
Each vulnerability has a unique identification number, which provides a way to publicly share data and information about them.
Thus, a CVE is a standard identifier for information security vulnerabilities. In addition to the unique number, a CVE assigns a brief description to each known vulnerability to facilitate its search, analysis, and management.
CVEs aim to provide a common, unified reference for vulnerabilities so that they can be easily shared and compared across different sources of information, tools, and services. CVEs also help to improve awareness and transparency about threats to information security and foster cooperation and coordination between the different actors involved in their prevention, detection, and response.
Before delving into how the CVE system works, it is worth clarifying what a vulnerability and an exposure are.
Differences between a vulnerability and an exposure
As indicated by INCIBE, a vulnerability is a technical flaw or deficiency in a program that can allow a non-legitimate user to access information or carry out unauthorized operations remotely.
An exposure is an error that allows access or unwanted people to a system or network. Exposures can lead to data breaches, data leaks, and the sale of personally identifiable information (PII) on the dark web.
An example of a data exposure could be accidentally publishing code to a GitHub repository.
How does the CVE system work?
CVE is a security project born in 1999 focused on publicly released software, funded by the US Division of Homeland Security. The CVE Program is managed by the Software Engineering Institute of the MITRE Corporation, a non-profit organization which works in collaboration with the United States government and other partners.
CVEs are issued by the CVE Program, an international initiative that coordinates and maintains a free, public database of vulnerabilities reported by researchers, organizations and companies around the world.
CVEs can be viewed on the official CVE Program website, where you can search by number, keyword, product, supplier, or date. They can also be consulted in other secondary sources that collect and analyze CVEs, such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) in the United States, which provides additional information on the impact, severity and the solutions for each vulnerability.
Criteria followed by CVEs
The CVE Glossary uses the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) to collect information about security vulnerabilities and exposures, catalog them according to various identifiers, and provide them with unique identifiers.
The program is a community-based cooperative project that helps discover new vulnerabilities. These are discovered, assigned and published on the lists so that they are public knowledge. It does not include technical data or information on risks, impacts and remediation.
In this way, the CVE consists of a brief description of the error and the version or component that is affected. It also tells where to find out how to fix the vulnerability or exposure.
CVEs are released once the bug has been fixed. This, by pure logic, is done to avoid exposing affected users to a risk without being able to solve it. In fact, this is one of the criteria that CVEs follow: the vulnerability can be fixed independently of other bugs or vulnerabilities.
Recognition by the software or hardware vendor is also important. Or, the whistleblower must have shared a vulnerability report that demonstrates the negative impact of the bug and that it violates the security policy of the affected system.
CVE identification
As mentioned above, the identification of CVEs is unique. This nomenclature consists of an ID and a date indicating when it was created by MITRE, followed by an individual description field and a reference field. If the vulnerability was not reported directly by MITRE, but was first mapped by an advisory group or bug tracking advisory group, the reference field will include URL links to the advisory group or bug tracker that first reported the vulnerability. Other links that may appear in this field are to product pages affected by CVE.
Kartos by Enthec helps you locate the CVEs of your organization
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots is the Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) platform developed by Enthec for the protection of organizations. Working in an automated, continuous and real-time manner, Kartos alerts your organization of any corporate vulnerabilities and exposures so that they can be nullified before any attack is executed through them. Simply enter the company's domain into the platform, and the Kartos bots will begin crawling the three layers of the web in search of your organization's CVEs. If you want to learn more about how Kartos can help you locate and override your organization's CVEs, do not hesitate to contact us.
How can your credit card data be stolen?
With the proliferation of online commerce, credit card data theft has become a common crime. Billions of compromised data, such as these data, passwords, and bank accounts, are bought and sold on the Dark Web, and it is estimated that up to 24 billion illegally leaked data circulate there.
Theft of credit card data in non-face-to-face transactions
In recent years, EMV systems have been implemented to prevent the physical cloning of credit cards. EMV is a payment method based on a technical standard for smart payment cards, payment terminals, and ATMs that can accept them. EMV stands for "Europay, Mastercard, and Visa," the three companies that created the standard.
That's why credit card vulnerabilities are more common during card-not-present (CNP) transactions.
Most common ways to execute the theft of credit card data.
Cybercriminals use the evolution of technology to sophisticate their attacks and execute credit card data theft in online transactions.
Phishing
Phishing is a scam in which a cybercriminal impersonates a legitimate entity (e.g., a bank, e-commerce provider, or technology company) to trick a user into entering personal data or downloading malware without realizing it.
Web Skimming
This is malicious code that is installed on e-commerce site payment pages. The code is invisible to the user and can steal compromised bank account data.
Free public WiFi Network
Cybercriminals can access a network to steal third-party credit card details as the cardholder enters them. These networks are usually free public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Data Leak
There have been leaks of compromised data from companies that have suffered an attack on database systems. This method of obtaining data is more cost-effective from the criminals' perspective, as they gain access to a large amount of data through an attack.
Qondar helps you protect your credit card data
Qondar Personal Threat Watchbots is the cyber surveillance platform developed by Enthec for the online protection of people. Among many other capabilities, Qondar automatically and continuously monitors your credit card data on the Web, Dark Web and Deep Web to detect any leaks and fraudulent online use. In addition, Qondar issues alarms in real time, in order to cancel or minimize the negative impact of the filtration of said data. If you want more information on how Qondar can help you control the fraudulent use of your credit cards, contact us.
Top cybersecurity tools to use in your business
Implementing cybersecurity tools appropriate to corporate needs within organizations' cybersecurity strategies is essential to ensuring protection against threats and cyberattacks.
Why is it essential for companies to implement cybersecurity tools?
Cybersecurity tools offer robust protection against various threats, enable early detection of risks and attacks, and enable proactive response to security incidents.
Threats and cyberattacks
Cybersecurity has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes. Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and frequent, posing a significant threat to corporate data's integrity, availability, and confidentiality.
Common threats include malware, ransomware, phishing, and denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. The success of each of these attacks comes with severe consequences, such as the loss of critical data, disruptions to business operations, and damage to corporate reputation.
Malware, including viruses, worms, and Trojans, infiltrates company systems, corrupting files and stealing sensitive information. Ransomware is particularly dangerous because it encrypts company data and demands a ransom to release it.
Phishing attacks, conversely, use deceptive emails to obtain login credentials and other sensitive information from employees.
Finally, DDoS attacks can overwhelm company servers with malicious traffic, causing service disruptions and negatively impacting productivity.
Security risks in unprotected companies
Companies that do not implement adequate cybersecurity tools expose themselves to significant risks. One of the most apparent risks is data loss. In today's environment, data is one of a company's most valuable assets, and its loss can seriously impact operations and the ability to make informed decisions. In addition, the stolen data can be used to carry out fraud, identity theft, and other criminal acts.
Another significant risk is disruption to operations. Cyberattacks can disrupt systems, impacting productivity and, correspondingly, corporate finances. For example, a ransomware attack can paralyze operations until the ransom is paid or the effects of the attack are reversed. In contrast, a DDoS attack can render the company's websites and online services inoperable.
Another critical risk is the loss of trust and reputation. Security breaches often damage a company's reputation and cause customers, partners, and other stakeholders to lose confidence in its ability to protect their data. This perception implies the loss of some business and long-term damage to the brand.
Finally, unprotected companies risk incurring legal and regulatory penalties. Data protection laws and regulations, such as the GDPR in Europe, require companies to implement adequate security measures to protect personal data. Failure to comply with these laws carries significant penalties and legal action.
Cybersecurity tools to protect your business
Among the variety of cybersecurity support tools that an organization can implement to protect its systems, one group stands out for its effectiveness and efficiency:
Antivirus
Antivirus software is one of the most relevant and widely used cybersecurity tools. Its primary function is detecting, blocking, and removing malware before it can cause harm. Modern antivirus uses advanced techniques such as signature-based detection, heuristics, and artificial intelligence to identify and neutralize a wide range of threats, including viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and ransomware.
- Signature-based detection. This technique uses a database of known malware signatures to identify threats. When antivirus software scans a file, it compares its signature to those in the database, and if it finds a match, it blocks and removes the threat.
- Heuristic. Heuristic methods allow antivirus software to identify suspicious behavior and code patterns that could indicate the presence of new or unknown malware. This technique is essential for detecting zero-day threats, which do not yet have known signatures.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Modern antivirus programs incorporate AI and machine learning technologies to improve real-time threat detection. These technologies can analyze large volumes of data and learn to identify malicious behavior patterns, even without a known signature.
Firewall
Firewalls are critical tools for cybersecurity. They act as a barrier between the company's internal network and external networks, such as the Internet. Their primary function is to control and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic, allowing only authorized connections and blocking unauthorized access.
- Hardware and software firewalls Firewalls can be deployed as dedicated hardware appliances or software on servers and computers. Hardware firewalls are ideal for protecting the entire enterprise network, while software firewalls offer additional protection on individual devices.
- Packet Filters Firewalls inspect every data packet entering or leaving the network, comparing it to predefined rules. If a packet complies with the rules, access is allowed. Otherwise, it is blocked.
- Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW). NGFWs combine traditional firewall capabilities with advanced features such as deep packet inspection (DPI), intrusion prevention (IPS), and application-based threat protection.
Intrusion detection systems
Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are essential tools for monitoring and protecting corporate networks against malicious activity. These systems analyze network traffic for behavior patterns indicating an attempted intrusion or attack in progress.
- IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems). IDSs monitor network traffic in real-time and generate alerts when they detect suspicious activity. They can be passive, simply alerting security administrators, or active, automatically responding to threats.
- IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems). IPS detects intrusions and takes steps to prevent them, such as blocking malicious traffic or applying additional firewall rules. IPS often integrates with other security systems to provide in-depth defense.
- Signature and behavior analysis.
IDS and IPS use signature analysis techniques to identify known threats and behavioral analysis to detect anomalous activity that could indicate new or unknown attacks.
Automated Cybersecurity Monitoring Tools
Automated monitoring is crucial to maintaining the security of corporate infrastructures. These tools allow businesses to continuously monitor their systems and networks for unusual or malicious activity and respond quickly to security incidents.
Security Information and Event Management Systems (SIEM)
SIEM solutions collect and analyze event data and logs from multiple sources on the enterprise network. They use advanced algorithms to detect suspicious behavior patterns and generate real-time alerts.
Incident Response and Analysis Tools
These tools allow security teams to quickly analyze security incidents and take the necessary steps to mitigate them. This can include identifying the incident's root cause, containing the threat, and recovering the affected system.
Cloud monitoring
Automated monitoring tools for cloud environments are essential with the increased use of cloud services. These tools monitor cloud activity, detect threats, and ensure compliance with company security policies.
Tools for Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)
To effectively protect their systems, organizations can't just manage the security of their internal infrastructure. Controlling exposed vulnerabilities available to anyone allows you to detect open gaps and implement a proactive security strategy in the organization.
Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) solutions monitor the different layers of the web to locate those publicly exposed vulnerabilities, such as leaked data or credentials, and detect the open breaches that caused them.
The most evolved CTEM tools, such as Kartos Corporate Threat Wathbots, use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to analyze and clean their data and provide highly accurate information about imminent threats.
Identity and access management tools
Identity and access management (IAM) is a crucial component of enterprise cybersecurity. IAM tools ensure that only authorized users can access critical business resources and data and maintain strict controls over who can do what within the system.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide more than one form of verification before accessing systems. This can include a combination of passwords, verification codes sent to mobile devices, fingerprints, or other forms of biometric authentication.
- Privileged access management (PAM). PAM tools allow companies to control and monitor access management to privileged accounts, which have elevated permissions within the system. This includes implementing role-based access policies and logging all privileged account activities.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) Solutions. SSO allows users to access multiple applications and systems with a single login credential. This simplifies password management, improves the user experience, and provides centralized security controls.
Kartos: Corporate Cyber-Surveillance Solution for Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots is a monitoring tool for Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) developed by Enthec to protect organizations.
Using its army of bots deployed across the Web, Dark Web, and Deep Web, Kartos scours forums and repositories to locate leaked information, exposed vulnerabilities, and open breaches of organizations.
Among its unique capabilities in the cybersecurity tools market, Kartos stands out for eliminating false positives in search results thanks to tag technology, which uses self-developed Artificial Intelligence.
In addition to protecting the organization, Kartos allows third parties to be controlled in real-time and continuously for the duration of the business relationship.
If you want to learn more about how Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots can help you protect your organization and control risks in your value chain, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Keys to digital security in companies
Businesses prioritizing digital security are better prepared to face cybersecurity threats and thrive in an increasingly complex digital environment.
Here's what it is and how our cyber intelligence platform for companies can help you maintain your company's digital security.
What is digital security, and why is it essential for businesses?
Digital security refers to the practices and technologies employed to protect computer systems, networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, and damage. It concerns all actors in the digital environment, people and organizations. In an organization, digital security is crucial to safeguarding sensitive information, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining the trust of customers and business partners.
Protecting sensitive information is one of the main aspects of digital security in companies. Organizations handle large volumes of data, including customer personal information, financial data, intellectual property, and other confidential and sensitive information types.
A security breach that exposes this data will likely cause devastating consequences, including significant financial losses, damage to customer reputation and trust, and legal penalties for non-compliance with data protection regulations.
Benefits of Digital Security in Business Continuity
Beyond information protection, digital security is essential because it helps prevent operational disruptions. Cyberattacks like ransomware can stop an organization's operations by blocking access to critical systems and data. This affects productivity and leads to economic losses due to the interruption of business activities. Implementing robust security measures helps minimize the risk of these attacks and ensures that the business continues to operate even amid an incident.
Customer trust and organizational reputation are also highly dependent on digital security. Consumers and business partners expect companies to protect their data adequately. Therefore, investing in digital security protects against cyber threats, strengthens the organization's position in the market, and improves customer confidence.
Another critical factor in digital security is compliance with regulations and standards. In most countries, protecting sensitive data is a business obligation established by law. As a result, European organizations are subject to strict data protection laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Failure to comply with these regulations results in significant penalties and legal actions. Implementing proper digital security practices ensures the company complies with these regulations, avoiding fines and protecting its legal reputation.
Finally, digital security is and should be considered an investment in the company's future. As cyber threats evolve, organizations must be prepared to address new security challenges proactively. Investing in advanced security technology, training employees in secure practices, and developing robust security policies are essential steps in building a resilient security infrastructure capable of adapting to emerging threats.
Types of IT Security You Should Consider
Computer security extends through different types that have to be addressed together when establishing a strategy.
Application Security
It protects a company's software and applications, from internal programs to mobile and web-based applications. It involves performing security testing to identify and fix vulnerabilities, implementing secure development policies, and using web application firewalls (WAF) to protect against attacks such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Information Security
It focuses on protecting company data, both at rest and in transit. It includes data encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and implementing data retention and deletion policies. Protecting confidential information such as customer data or intellectual property is essential to prevent theft, subsequent malicious use, and industrial espionage.
Cloud Security
With the increasing use of cloud services, cloud security has become a priority for any organization. Businesses must ensure that cloud service providers adhere to rigorous security standards and that appropriate security controls are in place to protect data stored and processed in the cloud. This includes using identity and access management tools, data encryption, and continuous monitoring of cloud activities.
Network Security
Protecting the company's network infrastructure against unauthorized access, attacks, and other threats involves firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and security solutions for wireless networks. In addition, segmenting the network to limit the scope of a potential attack and continuously monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity is essential.
Keys to establishing an effective digital security strategy
In addition to covering the different types of digital security, to ensure digital security in the company it is necessary to carry out a series of actions regularly:
Analysis of potential risks
Conducting a thorough risk analysis is the first step in establishing an effective digital security strategy. This involves identifying critical business assets, assessing potential vulnerabilities and threats, and determining the impact a security incident could have. Based on this analysis, resources and efforts can be prioritized in the most critical areas, and a risk mitigation plan can be developed.
Staff training
The human factor is often the weakest link in the security chain. Therefore, it is essential to train staff on secure practices and make them aware of cyber threats.
This includes training on identifying phishing emails, the importance of using strong passwords, and the need to report suspicious activity. A strong safety culture starts with knowledgeable and vigilant employees.
Security policies
Security policies establish the rules and guidelines employees must follow to protect company assets. These policies should cover aspects such as acceptable use of company systems, password management, handling sensitive data, and procedures to follow during a security incident.
Policies should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect new threats and changes in the company's technology infrastructure.
Security audits
Regular security audits are essential to check the effectiveness of the digital security strategy and detect possible failures. An advanced cybersecurity solution that allows constant auditing through continuous threat monitoring is highly recommended.
Digital security and well-being in the workplace
Digital well-being in the workplace is a comprehensive concept that encompasses protecting against cyber threats and creating a healthy and safe working environment in the digital sphere.
Digital security and employee well-being are closely linked. A secure environment allows employees to work more efficiently and with less stress, which means less risk from social engineering attacks.
- Digital security in the workplace. It involves protecting the company's systems, networks, and data from cyberattacks. It includes using advanced security tools, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software, as well as implementing strict security policies. However, it is also crucial to consider the human factor in the equation. Training employees on good security practices, such as identifying phishing emails and using strong passwords, is critical to preventing security incidents.
- Digital employee well-being. This involves creating a work environment where employees can use technology safely and healthily, preventing digital burnout, promoting healthy work practices, and supporting employees in managing their digital time and resources.
- Culture of cybersecurity and digital well-being. Fostering a culture of cybersecurity and digital well-being within the organization is essential for digital security. It involves implementing policies and tools and creating an environment where employees feel supported and valued.
Cyber intelligence for digital security
Cyber intelligence is vital for companies' digital security. By collecting and analyzing threat intelligence, companies anticipate attacks, mitigate risks, and respond effectively to security incidents. Implementing cyber intelligence protects digital assets and business continuity and strengthens resilience and adaptability in the ever-changing digital landscape.
Cyber intelligence provides deep, objective, and up-to-date insight into active threats and exposed vulnerabilities. This information is crucial for making informed decisions and developing effective security strategies focused directly on the organization's vulnerabilities.
Cyber intelligence analytics involves using advanced technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to process large volumes of data and extract accurate information about the organization's digital security status and the actions needed to protect it from ongoing threats. These analytics make it possible to identify threats in real-time and predict future malicious activity.
A crucial aspect of cyber intelligence today is that it assesses and protects against the risk of third parties, one of the threats that are becoming more important due to the inevitable digital interconnection between organizations and their value chains.
Kartos reinforces your organization's digital security strategy.
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots is the Cyber Intelligence platform for companies developed by Enthec. It helps your organization detect leaked and publicly exposed information in real-time.
Kartos continuously and automatically monitors the external perimeter to locate open gaps and exposed vulnerabilities in real-time, both within the organization and its value chain. Thanks to the issuance of immediate alerts, Kartos allows the organization to take the necessary remediation and protection measures to minimize or nullify the risk detected.
Contact us for more information on how Kartos can strengthen your organization's digital security.
Risks of AI in people's online safety
Artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the cybersecurity landscape, presenting opportunities and significant challenges.
This article examines how AI risks impact people's online safety, identifies the most relevant dangers, and offers tips on protecting yourself from these risks.
How is the development of AI affecting people's online safety?
The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing online security, transforming both opportunities and challenges in the digital realm. AI's ability to process and analyze large volumes of data, identify patterns, and learn from them brings significant benefits. Still, it is also creating new vulnerabilities and threats that affect people.
One of the most apparent aspects of AI's positive impact on online security is the automation of threat detection. AI-based cybersecurity tools can monitor in real-time and detect anomalous behavior, identify fraud attempts, and detect malicious attacks before they cause considerable damage.
This has dramatically improved incident response capabilities and reduced the time needed to neutralize threats. For individual users, this translates into more excellent protection of their personal and financial data held by companies.
New AI-Driven Threats
However, cybercriminals also leverage AI to improve their targeted attack tactics, which target a specific person rather than an organization.
The creation of deepfakes, for example, uses AI algorithms to generate fake images, videos, or audio that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. These deepfakes can be used to spread false information, impersonate people in critical situations, or even commit fraud and extortion. AI's ability to replicate human voices has also given rise to highly convincing voice scams, where scammers pose as family members or authority figures to trick their victims.
Another significant risk is the exploitation of vulnerabilities in social networks. AI can analyze profiles and behaviors on these platforms to identify potential targets, collect personal information, and launch targeted attacks. AI-powered bots can also amplify disinformation campaigns and manipulate public opinion, affecting the security of personal data and the integrity of the information we consume.
To mitigate these risks, users must adopt robust security practices. This includes ongoing education about emerging threats and verifying sources before sharing information.
Using advanced security tools that integrate AI capabilities can provide a proactive defense against sophisticated attacks. In addition, being selective about the personal information shared online and adjusting privacy settings on social media can limit exposure to potential threats.
The most relevant dangers of AI
Among the most relevant risks of Artificial Intelligence, we highlight the following.
Creation of deepfakes and digital fakes
Deepfakes are videos or audio created using AI that manipulate images or voices to make them look real. They can be used to spread disinformation, extort people, or even manipulate electoral processes. Digital counterfeits can also be used to impersonate individuals in critical situations.
Voice scams
With the ability to replicate human voices, scammers can impersonate trusted individuals, such as family members or colleagues, to trick their victims into obtaining sensitive information or money. These scams can be extremely convincing and complex to detect without proper tools.
Impersonation
AI can collect and analyze personal information from various online sources, facilitating the creation of fake profiles used to commit fraud and other malicious activities. Phishing is a growing threat in the digital age, exacerbated by AI's capabilities.
Social Media Vulnerabilities
Social media is fertile ground for the exploitation of AI. Cybercriminals can use AI algorithms to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in these platforms, from creating fake profiles to spreading malware. In addition, they can use bots to amplify malicious messages and manipulate public opinions.
Financial Fraud
AI is also being used to commit financial fraud. From creating highly personalized phishing emails to automating fraudulent transactions, cybercriminals use AI to bypass traditional security systems and steal money and financial data.
Ethical and legal risks
The use of AI in cybersecurity poses several ethical and legal risks. AI's ability to make autonomous decisions can lead to situations where privacy rights are violated, or mistakes are made with serious consequences. In addition, the misuse of AI for malicious activities poses significant legal challenges, as current laws are often ill-equipped to address these issues.
How to protect yourself from AI risks
Protecting yourself from AI-related personal online security risks requires education, advanced tools, robust security practices, and collaboration.
Education and Awareness
The foundation of good online security is education. Knowing the risks and how to deal with them is essential. People also need to stay informed about cybercriminals' latest tactics, such as using AI.
Participating in online courses, webinars, and reading blogs specializing in cybersecurity are effective ways to stay current. Continuing education allows us to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately to threats.
Source and Authenticity Verification
One of the most significant risks today is digital deepfakes, which use AI to create fake content that looks real. To protect yourself, it's crucial to always verify the authenticity of information before sharing or acting on it.
Verification tools, such as services that verify the authenticity of news and emails, can help identify and prevent deception.
Use Advanced Security Tools
Numerous security tools use AI to provide advanced protection. These include antivirus software, malware detection programs, and mobile security apps. These tools can analyze behavior in real-time, detect suspicious patterns, and alert users to potentially dangerous activities.
It's essential always to keep these tools current to ensure they're equipped to deal with the latest threats.
Protection of personal data
The protection of personal data is critical in today's digital environment. People should be cautious about the information they share online. Setting your social media privacy settings to limit who can see and access personal information is essential.
It is critical to use strong, unique passwords for each account and change them regularly. Additionally, using password managers can help maintain security without the need to remember multiple passwords.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security. In addition to a password, MFA requires a second verification form, such as a code sent to a mobile phone. This makes it difficult for attackers to access the accounts, even if they manage to obtain the password. Implementing MFA on all possible accounts is an effective measure to increase security.
Constant monitoring
Constant monitoring of accounts and online activity can help quickly detect unusual behavior. Setting up alerts for suspicious activity, such as login attempts from unrecognized locations, allows you to act immediately.
Some services monitor the use of personal information on the dark web and alert users if their data is at risk.
Collaboration and communication
Collaboration and communication with friends, family, and colleagues about cybersecurity can help build a support network and share best practices. Discussing common threats and how to deal with them can raise collective awareness and reduce the risk of falling into cybercriminal traps.
Qondar by Enthec helps you protect your data and digital assets from AI threats
Qondar Personal Threats Watchbots is an innovative platform developed by Enthec to protect people's online personal information and digital assets.
Qondar monitors sensitive data, financial and patrimonial assets, and individual social profiles to detect public leakage of these and prevent their criminal and illegitimate use.
If you want to protect your digital assets or those of your organization's relevant members and avoid the dangers of artificial intelligence to humans, contact us to find out how Qondar can help.
5 tips to improve your company´s access management
Good access management is crucial to protect sensitive information, prevent security breaches, and comply with regulations to ensure business continuity.
Why is good access management crucial in your company?
Access and identity management have become a fundamental organizational pillar in today's digitalization. Who has access to what resources within the organization protects sensitive information and ensures business continuity and regulatory compliance.
Some key reasons why good access management is crucial for any organization are:
Protection of sensitive information
Sensitive information, such as financial data, intellectual property, and personal data of employees and customers, is one of an organization's most valuable assets. Proper access management ensures that only authorized people can access this information, reducing the risk of data breaches and theft.
This is especially important in finance, healthcare, and technology sectors, where data protection is critical.
Security breach prevention
Security breaches have significant negative consequences for organizations, including substantial financial losses, reputational severe damage, and legal sanctions. Effective access management helps prevent these breaches by limiting access to critical systems and data to only those who genuinely need it.
In addition, implementing measures such as multi-factor authentication or continuous monitoring allows you to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts quickly.
Business continuity
Business continuity highly depends on the company's ability to protect its critical systems and data. Proper access management ensures that employees can access the resources they need when they need them to perform their jobs safely and efficiently, even in emergencies.
This minimizes downtime and ensures that the company continues to operate without interruption.
Reduction of internal risks
Not all security risks come from the outside; employees can also pose a threat, either intentionally or accidentally. Effective access management helps mitigate these risks by limiting access to data and systems to those employees who really need it to do their jobs.
In addition, implementing identity and access management (IAM) policies and conducting regular audits can identify and remediate potential internal vulnerabilities.
5 keys to improve your company's Access Management
Access management is a corporate activity that must be constantly updated and reviewed to incorporate the most advanced procedures and tools.
Today, following these five steps is crucial in ensuring good identity and access management in your organization:
Use multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective measures to protect access to company systems. MFA requires users to provide two or more verification forms before accessing a resource. This can include something the user knows (such as a password), something the user has (such as a security token), or something the user owns (such as a fingerprint). Implementing MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, because even if one password is compromised, attackers will still need to get through the other layers of security.
In addition, MFA can be adapted to different levels of security depending on the sensitivity of the data or systems being accessed. For example, more authentication factors may be required to access highly sensitive information. It's also essential to educate employees about the importance of MFA and how to use it correctly to maximize its effectiveness.
Implement a robust identity and access management policy
A well-defined identity and access management (IAM) policy ensures that only the right people can access the right resources at the right time. This policy should include procedures for creating, modifying, and deleting user accounts and assigning roles and permissions. In addition, regular cybersecurity audits are essential to ensure that policies are being followed and that there is no unnecessary or dangerous access.
The IAM policy should be clear and understandable to all employees. It should also be reviewed and updated regularly to accommodate company structure changes and security threats. Integrating IAM with other security solutions, such as multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring, is crucial to creating a cohesive and robust security approach
Discover cyber intelligence applied to access management
Cyber intelligence provides valuable insights into threats and vulnerabilities that could impact a company's access management. Using cyber intelligence tools makes it possible to identify suspicious patterns of behavior, locate open breaches and exposed vulnerabilities that affect access, such as compromised credentials, and respond quickly to potential security incidents. Cyber intelligence helps predict and prevent attacks before they occur, thereby improving the company's security posture.
Implementing cyber intelligence involves using advanced technologies such as big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to analyze large volumes of data and detect threats in real-time. It is also important to collaborate with other organizations and share threat intelligence to improve the ability to respond to and defend against cyberattacks.
Perform continuous automation and monitoring
Automating access management processes improves efficiency and reduces the risk of human error. Automation tools can manage tasks such as provisioning and deleting user accounts, assigning permissions, and performing audits. In addition, continuous access monitoring allows detecting and responding to suspicious activity in real-time. Implementing monitoring and automation solutions ensures that access management is proactive rather than reactive.
Continuous monitoring should include monitoring all access to critical systems and data, identifying anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate an unauthorized access attempt, and detecting compromised credentials. Automatic alerts and detailed reports help security teams quickly respond to incidents and take preventative action to prevent future attacks.
Encourage good security practices
Educating and raising employees' awareness of good security practices is critical to effective identity and access management. This includes creating strong passwords, identifying phishing emails, and not sharing credentials. Conducting regular training and attack simulations helps keep employees aware, alert, and prepared to deal with potential threats.
In addition, it is crucial to foster a culture of cybersecurity within the company, where all employees understand their responsibility to protect the organization's data and systems. This should include implementing clear security policies, promoting open communication about potential threats, and, as a complement, rewarding safe behaviors.
Benefits of optimized access management
The main benefit of optimized access management is its contribution to business continuity and success.
In addition, and reinforcing the previous one, we find other benefits such as:
Increased protection of sensitive information
Streamlined access management ensures that only authorized individuals can access sensitive company information. This reduces the risk of data breaches and protects intellectual property and other valuable assets. In addition, good access management prevents unauthorized access to critical systems, minimizing the impact of potential security incidents.
Increased operational efficiency
Implementing efficient access management improves employee productivity by ensuring they have fast and secure access to the resources they need to do their jobs at the exact time they need them. Automating processes such as provisioning and deleting user accounts and assigning permissions reduces administrative burdens and allows IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks. This, in turn, leads to higher productivity and better resource use.
Improved Regulatory Compliance
National regulations and international standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, or ISO 27001, require companies to implement appropriate access controls to protect sensitive information. Good access management helps to comply with these requirements, avoiding possible sanctions and fines. In addition, strict regulatory compliance strengthens the company's reputation and increases the trust of customers and business partners.
Discover how Kartos by Enthec can strengthen your organization's identity and access management
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots, the threat monitoring platform developed by Enthec, allows the organization to monitor beyond its IT perimeter to locate member credentials leaked and open security breaches that may compromise identity and access management.
Kartos by Enthec locates and transfers to the organization the corporate passwords that are exposed to the reach of any cybercriminal on the web, the deep web, and the dark web so that they can proceed to cancel them. In addition, it provides details about the possible security breaches that caused such a leak.
Do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about how Kartos by Enthec can help you strengthen your organization's identity and access management.
Enthec participates in the 18ENISE
Once again, Enthec participated in 18ENISE, the most important cybersecurity event in Spain, organized by INCIBE, which, on this occasion, also came of age.
Taking advantage of the fact that the event coincided with the launch of the product, on October 21, 22, and 23, we presented Qondar Personal Threat Watchbots, our innovative solution for the online protection of people's information and digital assets, arousing great expectations among national and international visitors.
As part of Enthec's activities at 18ENISE, our CEO, María Rojo, participated in a streamed colloquium on entrepreneurship in the Cybersecurity sector, and Lola Miravet, our COO, gave a talk on individual Cybersecurity for relevant people in an organization. In their speeches, they highlighted the need for organizations to protect people's online information and digital assets at a time when the boundaries of access and storage between professional and personal information have disappeared.
Our stand was very well-guarded, and many people came to take photos with Kartos and Qondar, who were there to welcome visitors.
The evening of the 22nd was dedicated to showing León to our Kartos and Qondar and meeting with our clients and visitors in an after-work designed to connect by disconnecting.
From here, we congratulate INCIBE for the impeccable organization and success of the 18ENISE event.
Our eyes are already on the next edition.
Qondar: the innovative surveillance solution for individual online protection
Continuing with its line of innovative products within the cybersecurity market to respond to emerging needs, on October 15, 2024, Enthec Solutions launched Qondar Personal Threat Watchbots, a solution for people's online protection.
Qondar is a cybersecurity platform designed and developed exclusively for protecting individuals' digital assets. It replicates Kartos' model of an automated and continuous search for leaked sensitive assets and exposed vulnerabilities but with an exclusive focus on sensitive information, digital assets, and individuals' privacy.
Qondar monitors the web, deep web, dark web, social networks, and other forums to detect leaked and exposed sensitive personal information and conversations that may imply an ongoing threat to the integrity of the protected person. This eliminates false positives and provides alarms about leaks and detections in real-time.
Among the personal information monitored by Qondar, both that relating to personal assets, such as bank accounts, credit cards, crypto-wallets, and ongoing online transactions associated with them, as well as that relating to their communications, emails, social networks, telephone numbers, as well as sensitive personal information such as ID card, SS card, driving license or address stand out.
In this first phase of development, Qondar is offered to organizations for the protection of their partners, managers, and VIPs. In a few months, It will also be operational for individuals, influencers, and people of public or patrimonial relevance who need to be and feel protected in the digital environment.
Qondar Personal Watchbots was presented to the market at the 18ENISE, arousing great curiosity among the national and international visiting public.
What is Spear Phishing: 5 keys to protect your business
What is Spear Phishing: 5 keys to protect your business
Spear phishing is a highly targeted form of cyber-attack executed through personalised emails or messages to deceive specific individuals, characteristics that make it very dangerous and effective.
What is spear phishing?
Spear phishing is defined as a cyber attack technique that focuses on specific targets, as opposed to traditional phishing that targets a broad audience. In a spear phishing attack, cybercriminals research and collect information about their victims to create personalised and convincing messages. These messages often appear legitimate and may include details such as names, job titles, and professional relationships, which increases the likelihood that the victim will fall for the scam. The main goal of spear phishing is to trick the victim into revealing confidential information, such as passwords, banking details or sensitive corporate information. Attackers can use this information to commit fraud, steal identities or infiltrate corporate networks.
What is the difference between phishing and spear phishing?
Phishing and spear phishing are cyber-attack techniques that seek to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, but differ in their approach and execution.
Phishing is a massive and widespread attack. Cybercriminals send emails or messages to a large number of people, hoping that some will fall for it. These messages often look legitimate and may include links to fake websites that mimic real ones. The aim is to obtain information such as passwords, credit card numbers or personal data. Due to their mass nature, phishing messages are often less personalised and easier to detect. Spear phishing, on the other hand, is a targeted and personalised attack. Attackers research their victims and collect specific information about them, such as names, job titles, and professional relationships. They use this information to create highly personalised messages that appear to come from trusted sources. Because of their level of personalisation, spear phishing attacks are harder to detect and have a higher success rate. The goal is the same - to obtain sensitive information - but the approach is much more sophisticated and targeted. If you want to find out more about phishing techniques, click here→ Phishing: what it is and how many types there are.
How spear phishing attacks work
Due to their high level of customisation, spear phishing attacks take a long time to prepare and involve the attackers' actions of recognising and searching for exposed sensitive information. The preparation and execution phases of a spear phishing attack typically include:
Choice of target
Targeting is the first step in this type of attack. Attackers carefully select their victims based on their position, access to sensitive information or influence within an organisation. To choose a target, attackers conduct extensive research using various sources of information, such as social networks, corporate websites and public databases. Depending on the attacker's desired outcome, the target can be a senior manager of an organisation or a person with significant wealth, but also an employee with sufficient leverage to provide certain keys or carry out a specific action.
Target research
Once the target has been selected, the attackers then set about gathering detailed information about the victim in order to increase the likelihood of the attack's success. This research phase involves the use of various techniques and sources of information. Attackers usually start by searching for publicly available information on social networks, corporate websites and public databases. They analyse profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms to obtain data on the victim's professional and personal life. They may also review press releases, news articles and blogs to obtain more context about the organisation and the victim's role within it. Once this information is obtained, attackers enter the rest of the layers of the web, the deep web and the dark web, in search of leaked and exposed sensitive information about the victim or the organisation to which he or she belongs. This type of information, as it is not public and the victim is unaware of its exposure, is the most effective for the success of the attack. In addition, attackers can use social engineering techniques to obtain additional information. This includes sending test emails or making phone calls to collect specific data without arousing suspicion. This information obtained includes details about the victim's contacts, communication habits, personal and professional interests and is used by attackers to personalise the attack.
Creating and sending the message
Creating and sending the message is the final step in a spear phishing attack. Once the attackers have selected and studied their target, they use the information gathered to craft a highly personalised and convincing message. This message is designed to appear legitimate and relevant to the victim, thus increasing the likelihood that they will fall for it. The message can take various forms, such as an email, text message or social media communication. Attackers mimic the communication style of a person or entity trusted by the victim, such as a colleague, a superior or a financial institution. The content of the message may include malicious links, infected attachments, or requests for confidential information or specific actions. To increase the credibility of the message, attackers may use spoofing techniques to make the sender appear legitimate. They also often use urgency or scare tactics to pressure the victim to act quickly without much thought or analysis. Once the message is ready, the attackers send it to the victim with the intention that the victim will open it and follow the instructions provided. If the victim falls into the trap, they may reveal sensitive information, such as login credentials, or download malware that compromises their device and the organisation's network.
Keys to preventing spear phishing cyber attacks
To prevent a spear phishing cyber-attack, the keys cover a wide field ranging from the organisation's strategy to the analytical attitude of the individual.
Avoid suspicious links and files
One of the main tactics used in spear phishing is sending emails with malicious links or attachments. These links may redirect to fake websites designed to steal login credentials, while the attachments may contain malware that infects the victim's device. To protect yourself, it is crucial to be cautious when receiving unsolicited emails, especially those containing links or attachments. Before clicking on a link, it is advisable to verify the URL by hovering over the link to ensure that it leads to a legitimate website. In addition, it is important not to download or open attachments from unknown or suspicious senders.
Keeping software up to date
Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in software to carry out their attacks. These vulnerabilities are bugs or weaknesses in code that can be exploited to gain access to sensitive systems and data. When software developers discover these vulnerabilities, they often release updates or patches to fix them. If software is not updated regularly, these vulnerabilities remain open and can be exploited by attackers. Therefore, keeping software up to date is crucial to close these security gaps. Furthermore, software updates not only fix vulnerabilities, but also improve system functionality and performance, providing a more secure and efficient user experience. This includes operating systems, web browsers, applications and security software. To ensure that software is always up to date, it is advisable to enable automatic updates whenever possible. It is also important to watch for update notifications and apply them immediately.
Cybersecurity training
Spear phishing is based on social engineering, where attackers trick victims into revealing sensitive information. Cybersecurity education and awareness helps individuals and organisations to recognise and avoid these fraud attempts. Proper cybersecurity training teaches users how to identify suspicious emails, malicious links and dangerous attachments. It also provides them with the necessary tools to verify the authenticity of communications and avoid falling into common traps. In addition, cybersecurity training fosters a culture of security within organisations. Well-informed employees are more likely to follow security best practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication and regularly updating software. This significantly reduces the risk of a successful spear phishing attack.
Contact cyber-security and cyber-intelligence experts
Cybersecurity and cyber intelligence professionals have the knowledge and experience to identify and mitigate threats before they cause harm. By working with experts, organizations can benefit from a thorough assessment of their security systems and receive personalized recommendations to strengthen their defenses.
In addition, these professionals are aware of the latest cybersecurity trends and the tactics used by cybercriminals, allowing them to anticipate and neutralize potential attacks.
On the other hand, cyber intelligence experts specialize in data analysis and identifying suspicious patterns. They can monitor networks for unusual activity and provide early warnings about potential threats. Their ability to analyze large volumes of information and detect anomalous behavior and open security breaches is crucial to preventing spear phishing attacks.
You may be interested in→ Keys to preventing a data leak.
Establishing a proactive cyber security strategy
A proactive cyber security strategy involves anticipating threats and taking preventive measures before security incidents occur. This not only reduces the risk of successful attacks, but also minimises the impact of any intrusion attempts. The proactive security strategy starts with a comprehensive risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities in the organisation's systems and processes. Based on this assessment, appropriate security measures can be implemented. In addition, it is essential to establish clear policies and procedures for information security management. Finally, it is essential to continuously monitor the attack surface, both internally and externally, for suspicious activities, open breaches and exposed vulnerabilities.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Relevant examples of spear phishing
There are numerous examples of spear phishing attacks in Spain and the rest of the world, demonstrating the proliferation of the technique.
Some highlights include:
- Santander Bank (2020). Victims received emails that appeared to be from the bank, asking them to update their security information. This led several customers to reveal their banking credentials.
- UK universities (2020). The attackers sent emails to students and staff at several UK universities, posing as the university's IT department and asking them to update their passwords. Several university accounts were compromised following the attack.
- Hillary Clinton presidential campaign (2016). John Podesta was Hillary Clinton's campaign manager when he was the victim of a spear phishing attack. After receiving an email that appeared to come from Google, and following the procedure it instructed him to do, he changed his password on the platform. This allowed hackers to access his emails, which were then leaked.
- Technology companies in Germany (2019). Attackers sent a group of German technology companies emails that appeared to come from IT service providers. In these emails, employees were asked to download important software updates, which led to the installation of malware on the companies' systems.
Enthec helps you to protect your organisation against spear phishing
Through its automated and continuous monitoring technology of the web, deep web, dark web, social networks and forums, Enthec helps organisations and individuals to locate leaked and exposed information within the reach of cybercriminals, to neutralise spear phishing attacks, implementing a proactive protection strategy. If you need to know more about how Enthec can help you protect your organisation and its employees against spear phishing, do not hesitate to contact us.
Enthec participates in the Spanish Chamber of Commerce GMC
This year, Madrid has hosted the Global Management Challenge (GMC), organised by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and in which Enthec has participated as a guest. At the event, our COO, Lola Miravet, represented Enthec at the round table ‘What are companies looking for in universities?’ and shared her vision on the importance of young talent and what companies are looking for when recruiting new professionals. An interesting debate held together with great professionals from the sector such as Eva Rojo Cibrián from Banco Sabadell, Carlos Calleja from Akkodis, Alejandro Segura Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and Luis Cascales President of UniPymeMadrid. The Global Management Challenge is the world's largest business strategy and management competition, held annually and bringing together teams of students and professionals from more than 40 countries.
María Rojo in the SIC Magazine
Our CEO, María Rojo, answers the question ‘Threats and cyber-attacks in 2024: which ones will be the most complex and high impact, whether they are expected or not?’, asked by SIC Magazine for its February special edition. Special report on cyber threats and cyber-attacks 2024.
Enthec Solutions obtains ENS high level certification
Enthec Solutions obtains ENS high level certification
With great satisfaction, we are pleased to announce that Enthec Solutions has just successfully completed the certification process of its Cybersecurity Services in the National Security Scheme (ENS) with high level.
Since its inception, Enthec has been committed to an unwavering commitment to the security of our customers, as the basis of trust in the business relationship. This commitment translates into absolute control over the development and operation of our solutions. Our entire offer is made up of cybersecurity solutions that use technology developed entirely by our team and without back doors, as they do not depend at any time on third parties. This characteristic makes us unique in the cybersecurity software development sector. Now, in addition to this internal control of the development and operation of our solutions, we add other external controls that guarantee the security of our products and processes, with the achievement of prestigious security certifications such as ENS high level and ISO 27001, in whose certification process we are already immersed. In this way, we continue to reinforce our commitment to the security of our customers, both from our offer of solutions to complete their cybersecurity strategy and from our own internal corporate structure.
Relevance of perimeter cyber security for your business
Relevance of perimeter cyber security for your business
The concept of an organisation's cyber-security perimeter is bound to expand to adapt to the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks to encompass the external surface of the organisation as well.
What is perimeter security in cyber security?
In cyber security, perimeter security refers to the measures and technologies implemented to protect the boundaries of an organisation's internal network. Its main objective is to prevent unauthorised access and external threats by ensuring that only legitimate users and devices can access the network. Perimeter security is crucial because it acts as the first line of defence against cyber-attacks, acting as a barrier. By protecting the entry and exit points of the network, it reduces the risk of external threats compromising the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data. Key components of perimeter security in cyber security include:
- Firewalls: act as a barrier between the internal and external network, filtering traffic based on predefined rules.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and have the capability to take action to block attacks if necessary.
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): allow secure and encrypted connections between remote users and the internal network. With the implementation of remote working, the use of VPNs in the enterprise has become widespread.
- Web security gateways: filter web traffic to block malicious content and unauthorised sites.
- Authentication and access control systems: verify the identity of users and control which resources they can access.
With the rise of remote working, the sophistication of attacks and the adoption of cloud technologies, perimeter security has evolved. Networks no longer have clearly defined boundaries, which has led to the development of approaches such as Zero Trust, where it is assumed that no entity, internal or external, is trusted by default, or concepts such as extended perimeter cybersecurity, which extends surveillance to the external perimeter of an organisation. If you want to keep up to date→ 5 cybersecurity trends you need to know about.
Network Perimeter Security Guidelines
In order to achieve effective network perimeter security, it is necessary for the organisation to follow, as a minimum, the following guidelines:
Authentication
Authentication ensures that only authorised users and devices can access network resources. It involves verifying the identity of users before allowing them access, which helps to prevent unauthorised access and potential threats. Different authentication methods include:
- Passwords. The most common method, but can be vulnerable if strong and unique passwords are not used or not stored securely.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA). It adds an additional layer of security by requiring a second factor, such as a code sent to the user's mobile phone.
- Biometric authentication. It uses unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to verify the user's identity.
- Digital certificates. Used primarily in enterprise environments, these certificates provide a secure and official way to authenticate devices and users.
It is imperative that the organisation implements strong password policies, enforcing that they are complex and regularly changed, and that it is accountable for ensuring that these policies are known and followed. In addition, it is important that access attempts are monitored to detect and respond to suspicious or failed access attempts.
Integrated security solutions
Integrated security solutions are essential in network perimeter security by combining multiple technologies and tools into a single platform to provide more comprehensive and efficient protection. They enable organisations to manage and coordinate multiple security measures from a single point, making it easier to detect and respond to threats. Integrated solutions are recommended because they improve an organisation's operational efficiency by centralising security management and reducing complexity. They also provide a unified view of network security, making it easier to identify and respond to threats. They are also scalable, allowing organisations to adapt to new threats and security requirements without the need to deploy multiple standalone solutions. Integrated security solutions include:
- Next generation firewalls (NGFWs): offer advanced traffic filtering, deep packet inspection and intrusion prevention capabilities.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and can block attacks in real time.
- Web and email security gateways: protect against web and email-based threats such as malware and phishing.
- Security information and event management (SIEM) systems: collect and analyse security data from multiple sources to identify patterns and alert on potential incidents.
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): provide secure, encrypted connections for remote users.
For a correct integration of the solutions, it is advisable to carry out a gradual implementation, to minimise interruptions, to provide continuous training on the tools to the responsible personnel and to keep the solutions updated and monitored.
Shared security
Shared security is a collaborative approach to network perimeter security that has gained momentum since the expansion of cloud services. It involves cooperation between different entities, such as service providers, customers and partners, to protect the network infrastructure. This model recognises that security is a joint responsibility and that each party has a crucial role in protecting data and resources. The main characteristics of shared security are:
- Mutual responsibility: Both service providers and customers have specific responsibilities for network security. For example, providers may be responsible for physical and infrastructure security, while customers must manage the security of their applications and data.
- Transparency and communication: open and transparent communication between all parties involved is essential to effectively identify and mitigate potential threats.
- Common policies and procedures: Establishing security policies and procedures that are consistent and understood by all parties helps to ensure a coordinated response to security incidents.
For security sharing to be truly effective, the responsibilities of each party involved need to be clearly defined and delineated. In addition, communication channels must be established to allow for the rapid and continuous exchange of information on threats and best practices. Regular audits periodically assess the effectiveness of security measures and adjustments can be made as necessary.
Limitations of perimeter cyber security
As technologies have evolved, the original strict concept of perimeter security limited to the internal environment has presented some important limitations that affect its effectiveness in protecting organisations, such as:
Third-party risk
One of the biggest challenges for perimeter security is third party risk. This risk arises when external organisations, such as suppliers, partners or contractors, have access, for operational reasons, to a company's internal network. Third parties are a weak point in perimeter security as they often have different security standards and policies than the host organisation, which can lead to vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals can use these third-party vulnerabilities as a gateway to access the internal network. For example, a vendor with compromised credentials can be used to launch an attack. In addition, third-party management is complex and difficult to monitor. Organisations often have multiple vendors and partners, which increases the attack surface. The lack of visibility and control over the actual and updated cybersecurity status of these third parties ends up becoming an organisational vulnerability. Access our publication→ Third-party risk for organisations.
Complexity of IT systems
The complexity of IT systems is another important limitation of perimeter security. Modern IT systems are composed of a multitude of interconnected components, such as servers, network devices, applications and databases. This interconnectedness creates a large and difficult to protect attack surface. One of the challenges of complexity is managing multiple technologies and platforms. Each component may have its own vulnerabilities and require different security measures. In addition, integrating legacy systems with new technologies can lead to incompatibilities and security gaps. Complexity also makes visibility and control difficult. With so many and varied components and connections, it is difficult to have a complete view of the network and to detect suspicious activities. A relevant aspect of this complexity is patch and update management. Keeping all components up to date and protected against known vulnerabilities becomes an arduous task. Lack of updates leaves open doors for attackers.
Sophistication of cyber-attacks
Attackers are using increasingly advanced and complex techniques to evade traditional defences and penetrate corporate networks.
One of the key factors is the use of automated tools and artificial intelligence by attackers. These tools can scan networks for vulnerabilities, launch coordinated attacks and adapt in real time to the defences in place. The proliferation of targeted attacks, known as zero-day attacks, exploit unknown vulnerabilities in software. These attacks are difficult to detect and mitigate, as there are no patches available for the exploited vulnerabilities. In addition, attackers are employing more elaborate social engineering techniques to trick users into gaining access to sensitive information. In this respect, people are the weakest link in an organisation's cyber security chain. When an attacker manages to trick the user himself into providing his personal credentials, for example, there is no perimeter security system capable of preventing the intrusion. Read our publication→ How to protect yourself amid a wave of cyber attacks on businesses.
Cost of perimeter armouring
The high cost of perimeter armour is a significant constraint to its proper design. Implementing and maintaining perimeter security measures is extremely costly, especially for organisations with large and complex networks. These costs include the acquisition of security hardware and software, the hiring of specialised personnel, and regular security audits and assessments. One of the most significant challenges is that threats are constantly evolving, requiring continuous upgrades and enhancements to perimeter defences. This can result in a never-ending cycle of expense, as organisations must constantly invest in new technologies and solutions to keep up with the latest threats. Furthermore, the cost of perimeter security is not just limited to the purchase of equipment and software. It also includes the time and resources required to manage and maintain these solutions. Staff training, implementation of security policies and incident response also contribute to the total cost.
Extended cyber security as an enhancement to perimeter cyber security
External perimeter security in organisational cyber security, also known as extended perimeter security, is a strategy that goes beyond traditional defences to protect digital assets in an increasingly interconnected environment. This strategy recognises that threats can originate both inside and outside the corporate network and seeks to nullify or proactively mitigate risks with security before they reach the corporate perimeter security barrier. One of the key benefits of extended cyber security is the ability to monitor and protect external access points, such as VPN connections and mobile devices. This is especially important in a world where remote working and mobility are increasingly common. Extended cyber security also includes the protection of cloud services. With the increased use of cloud-based applications and services, it is crucial to ensure that these environments are protected against unauthorised access and vulnerabilities. This can be achieved by implementing robust access controls, data encryption and continuous monitoring of cloud activity. Among all the advantages of extended cyber security is the ability to detect ongoing threats at the external perimeter of the organisation in an automated, continuous and real-time manner through Cyber Intelligence solutions. Within these solutions, the most evolved ones also include third party risk management. Cyber Intelligence solutions use advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to monitor the web, deep web, dark web and social networks for leaked corporate information, open breaches and exposed vulnerabilities and analyse large volumes of data. This enables a fast and effective response to security incidents, nullifying or minimising the potential impact on the organisation's systems.
Extends corporate perimeter cyber security strategy with Kartos by Enthec
Kartos XTI Watchbots is the Cyber Intelligence platform developed by Enthec to extend the security perimeter controlled by organizations.
By simply entering the organization's domain, Kartos provides real-time information on exposed vulnerabilities and open breaches in nine threat categories outside its IT perimeter.
In addition, Kartos by Enthec allows organizations to continuously and automatically control third-party risk, providing real-time data.
If you want to learn more about extended cybersecurity, download our whitepaper, Extended Cybersecurity: When Strategy Builds the Concept.
Contact us for more information on how Kartos can extend your organization's perimeter security strategy.
What is data encryption: features and how does it work?
What is data encryption: features and how does it work?
Data encryption is a fundamental security practice to protect digital information and ensure its integrity and privacy.
Data encryption: definition
Data encryption is the process of transforming readable information (plaintext) into an encoded format (cipher text) that can only be read by those in possession of a specific decryption key. This process ensures that data is inaccessible to unauthorised persons, thus protecting the confidentiality and integrity of the information. Its importance lies in several key aspects that ensure data integrity, availability and confidentiality:
- Privacy protection: Data encryption ensures that sensitive information such as personal, financial and health data remains private and secure. By converting plaintext to ciphertext, only authorised persons with the decryption key can access the information.
- Communications security: In digital communications, such as emails, instant messages and online transactions, encryption protects against interception and eavesdropping. By encrypting transmitted data, it ensures that any attempt to intercept the communication results in information that is unreadable to attackers.
- Compliance: Many regulations and laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, require the use of encryption to protect personal data. Compliance with these regulations not only avoids legal sanctions, but also demonstrates an organisation's commitment to protecting its customers‘ and users’ information.
- Cyber-attack and fraud prevention: Data encryption helps prevent unauthorised access and misuse of information, preventing the risk of fraud and cyber-attacks. Attackers attempting to access encrypted data will face a significant barrier, hindering their efforts and protecting critical information.
- Intellectual property protection: In the business environment, data encryption protects intellectual property such as trade secrets, patents and confidential documents. This is essential to maintain competitive advantage and prevent the leakage of valuable information.
- Customer trust: The use of database encryption also contributes to building trust among customers and users. Knowing that an organisation takes steps to protect their personal information increases customer trust and loyalty, which can translate into long-term business benefits.
Main challenges of data encryption
Despite its benefits, data encryption presents challenges:
- Key management. The generation, distribution and secure storage of encryption keys are critical and complex.
- Rendimiento. El cifrado puede afectar el rendimiento de los sistemas, especialmente en el caso de cifrado asimétrico.
- Compatibility. It is necessary to ensure that systems and applications are compatible with the encryption methods used.
How data encryption works
The data encryption process is performed by means of mathematical algorithms and the use of encryption keys. Database encryption algorithms are mathematical formulae that transform plaintext into ciphertext. The encryption process consists of the following steps:
- Key generation. An encryption key is generated which will be used to transform the plaintext into ciphertext.
- Encryption. The encryption algorithm uses the key to convert plaintext into ciphertext.
- Transmission or storage. Ciphertext is transmitted or stored securely.
- Deciphered. The authorised receiver uses the corresponding key to convert the ciphertext back into plaintext.
Most effective techniques for data encryption
Keys are essential for data encryption and decryption. There are two main types of encryption:
- Symmetric Encryption: uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data.
- Asymmetric Encryption: uses a public and a private key pair. The public key encrypts the data, and only the corresponding private key can decrypt it.
Each of these is explained in more detail below.
Symmetric encryption methods
Symmetric encryption is an encryption method that uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data. It is known for its speed and efficiency, making it ideal for large volumes of data. Some of the most common methods include:
- AES (Estándar de cifrado avanzado). It is one of the most secure and widely used algorithms. It offers different key sizes (128, 192 and 256 bits) and is resistant to cryptographic attacks.
- DES (Data Encryption Standard). Although older and less secure than AES, it is still used in some applications. It uses a 56-bit key.
- 3DES (Triple DES). It improves the security of DES by applying the algorithm three times with two or three different keys.
Symmetric encryption is efficient, but secure key distribution is a challenge, as both parties must have access to the same key without compromising its security.
Asymmetric encryption methods
Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys: a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt the data, while the corresponding private key is used to decrypt it. This method is more secure for data transmission, as the private key is never shared.
- RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman). It is one of the best known and most widely used asymmetric encryption algorithms. It provides high security and is used in applications such as digital signatures and SSL/TLS certificates.
- ECC (criptografía de curva elíptica). It uses elliptic curves to provide a high level of security with smaller keys, making it more efficient in terms of performance and resource usage.
Asymmetric encryption is ideal for secure data transmission, although it is slower than symmetric encryption due to its mathematical complexity. If you want to keep up to date in this sector, we encourage you to access our content→ The 5 cybersecurity trends you need to know. Now that you know the examples of data encryption, it's time to discover its key benefits.
Key benefits of data encryption
Key benefits of database encryption include the following:
Data protection on different devices
Data encryption is an essential measure for protecting data on a variety of devices, including mobile phones, computers and servers. By converting information into a format unreadable to anyone without the decryption key, encryption ensures that sensitive data remains secure, even if the device is lost or stolen. This is especially relevant in a world where cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated.
Maintaining data integrity
Encrypting data ensures that the information is not altered during storage or transmission. This is crucial to prevent malicious manipulation and to ensure that data remains accurate and reliable. In the context of data transmission, encryption protects information against unauthorised interception and modification. This is especially important in public or unsecured networks, where data may be vulnerable to attack. In addition, encryption helps to detect any tampering with the data, as any changes to the encrypted information will result in unreadable data when decrypted without the correct key.
Data migration to cloud storage
Data encryption is essential for secure data migration to cloud storage. Encrypting information before transferring it to the cloud ensures that data remains protected from unauthorized access during migration. This is especially important because data can be vulnerable to interception and cyberattacks while moving over public or private networks.
In addition, cloud database encryption ensures that only authorized individuals can access the stored information, thus protecting the privacy and confidentiality of sensitive data. This is crucial to comply with data protection regulations, such as the GDPR in Europe, which requires appropriate security measures.
Kartos XTI Watchbots, the Cyber Intelligence and Cybersecurity platform developed by Enthec, allows your organization to proactively, continuously, and in real-time control key aspects for correct data protection and compliance.
Contact us to know how Kartos can help you protect your data.
How to protect yourself amid a wave of cyber-attacks on businesses
Recent waves of next-generation cyberattacks on large organizations have shaken the business world, exposing vulnerabilities and challenging information security.
The reality of recent next-generation cyberattacks
The information on the recent waves of cyberattacks on companies in Spain and worldwide is alarming.
At the end of 2023, 73% of companies worldwide reported a fear of receiving a cyberattack in the following year, an increase of 8% compared to the previous year.
The outlook in Spain is also worrying, as 94% of companies have suffered a cybersecurity incident in the last year. Already in 2022, Spain ranked third globally in terms of cyberattacks.
Recent next-generation cyberattacks are sophisticated, targeted, and persistent. They use advanced techniques to bypass traditional security systems and cause significant damage.
These attacks are not limited to small and medium-sized companies with less protection capacity, but large organizations are also proving to be vulnerable targets.
Attackers use techniques such as targeted phishing, ransomware, and brute force attacks to penetrate enterprise networks, as well as zero-day vulnerabilities and security flaws unknown to the public and the software manufacturer.
These techniques are effective because they use the latest technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence or machine learning, in the design and execution of cyberattacks.
The impact of these recent cyberattacks is not limited to the short term and, sometimes, endangers the business's survival in the medium term. Immediate damage includes loss of sensitive data, disruption of business operations and services, damage to the company's reputation, and the cost of recovery.
Sectors most affected by the waves of cyberattacks on companies
In Spain, according to data provided by INCIBE, in 2023 the sectors most affected by cyberattacks were:
- Industrial sector: Spain is the fourth country in Europe with the most cyberattacks against the industrial sector, and attacks are expected to continue increasing and affecting new subsectors such as agriculture or livestock in their most digitized production phases.
- Healthcare sector: According to ENISA data, Spain ranks second in episodes of cybersecurity attacks in the healthcare sector in Europe, with 25 incidents recorded between 2021 and 2023.
- Financial sector: The financial sector maintained 25% of cyberattacks recorded in 2022 and 2023, which is a stable trend compared to other sectors.
- Transportation sector: This sector has also accumulated more than 25% of cyberattacks in 2023.
- Energy sector: the energy sector has exceeded 22% of cyberattacks in 2023, making it a sector in the spotlight due to the importance of its services.
- Insurance sector: The insurance sector is another sector most affected by cyberattacks. Last year, 94% of Spanish insurance companies suffered at least one serious cybersecurity incident.
- Telecommunications and technology: 18.3% of the incidents managed in 2023 were related to this sector.
- Public Administrations: Public Administrations are in the crosshairs of cybercrime due to the large amount of sensitive data they handle and their importance in the hectic global socio-political environment.
- SMBs: SMBs continue to register a significant number of cyberattacks, and their strategy is based on the cumulative benefit of the success of a large number of lower-yielding attacks.
These data do not differ much from those provided by ENISA for the European Union. The increase in cyberattacks on the European financial sector and the health sector so far this year is noteworthy.
Why are there more and more cases of successful cyberattacks on companies?
The frequency of different types of cyberattacks worldwide has increased significantly in recent years.
Specifically, in Spain, according to the 2023 Annual National Security Report, CCN-CERT managed 107,777 incidents, Incibe, 83,517 incidents, and ESDF-CERT, 1,480 incidents in 2023. This represents a significant increase compared to previous years. In 2018, INCIBE reported 102,414 incidents, representing a 15% increase in the frequency of cyberattacks on companies in just five years.
Among the main causes of the success of the recent waves of cyberattacks are:
- Lack of risk perception. Many companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, do not have a clear perception of the risks they run and do not bother to adopt a true cybersecurity strategy.
- Vulnerabilities in hardware and software. Devices used by employees and systems critical to the operation of companies are vulnerable to attacks and are the main point of entry in 18% of cases.
- Cybersecurity culture. The lack of a cybersecurity culture among workers and collaborators leads to errors and vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Keeping staff and collaborators up to date with the latest developments and trends in cybersecurity means reducing the chances of success of social engineering techniques and reinforcing the protection of systems.
- Lack of proactive approach to cybersecurity. Data stolen in cyberattacks or leaked by security breaches often ends up on black markets, on the Dark Web, or the Deep Web, where it is sold to other criminals for various illicit purposes, such as designing new cyberattacks. Implementing a proactive approach to corporate cybersecurity allows you to locate data and breaches before they can be used to attack the organization
- Operations by notoriety. Cybercriminal groups operate by notoriety and feed off each other with increasingly complicated challenges to expose the security of large organizations. The increase in cyberattacks is driven by the growing notoriety of attacks and feedback among cybercriminals. This has led to an increased frequency and severity of recent cyberattacks and the peculiarity that they are executed in what appear to be planned waves.
The lack of investment in cybersecurity
Of all the causes of the success of recent cyberattacks on any company, one triggers the rest and forms the basis of this: companies lack a real and solid culture of investment in cybersecurity.
Corporate cybersecurity strategies and tools require planned and continuous investment that responds to the objectives of permanent updating and incorporation of the latest technologies and the most evolved solutions.
To prevent attacks from succeeding, it is urgent that organizations incorporate into their investment culture the idea that they must be one step ahead of cybercriminals in technological updating and evolution as a foundation for business continuity and growth.
It is enough to compare what an organization may consider a high expenditure on cybersecurity with the value of its databases, industrial and intellectual properties, liquid assets, products and services, brand, the trust of customers, partners and investors, or the cost of an erroneous risk calculation, among other things, to visualize that it constitutes a profitable investment in the business.
In the current scenario, providing the corporate cybersecurity strategy with the most advanced technologies is not an option for organizations, but a necessity.
Cybercriminals quickly incorporate every technological innovation into the design and execution of their cyberattacks. Combating this growing and limitless sophistication with outdated tools or solutions not based on the latest technologies is impossible.
Actions to prevent cyberattacks on companies
Protecting yourself to avoid cyberattacks or minimising their consequences involves changing the traditional approach to cybersecurity and adopting one that goes beyond barrier protection with strategies such as:
Proactive Cybersecurity
In today's increasingly sophisticated cyberattack scenario, staying one step ahead is the only way to prevent them.
A proactive approach to cybersecurity involves anticipating threats before they occur. Instead of reacting to security incidents after they happen, a proactive approach seeks to prevent them.
This includes identifying system vulnerabilities in cybersecurity, implementing preventative measures, and ongoing staff training. Therefore, it involves using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to detect anomalous patterns, conducting penetration tests to discover weaknesses, and creating an incident response plan.
A proactive approach also involves keeping up with the latest trends and threats in cybersecurity and constant commitment from the organization to protecting its digital assets.
Third-party risk management
Due to the current scenario of interconnection between companies, a corporate cybersecurity strategy that does not include its third parties in the monitored and controlled attack surface is a failed strategy. Third-party risk management ensures that relationships with third parties do not compromise the organization's security.
This third-party risk management involves assessing and mitigating the risks associated with interacting with suppliers, partners, and other third parties. It includes access to sensitive data, systems integration, and reliance on critical services.
Organizations should conduct security audits, review third-party cybersecurity policies, and establish service-level agreements. However, it is crucial that the organization has state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions that allow it to control and manage third-party risk continuously and in real-time for the duration of the business relationship.
NIS 2, the European Cybersecurity Directive that comes into force in 2024, elevates third-party risk management to a mandatory requirement for companies in critical or important sectors for the EU.
Locating Leaked Credentials
The location and identification of leaked credentials and passwords is essential to prevent the theft of data and critical information, as well as the execution of attacks that use social engineering techniques.
Detecting these breaches allows organizations to take steps to protect themselves, change compromised passwords, and strengthen their security policies. In addition, it helps identify patterns in leaks, which is useful to prevent future incidents.
Address the challenges of cyberattacks on businesses in the digital age with Kartos
Our Kartos by Enthec Cyber Intelligence platform enables organizations to implement a proactive cybersecurity approach based on detecting open breaches and vulnerabilities exposed for override before they are used to carry out a cyberattack.
Kartos XTI Watchbots continuously and automatically monitors the external attack surface of organizations to locate exposed vulnerabilities of organizations and their third parties.
In addition, Kartos uses self-developed Artificial Intelligence to ensure the elimination of false positives in search results.
To learn more about how Kartos by Enthec helps your organization protect against a wave of cyberattacks on companies, discover our solutions or contact us here.
Information Security: 5 Best Practices to Implement in Your Company
Digitalization is becoming increasingly relevant in companies, highlighting their dependence on new technologies. This makes information security essential to prevent companies from leaving their data unprotected.
In this post, we explain what it consists of and provide 5 good practices in information security to start implementing.
What is information security?
Information security protects information and information systems against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, interruption, modification, or destruction. It has become a critical obligation for organizations.
Companies of all sizes and sectors handle a wealth of information, from personal and sensitive employee and customer data to financial and intellectual property information. This information is a valuable asset that, if compromised, can cause serious harm to data subjects and significant damage to an organization's reputation and financial viability.
Therefore, organizations must establish procedures to ensure information security, protect against threats that may affect it, and ensure the continuity of their operations.
Procedures to Ensure Information Security
These procedures should include information security policies, access controls, information security training, security incident management, and disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
- Information security policies provide a framework for managing information security in an organization. These policies define employee responsibilities, security requirements for information systems, and procedures for handling security incidents.
- Access controls are measures that limit information access to authorized persons. These can include passwords, key cards, and two-factor authentication.
- Information security training is essential to ensure that all employees understand information security and their responsibilities regarding it. This training should cover topics such as the secure handling of information, identifying security threats, and responding to security incidents.
- Security incident management involves identifying, tracking, and resolving security incidents. These incidents typically include phishing attacks, data breaches, and different types of malware.
Disaster recovery and business continuity plans detail how an organization will respond to a security incident that results in a significant loss of information or operational capacity and nullify or minimize its effects.
Key Terms in Information Security
Three key terms allow us to understand the concept and constitute the characteristics of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Confidentiality
It refers to the protection of information from disclosure to unauthorized parties. Confidentiality measures include data encryption, access control, and user authentication.
Integrity
In this case, it refers to protecting information against unauthorized modification or deletion. This ensures that the information is accurate and complete. Integrity measures include version control, backups, and intrusion detection systems.
Availability
It refers to ensuring that information and information systems are available for use when needed. Availability measures include system redundancy, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
These 3 characteristics of information security should guide organizations in the development of security policies, procedures and controls.
However, information security is not a one-size-fits-all solution that can be applied uniformly across organizations. Each organization must assess its own risks and develop an information security strategy that is tailored to its specific needs.
In addition, information security is not a static state, but an ongoing process. As threats and risks evolve, so do security measures. This requires constant vigilance, regular evaluation of safety policies and procedures, and ongoing user education and training.
5 Best Practices in Information Security
Among the best practices in information security, implementing these five in your company that we detail below is the starting point for any corporate information security procedure.
1. Security Updates
Security updates are critical to
protecting organizations' information systems.
These updates contain patches that address the latest software vulnerabilities. Keeping systems up-to-date minimizes the risk of cyberattacks.
Discover the foremost common types of cyberattacks through our blog.
2. Access to information control
Access control is another crucial practice. It involves ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information.
The organization should implement role-based access control policies to limit access to information based on its category and the job responsibilities of its employees.
3. Backups
Regular backups are essential for data recovery in the event of information loss.
The organization should make backups on a regular basis and store them in a safe place. In the event of a cyberattack, backups allow information to be restored and operational activity to be maintained.
4. Password management
Effective password management is vital for information cybersecurity.
It's critical to encourage employees to use strong, unique passwords for each account, as well as to renew them regularly. Additionally, it is advisable to implement two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
5. Staff Awareness
Finally, staff awareness is crucial in preventing the success of social engineering techniques. This is one cybersecurity tip that you should keep in mind.
Your employees need to be informed about cybersecurity best practices and how to identify potential threats. Regular training is critical for them to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and how to prevent them.
Kartos helps you protect the security of your company's information
Kartos XTI Watchbots, our AI platform for Cyber Intelligence and Cybersecurity, enables your organization to proactively, continuously monitor key aspects of information security in real-time, such as:
- Passwords Leaked and Exposed
- Leaked and Exposed Databases
- Leaked and exposed documentation
- CVEs
- Outdated items
- Value Chain
Through monitoring of the Internet, the Dark Web, and the Deep Web, Kartos detects exposed security breaches affecting your organization's information in real-time so that you can correct and nullify them before they are used to execute a cyberattack. Get to know our solutions!
Guidance on cyber security patch management
Guidance on cyber security patch management
By keeping systems up to date and protected against known vulnerabilities, organisations improve their security posture and reduce the risk of cyber attacks. This protection is achieved through cybersecurity patch management. Here we explain what it consists of, phases and best practices.
What is patch management in cybersecurity?
Patch management is an essential practice within cyber security that focuses on keeping computer systems up to date and protected against known vulnerabilities. Patches are software updates that vendors release to fix security flaws, software bugs and improve functionality. Patch management ensures that these updates are applied in a timely and effective manner, minimising the risk of exploitation by attackers. The importance of patch management lies in its ability to protect systems against cyber threats. Vulnerabilities in software can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorised access, steal data, install malware or disrupt operations. Once detected, vendors provide updates, called patches, to correct them. By patching on a regular basis, organisations can close these security gaps and significantly reduce the risk of incidents. In this way, security patch management plays an important role in business continuity. Security incidents can involve significant disruptions to operations. By keeping systems up to date, organisations minimise the risk of disruption and ensure continuity of operations. In addition, patch management contributes to the stability and performance of systems. Importantly, updates not only fix security flaws, but can also improve the efficiency and functionality of software. This translates into a better user experience and increased productivity for the organisation. As an associated benefit, security patch management also aids in regulatory compliance. Many regulations and industry standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) or certifications such as ENS or ISO 27001, require organisations to develop a regular security patch management protocol to keep their systems up to date and protected against known vulnerabilities. Failure to comply can result in penalties and loss of certifications.
Phases of patch and update management
The patch and update management process generally consists of the following steps:
Identification
In this phase, vulnerabilities and necessary updates to corporate systems and applications are identified. It involves reviewing sources of security information, such as vendor security bulletins, vulnerability databases and security alerts. The main objective of this phase is to detect through proactive security any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. By identifying these vulnerabilities, the organisation can manage the necessary updates and patches to mitigate the risks. In addition, early identification of vulnerabilities allows the organisation to plan and coordinate the implementation of patches efficiently, minimising the impact on daily operations.
Asset management
During this phase, a detailed inventory of all IT assets, including hardware, software and devices connected to the network, is carried out. This inventory allows the organisation to have a clear view of the systems and applications that need to be upgraded. Asset management involves identifying and classifying each asset according to its criticality and function within the organisation. It helps prioritise patches and upgrades, ensuring that the most critical systems are upgraded first. It also allows for the detection of obsolete or unauthorised assets that could pose a security risk. Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of assets also facilitates the planning and coordination of updates, minimising the impact on day-to-day operations. You may be interested in→ The role of cyber intelligence in preventing digital fraud.
Patch monitoring
In this phase, the status of patches applied is continuously monitored to ensure that they have been installed correctly and that systems are functioning as expected. Monitoring involves the use of specialised tools and software that track and report the status of patches on all IT assets. It allows the organisation to quickly detect any problems or failures in patch deployment and take immediate corrective action. In addition, monitoring helps identify new vulnerabilities that may arise after patching, ensuring that systems remain protected. Maintaining constant vigilance also facilitates reporting and auditing, demonstrating compliance with security policies and regulations.
Prioritisation of patches
This phase involves assessing and ranking the available patches according to their importance and urgency. Prioritisation criteria may include the criticality of the vulnerabilities they address, the potential impact on systems and the availability of workarounds. During this phase, a risk analysis is performed to determine which patches should be applied first. Patches that fix critical vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers are usually given the highest priority. In addition, the impact on business continuity is considered, ensuring that patching does not disrupt essential operations. Effective patch prioritisation helps to minimise security risks and maintain operational stability. It is a balance between protecting systems and ensuring that updates are deployed in an orderly manner and without causing significant disruption.
Patch testing
In this phase, patches are applied in a controlled and isolated environment, known as a sandbox, before being deployed on production systems. The main objective is to verify that the patches do not cause unexpected problems, such as conflicts with other applications, system crashes or data loss. Extensive testing is carried out to ensure that the patch works correctly and does not introduce new vulnerabilities. In addition, the impact on system performance is assessed and critical functionalities are verified to ensure that they continue to operate as expected. This phase also includes documenting the test results and identifying any issues that need to be resolved before final deployment. The patch testing phase ensures that upgrades are performed in a safe and efficient manner, minimising risks and ensuring operational continuity.
Implementation of patches
The patch deployment phase is the last and critical step in an organisation's patch and update management process. During this phase, patches that have been tested and approved are deployed to production systems. The process begins with detailed deployment planning, including scheduling maintenance windows to minimise disruption to operations. Users are notified of the timing and expected impact of the upgrade. Patches are then applied according to a pre-defined plan, ensuring that the proper procedures are followed for each system. It is essential to monitor the process in real time to detect and resolve any problems that may arise. After implementation, additional testing is performed to confirm that the patches have been applied correctly and that the systems are functioning as expected. Finally, the process is documented and the success of the implementation is reported. This phase ensures that systems are protected and operational, with a minimum of disruption.
Best practice for patch management
In general, in order to maintain proper security patch management within the organisation, it is recommended:
Promoting accountability
Accountability implies that all team members understand the importance of timely and effective patching. It is achieved by implementing clear policies and assigning specific roles for patch management. In addition, it is essential to foster a culture of transparency and open communication, where patch status is regularly reported and potential vulnerabilities are discussed. Ongoing training and cyber threat awareness are also critical to ensure that staff are prepared to face challenges.
Creating a recovery plan
This plan ensures that, should a patch cause unexpected problems, the system can be restored to its previous operating state quickly and efficiently. A good recovery plan should include regular backups of all critical systems and data, as well as clear procedures for reverting changes made by patches. In addition, it is important to periodically test the recovery plan to ensure its effectiveness and update it as necessary. Detailed documentation and staff training are also crucial to ensure that everyone knows how to act in the event of an emergency. By implementing a robust recovery plan, organisations minimise downtime and reduce the impact of potential failures to maintain maximum operations.
Being intentional
Intentionality involves planning and executing patching with a clear and defined purpose. This includes carefully evaluating available patches, prioritising those that address critical vulnerabilities, and scheduling their implementation at times that minimise the impact on operations. In addition, being intentional requires effective communication with all team members, ensuring that everyone understands the objectives and procedures related to security patch management. It is also important to continuously monitor and evaluate results to adjust strategies as needed.
Find out how Kartos by Enthec can help you with patch and update management.
Kartos XTI Watchbots, the automated Cyber Intelligence platform developed by Enthec, provides organizations with information obtained from the analysis of CVEs in real time as defined in the standard.
In this way, organizations can know in real-time which corporate assets are outdated and, therefore, have exposed vulnerabilities that could be exploited to execute a cyberattack.
Contact us to learn about our cyber intelligence solutions and how Kartos can help you effectively manage your organization's patches and updates.
Threat hunting: 3 reasons why it is necessary to have it
Threat hunting is a proactive protection practice against advanced threats that is essential to maintain the integrity and security of an organisation's systems and data. Below we explain in more detail what threat hunting is and the relevance of implementing it in organisations.
What is Threat hunting?
Threat hunting is a proactive process of searching for and detecting cyber threats capable of evading traditional security defences. Unlike reactive methods that rely on automated alerts, threat hunting involves actively searching for suspicious or malicious activity within the system or network, both internally and externally. The primary goal of threat hunting is to identify, mitigate or nullify advanced threats before they can cause significant damage. This includes the detection of advanced persistent attacks (APTs), malware, exposed vulnerabilities and other risk factors that may not be detected by conventional security tools.
Threat hunting methodology
Now that you know exactly what Threat hunting is, it is essential that you discover its methodology. This process generally follows an iterative cycle that includes the following phases:
- Hypothesis. Threat hunting starts with the formulation of threat hypotheses based on threat intelligence, behavioural analysis and knowledge of the environment.
- Data collection. Data is collected from a variety of sources, such as event logs, network monitoring, and endpoint data.
- Analysis. The collected data is analysed for unusual patterns or indicators of compromise (IoCs).
- Research. If suspicious activity is identified, further investigation is carried out to determine the nature and extent of the threat.
- Response. If a threat is confirmed, measures are taken to contain, nullify or mitigate the impact.
Threat hunting uses a variety of tools and techniques including:
- Intrusion detection systems (IDS): to monitor and analyse network traffic for suspicious activity.
- Log and behavioural analysis: to review and correlate events recorded in different systems and identify deviations in the normal behaviour of users and systems.
- Threat intelligence: to obtain information on open breaches and exposed vulnerabilities on the web, dark web, deep web and social networks.
How to do Threat hunting: steps to follow
To carry out threat hunting effectively, the following key steps are necessary:
- Define objectives and strategy. Determine what you want to achieve, identify advanced threats or improve incident detection and develop a strategy containing the necessary resources, tools to be used and procedures to be followed.
- Form a Threat hunting team. The team must have experience in cyber security and data analysis, and it is essential that they are constantly updated on the latest threats and techniques.
- Collect and analyse data. Compilation through event logs, network traffic and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), automated Cyber Intelligence platforms...
- Formulate the hypotheses. Based on threat intelligence and behavioural analysis, hypotheses about possible threats are formulated and steps are defined to investigate each hypothesis.
- Execute the hunt. Active searches of collected data are conducted to identify suspicious activity. If indications of a threat are found, further investigation is conducted to confirm the nature and extent.
- Respond and mitigate. When a threat is confirmed, measures are taken to contain, nullify or mitigate its impact.
- Documentation and reporting. All findings and actions taken are documented and reports are provided to senior management and cyber security managers to improve defences and security strategies.
What is needed to start threat hunting?
To implement an effective Threat Hunting programme, it is necessary to prepare and organise several key components that will ensure its success. These fundamental elements include proper team selection, collection and analysis of relevant data, and integration of threat intelligence.
Human capital
Selecting the right threat hunting team is crucial to the success of the strategy. A threat hunting team should bring together a combination of technical skills, practical experience and the ability to work as a team. The threat hunting team should be composed of professionals with backgrounds in cyber security, data analysis, attacker techniques and procedures, with official certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) and, if possible, extensive hands-on experience. The team must be able to work collaboratively and communicate their findings effectively to other departments and senior management. They should be continuously updated on cybersecurity and threats.
Data
To initiate threat hunting, it is essential to collect and analyse a variety of data that can provide indications of suspicious or malicious activity. This data should be extracted from event logs, such as system or security logs; network traffic, such as packet captures or network flows; endpoint data, such as activity logs or sensor data; threat intelligence, such as indicators of compromise or information gathered from monitoring external sources; user data, such as authentication logs or behavioural analysis; and data on exposed vulnerabilities and open breaches extracted from scans of the organisation's internal and external attack surfaces.
Threat Intelligence
Threat Intelligence focuses on the collection, analysis and utilisation of information about potential and current threats that may affect the security of an organisation. It provides detailed insight into malicious actors, their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), as well as exposed vulnerabilities and open security holes that can be exploited to execute an attack. For threat hunting, threat intelligence acts as a solid foundation that guides the team in identifying and mitigating risks. By having access to up-to-date and accurate threat information, threat hunting professionals can anticipate and detect suspicious activity before it becomes a security incident. In addition, Threat Intelligence allows prioritisation of countermeasure efforts, focusing on the most relevant and immediate threats to the organisation.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Outstanding features and benefits of Threat hunting
Threat hunting offers a number of key features and advantages that distinguish it from traditional security practices. The most relevant of these are highlighted below:
Proactive and immediate approach
Unlike traditional security methods that tend to be reactive, threat hunting empowers organisations to anticipate threats before they materialise. This proactive approach involves actively looking for signs of malicious activity rather than waiting for incidents to occur. By taking an immediate approach, threat hunting professionals can identify and neutralise threats in real time, minimising the potential impact on the organisation. This not only reduces incident response time, but also improves the organisation's ability to prevent future attacks. In addition, the proactive approach allows organisations to stay one step ahead of attackers by quickly adapting to new tactics and techniques used by malicious actors. You may be interested in→ Proactive security: what is it and why use it to prevent and detect threats and cyberattacks?
Continuous improvement
Threat hunting enables organisations to constantly evolve and adapt to new threats and tactics employed by malicious actors. Through threat hunting, security teams can identify patterns and trends in threats, allowing them to continuously adjust and improve their defence strategies. Continuous improvement involves a constant feedback loop, where threat hunting findings are used to refine security policies, update detection tools and techniques, and train staff on new defence tactics. This process not only strengthens the organisation's security posture, but also increases resilience to future attacks.
High adaptability
Through threat hunting, organisations can quickly adjust their defence strategies in response to emerging threats and the changing tactics of cyber attackers. Adaptability in threat hunting involves the ability to continuously modify and update the tools, techniques and procedures used to detect and mitigate threats. Thanks to this adaptability, security teams can respond more effectively to new challenges and vulnerabilities that emerge in the cyber security landscape. In addition, adaptability enables organisations to integrate new technologies and methodologies into their defence processes, thereby improving their ability to protect their critical assets.
Types of threat hunting according to need
To effectively address Threat Hunting, organisations can adopt a variety of models depending on their specific needs and the context in which they operate. Each Threat Hunting model offers a different approach to identifying and mitigating threats, adapting to different aspects of the security environment and protection objectives.
Intelligence models
These models focus on identifying cyber threats using Cyber Threat Intelligence. They enable organisations to identify suspicious activities and patterns of behaviour that could indicate the presence of malicious actors, as well as exposed vulnerabilities and open gaps in the network using indicators of compromise obtained from threat intelligence sources. They respond to the organisation's need to detect, monitor and understand threats at its external perimeter in order to neutralise them or respond effectively to their use by cyber criminals.
Hypothesis models
These models focus on the formulation of hypotheses about possible cyber threats. They rely on the knowledge and experience of security analysts to develop feasible assumptions about possible attacks and how they could be executed, as well as the vulnerabilities that could be exploited. They respond to the organisation's need to anticipate any type of threat and to proactively adapt to new threats as they emerge.
Personal models
These are advanced models that are tailored to the specific needs of an organisation. They are based on in-depth knowledge of the corporate environment, weaknesses and particular requirements, and use the organisation's own data and patterns to identify potential threats. They respond to the needs to detect specific threats, to adapt the strategy to its infrastructure and operations, and to optimise organisational resources. These models can be run through human teams, advanced Cyber Intelligence platforms that allow customisation of searches, or a combination of both.
Find out how Kartos by Enthec helps you in your Threat hunting strategy.
Kartos is the Cyber Intelligence platform developed by Enthec that allows you to develop a Threat hunting strategy in your organisation thanks to its capacity for continuous, automated and customisable monitoring of the internet, the deep web, the dark web and social networks in search of exposed vulnerabilities and open corporate breaches. Thanks to its self-developed AI, Kartos XTI is the only cyber intelligence platform that eliminates false positives in search results, thus ensuring the usefulness of the information provided to disable latent threats and vulnerabilities. In addition, Kartos by Enthec issues real-time alerts, sends constantly updated data and develops reports on its findings. Contact us to learn more about our Threat Intelligence solutions and licenses and how Kartos by Enthec can help your organisation implement an effective threat hunting strategy.
The role of cyber-intelligence in preventing digital fraud
The role of cyber-intelligence in preventing digital fraud
Cyber intelligence has become an essential ally in the prevention of digital fraud, providing organisations with the ability to detect, understand and respond to this type of threat. In this publication we tell you everything you need to know about digital fraud.
What is digital fraud prevention?
Digital fraud prevention is a set of measures and strategies designed to protect individuals and organisations against fraudulent activities online. In today's digital environment, fraud has become a growing concern due to the increase in online transactions and the digitisation of markets and services. Preventing digital fraud is a multi-faceted effort that requires a combination of advanced technology, user education and robust regulations.
- User authentication is a crucial component of digital fraud prevention. It involves verifying the identity of users before allowing them to access online services. Common techniques include the use of passwords, two-factor authentication, facial recognition and biometrics.
- Monitoring for anomalies and vulnerabilities plays a vital role in preventing digital fraud. Fraud detection systems use machine learning algorithms to identify unusual or suspicious elements and behaviour, both on social networks and the web, as well as on the deep web or dark web.
- Cryptography is used to protect sensitive information. Sensitive data transmitted online is encrypted to prevent cyber criminals from intercepting it.
- User education and awareness are critical to prevent users from falling victim to digital fraud. Users need to be informed about common fraud tactics and how they can protect themselves.
- Data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, oblige organisations to protect users' data and to report any data breaches.
Importance of digital fraud detection
Digital fraud detection is an essential part of online information security and plays a crucial role in protecting users and organisations. As the digital environment grows, the importance of digital fraud detection has become increasingly evident. Early detection of digital fraud:
- Helps protect financial assets. Online transactions have made it easier for organisations and individuals to do business, but they have also opened up new opportunities for criminals. Credit card fraud, phishing scams and other types of fraud lead to significant financial losses. Detecting digital fraud early prevents the possibility of these financial losses.
- It is essential to protect the digital identity of users. Detecting digital fraud prevents cybercriminals from prolonging corporate or personal impersonation over time, thus reducing the chances of success of the scam.
- It is crucial to maintain customer confidence. If customers do not trust the security of an organisation or its services, they will look for alternatives.
- It is important to comply with data protection and fraud prevention regulations. Early detection of digital fraud helps to avoid significant legislative sanctions, both national and international.
- It provides valuable information to improve security measures and develop more effective strategies to prevent fraud in the future.
Fraud risk management strategies
Among the different strategies that an organisation can adopt to protect itself from the consequences of digital fraud, there are a few that stand out for their importance.
Client education
Customer education is a crucial strategy for managing digital fraud. Customers must understand what digital fraud is and be aware of the common tactics used by cybercriminals. They must also be educated on how to protect themselves and be made aware of the dangers. It is important that they internalise actions such as creating secure passwords, regular software updates and using secure authentication. It is also essential that customers know how to quickly identify when they are being or have been victims of digital fraud and how to proceed to avoid or minimise its consequences. This customer awareness must be ongoing. As cybercriminals change and adapt their tactics, customer education must evolve to keep pace.
Monitoring through advanced technology
Continuous network monitoring helps identify emerging threats. Cybercriminals often use dark forums, the deep web, the dark web and social media to gather information, plan and execute fraud. By monitoring these environments, organisations are able to detect potential threats before they materialise. In addition, monitoring provides early warnings and helps organisations better understand their exposure to digital fraud risk. Thanks to technological advances, companies now have more sophisticated tools at their disposal to detect and prevent fraud. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are used to identify patterns of suspicious behaviour. These algorithms can learn from historical data and adapt to new forms of fraud. In addition, big data analytics technology allows companies to detect fraud almost as soon as it occurs. You may be interested in our publication→ How to protect yourself amid a wave of cyber attacks on businesses.
Compliance with current regulations
The regulations establish a framework that helps organisations protect themselves against fraud and provides them with clear guidance on how to deal with digital fraud. In this way, regulatory compliance ensures that companies implement the necessary security measures. In addition, organisations that fail to comply with the regulations can face significant fines, as well as reputational damage.
Cyber intelligence as an ally in the fight against digital fraud
Cyberintelligence is now emerging as an important and powerful ally for organisations to combat digital fraud.
Also known as threat intelligence, cyber intelligence is the collection and analysis of information originating in cyberspace in order to detect, understand and prevent threats. This discipline focuses on detecting exposed vulnerabilities and identifying patterns and trends in online behaviour, enabling organisations to anticipate and prevent digital fraud. Cyber intelligence enables organisations to detect threats in their early stages, facilitating a rapid and effective response. By continuously monitoring cyberspace, cyber intelligence detects vulnerabilities and identifies tactics and techniques used by cyber criminals, providing organisations with the information they need to protect themselves, update their defences and make informed decisions about fraud risk management and resource allocation. In addition, cyber intelligence helps organisations understand the threat landscape more broadly. This includes identifying threat actors, their motivations and methods. With this information, organisations can develop more effective defence strategies.
Future trends in cyber-intelligence and fraud prevention
The technology associated with cyberintelligence is continuously evolving. Among the most notable trends currently shaping the future landscape of cyberintelligence are the following:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). AI and AA are revolutionising cyber intelligence. These technologies enable organisations to analyse large volumes of data at high speed, identifying exposed vulnerabilities, patterns and anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity.
- Predictive analytics. Predictive analytics uses statistical and AA techniques to predict future fraudulent activity based on historical data. This proactivity enables organisations to take preventative measures and minimise the impact of fraud.
- Automation. Automation will play a crucial role in cyber intelligence. Repetitive and high-volume tasks, such as transaction monitoring or data collection, will be automated, carried out continuously and in real time, allowing analysts to focus on more complex tasks.
- Collaboration and information sharing. Collaboration between organisations and the sharing of cyber threat information will become increasingly common. This will enable a faster and more effective response to emerging threats.
- Privacy and regulation. As cyber intelligence becomes more prevalent, so do concerns about privacy and regulation. Organisations will have to balance the need to protect against fraud with respect for users' privacy.
Protect yourself from digital fraud with Kartos by Enthec
Kartos is the cyber intelligence platform developed by Enthec that allows you to protect your organisation and your customers from digital fraud thanks to its ability to monitor the internet and social networks and to detect corporate impersonation, web cloning and active phishing campaigns. Thanks to its self-developed AI, Kartos XTI is the only cyber intelligence platform that eliminates false positives in search results, thus ensuring the usefulness of the information provided to disable latent threats and vulnerabilities. Contact us to learn more about our solutions and how Kartos by Enthec can help your organisation prevent digital fraud and manage risk.
Enthec at RSAC 2024
Enthec returned to the RSA Conference 2024 in San Francisco after two years to present the latest innovations of its Kartos cyber intelligence platform. At its booth, located in the Spanish pavilion organised by INCIBE, the company highlighted key improvements, such as the elimination of false positives in searches. Participation in this event reinforces Enthec's presence in the North American market, in line with its business expansion strategy.
Our stand, within the Spanish pavilion organised by INCIBE, received continuous visits from customers and professionals interested in learning more about Kartos' capabilities and about the important innovations implemented this year in the platform, such as the elimination of false positives in search results.
Our congratulations to INCIBE for the organization and gratitude for their constant support. A great opportunity to take the pulse of the current North American cybersecurity market, in which we are already present and which is a priority objective within our commercial expansion strategy.
Enthec participates in the 17ENISE
For yet another year, Enthec Solutions has been present as a sponsor company at the most important national cybersecurity event organised by INCIBE, the 17ENISE, held on 18 and 19 October 2023.
From our stand, we presented to all our customers the new features scheduled for next year of Kartos, our Cyber Intelligence and Cybersecurity platform.
In addition, our CEO, María Rojo, gave a talk entitled Discover how you are going to be attacked to defend yourself better, in which she highlighted the importance of anticipating cyber-attacks by incorporating a proactive approach to the cybersecurity strategy of organisations.
María also participated in the Round Table ‘Boosting female talent in cybersecurity’, as a representative of the We Are Cybergirls Association, in which Enthec participates as a collaborating partner.
As always, congratulations to INCIBE for the perfect organisation of the event. See you next year.
The importance of blacklists in cybersecurity
The importance of blacklists in cybersecurity
A blacklist is a fundamental tool in cybersecurity that allows blocking digital items that are considered suspicious or malicious in order to protect systems.
What is a cybersecurity blacklist?
One of the most widespread and effective tools in the fight against cyber threats are blacklists. But what exactly are they and how do they work? A cybersecurity blacklist is a database containing IP addresses, domains, emails, applications or any other digital element that has been identified as malicious or suspicious. These items are automatically blocked by security systems to prevent cyber-attacks. Blacklists are used by a variety of security solutions, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and anti-virus software.
When a blacklisted item attempts to access a system, the request is automatically rejected.
Public blacklists are maintained by cybersecurity organisations, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and security software companies. These lists are constantly updated to reflect new threats as they are discovered. In turn, organisations can develop private blacklists to protect their systems from specific threats. If you want to keep up to date with the cybersecurity industry, see our publication→ The 5 cybersecurity trends you need to know about.
Types of blacklists highlighted
There can be as many types of blacklists as there are categories of threats detected. The most prominent are:
IP blacklist
The IP blacklist is a list containing a number of IP addresses identified as potentially dangerous. These IP addresses are often associated with malicious activities, such as sending spam, carrying out DDoS attacks, spreading malware, etc. IP blacklists are used to automatically block traffic from these IP addresses. IP blacklists are used to automatically block traffic from these IP addresses. When an IP address is blacklisted, any attempt to connect from that IP address to a protected system is rejected. IP blacklists are maintained and updated by cybersecurity organisations and Internet service providers. They are constantly updated to reflect new threats as they are discovered or to exclude those that have disappeared. While IP blacklists are a valuable tool in preventing cyber threats, they are not infallible. To avoid blocking, cybercriminals change IP addresses on a recurring basis.
Spam domain blacklist
The spam domain blacklist is a list of domain names that have been identified as sources of spam. These domains may be associated with the distribution of unsolicited emails, phishing, malware and other malicious activities. Spam domain blacklists are used by email security systems and spam filters to automatically block emails from these domains. When a domain is blacklisted, any email sent from that domain to a protected system is marked as spam or rejected. Like all other public blacklists, spam domain blacklists are maintained and updated by cybersecurity organisations, email service providers and security software companies. They are also constantly updated, as cybercriminals frequently change domain names to circumvent them.
How blacklists work
Blacklists are compiled through comprehensive collection and analysis of data on known threats.
The blacklisting process includes:
- Data collection. Data is collected from multiple sources, such as security incident reports, threat intelligence feeds and also internal analysis.
- Data analysis. The collected data is analysed to identify malicious patterns and behaviours. This includes analysis of IP addresses, domains, emails and applications that have been associated with malicious activity such as spam or cyber attacks.
- Creation of the blacklist. Once malicious items are identified, they are added to the blacklist.
- Constant updating. Blacklists should be constantly updated to reflect new threats as they are discovered and to correct detected errors.
Once the blacklist has been compiled, it is used to automatically block access to the organisation's systems by the digital items on the blacklist.
Main benefits of blacklisting
The use of blacklists for system protection is a solution that provides numerous benefits, among which are:
Easy implementation
Blacklists are relatively simple to implement, making them an attractive option for many organisations. These lists can be easily configured into most security systems, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. The ease of implementation allows organisations to quickly improve their security posture without requiring significant resources.
Proactive protection
Blacklists provide proactive security protection by identifying and blocking known threats before they can cause harm. By restricting access to suspicious entities, these lists act as a shield, preventing threat actors from exploiting vulnerabilities. This proactive approach allows organisations to anticipate threats and prevent them from materialising, rather than simply reacting to them once they have occurred.
Complementing security strategies
Blacklists are a valuable complement to other security strategies. They are effective in blocking known threats, but cannot protect against unknown or zero-day threats. Therefore, they are useful as long as they are used in coordination with other techniques, such as anomaly detection and threat intelligence. Together, these strategies provide defence in depth, protecting against a wider range of threats.
Reduction of malicious traffic
Blacklists are very effective in reducing malicious traffic. By blocking IP addresses, domains and emails associated with malicious activity, blacklists significantly decrease the amount of unwanted or harmful traffic. This not only improves security, but also increases network efficiency by reducing the amount of unnecessary traffic.
Limitations of blacklisting
Blacklists are a simple and effective tool to protect systems, however, they have limitations that make it necessary to integrate them into a set of tools.
The main limitations of blacklists are:
False positives
Often, blacklists include erroneous collections or analyses that lead to the blocking of legitimate traffic, an occurrence known as false positives. These false positives harm both the organisation blocking the legitimate traffic and the organisation from which the legitimate traffic originates. To address false positives, many organisations use a combination of blacklisting and whitelisting. Whitelists, in contrast to blacklists, contain items that are considered safe and are allowed. The combination of the two types of lists allows for more granular control and reduces the possibility of false positives.
Need for constant updating
To circumvent blacklist blocking, cybercriminals recurrently change IP addresses, domains or anything that could be blacklisted. Therefore, to remain effective, blacklists require constant updating of their database to reflect new threats as they are discovered, at a significant cost in resources.
Implementation of blacklists through Kartos by Enthec
Kartos XTI Watchbots, the Cyber Intelligence platform developed by Enthec, makes it easy for its customers to create private blacklists based on Kartos' findings and the results of their analyses carried out through our in-house developed artificial intelligence solutions.
In this way, in addition to the protection of general blacklists, our clients add that of private blacklists that respond to the specific context of the organization.
Contact us to learn about the benefits of incorporating our Kartos by Enthec Cyber Intelligence solution into your organization's Cybersecurity strategy to detect exposed vulnerabilities, open gaps, create blacklists and eliminate false positives.
How to prevent social media phishing
How to prevent social media phishing
Corporate impersonation or brand abuse on social media encompasses a variety of tactics ranging from fake profiles impersonating the brand to the distribution of malicious content under the brand's name.
What is social media phishing?
In the digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives and businesses, providing opportunities to connect, share content and interact with diverse communities, including customers. However, this growing dependence has also led to an increase in phishing, fraud and scam campaigns in these virtual environments. These criminal practices have evolved to include corporate impersonation to deceive users and customers in order to obtain confidential information or illicit enrichment. Social media phishing, also known as brand abuse, involves the creation of fake accounts posing as official profiles of well-known companies or relevant individuals. As far as organisations are concerned, impersonators often meticulously copy logos, images and communication style to appear authentic. They often take advantage of active brand communication or promotion campaigns, copying them in order to maliciously lure customers. Their main objective is to trick users into revealing personal or financial information or to damage the company's image. The consequences of corporate impersonation are often serious. Customers lose trust in the brand, leading to a decrease in sales and engagement. In addition, the organisation may face legal problems if customers suffer financial losses due to the impersonation or if the impersonation has been used to commit other illegal acts.
Threats of corporate identity theft on social networks
The impersonation of corporate identity on social media brings with it a number of threats to organisations:
Falsification of profiles
Profile spoofing is at the heart of corporate impersonation on social networks. Criminals create fake profiles that mimic legitimate companies to deceive users and obtain personal or financial information. These fake profiles can become very convincing and even indistinguishable without research, using logos, images and brand language similar to those of the real company to appear authentic. They often post relevant content to appear authentic and gain followers. Once they have gained the trust of users, these profiles are often used to run a variety of scams. This can include promoting fake offers, requesting payment details for non-existent products, or directing users to fraudulent websites where they are asked to provide personal information.
Phishing through social media
In the context of social media, fraudsters use sophisticated techniques to send direct messages or posts that appear to be from a recognised organisation or institution whose identity they have impersonated. Cybercriminals have adapted these tactics to the social media environment, taking advantage of the trust and familiarity that users have with these platforms. They use social engineering tactics to trick users and obtain the sensitive information they seek. In a typical phishing scenario, criminals create fake profiles or pages that look like those of a legitimate company. They then send enticing messages or posts that may include special offers, contests or fake security alerts to lure users into clicking on malicious links. Once the user clicks on the link, they may be directed to a fake website that looks like the company's official website. The user is then prompted to enter personal or financial information, which is then collected by the criminals.
Publication of malicious content
One of the most damaging threats of brand abuse on social media is the publication of malicious content.
Malicious content can take many forms, from false and misleading information to links to dangerous websites or malicious software. This content can be used to damage a company's reputation, sow discord and create conflict, mislead customers and steal valuable information.
Impersonation of services
Impersonation is another significant threat in the context of corporate identity theft on social media. Criminals create accounts that impersonate the brand's customer service, directing users to fake or dangerous sites or luring them into a scam. These fraudulent services can range from non-existent product offers to false promises of customer support. Users, believing they are interacting with the real company, provide personal or financial information, make payments or make decisions based on incorrect information. Spoofing significantly damages an organisation's reputation. Customers who have been misled often associate their negative experiences with the real company, even holding it responsible for lack of sufficient vigilance and protection, which can lead to loss of trust and loyalty. There can also be a direct financial impact. If customers are tricked into buying fraudulent products or services, sales decrease. In addition, the organisation may face significant costs to mitigate the damage, restore its reputation or legally prove its lack of responsibility for the crime.
Preventing phishing on social networks
Preventing social media phishing is critical to protecting your customers and your organisation. A good strategy on how to prevent social media phishing needs to include:
Monitoring social networks
By continuously monitoring social media, organisations can detect fraudulent use of their corporate identity on social media and prevent cybercriminals from using the brand with impunity to deceive customers. Continuous monitoring and analysis of the data it provides also helps to identify emerging patterns and trends of brand abuse and proactively respond to the threat.
Establish a proactive protection strategy
When an organisation has a proactive social media brand protection strategy in place, the likelihood of the threat of maliciously targeted brand abuse decreases.
The proactive strategy allows the organisation to stay ahead of brand abuse, detecting identity theft on social networks in real time so that the organisation can proceed with its cancellation before it causes significant damage. You may be interested in our publication→ Proactive security: what is it and why use it to prevent and detect threats and cyberattacks?
Being active in social networks
Although it may seem paradoxical, not opening corporate profiles on the different social networks or remaining inactive on them not only does not protect against identity theft, but also encourages it. Having very active profiles on social networks allows users to become familiar with the brand's own communication and to detect impersonators more easily. In addition, active profiles make it easier to check the veracity of a profile that arouses suspicion among users.
Protecting the brand with advanced technologies
The continued sophistication of cyber-attacks requires organisational protection that is up to the task and uses advanced strategies and technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation to provide the right responses at the right time. Solutions based on artificial intelligence and machine learning identify fake profiles and malicious activity more effectively and quickly than traditional methods. In addition, they are able to automatically track active or latent fraudulent campaigns on social media until they are completely eliminated.
Consequences of corporate identity theft on social networks
Brand abuse often has serious consequences for an organisation:
Financial losses
Social media impersonation leads to a decrease in brand value due to loss of trust, as well as a decrease in revenue due to lost sales to misled or defrauded customers. After a successful social media impersonation, the organisation is forced to invest in powerful communication campaigns to regain some of its customers' trust. In addition, when cybercriminals use the impersonated corporate identity to engage in illegal activities, fees are generated to cover legal action.
Reputational damage
The reputation of a brand has a direct impact on its value. Corporate impersonation on social media damages the reputation of an organisation and its brand. Fraudsters use a company's brand to spread false information or engage in unethical or even criminal behaviour that has negative effects on the organisation's image. When this happens, the corporate image is damaged.
Legal problems
Corporate impersonation raises legal issues when fraudsters use the brand to engage in illegal activities, as the organisation will initially be held liable until it proves the impersonation. In addition, defrauded customers may hold the organisation vicariously liable for the deception due to a lack of sufficient vigilance and protection, and claim restitution for their financial loss from the organisation, either legally or administratively. This also implies a legal or administrative defence.
Loss of customer confidence
After interacting with or hearing about fake accounts that have impersonated the corporate identity, customers perceive that the organisation is not taking adequate measures to protect its brand and, indirectly, them from scams.
They then become wary of interacting with the company on social media, proceed to avoid it and are less likely to remain loyal to it.
Protect yourself from social media phishing with Kartos by Enthec
Kartos, the Cyber Intelligence platform developed by Enthec continuously and automatically monitors the web and social networks to detect domains, subdomains, websites and social profiles identical or similar to those of your organisation. Thanks to its self-developed Artificial Intelligence, false positive findings are eliminated. In addition, Kartos tracks phishing, fraud and corporate identity fraud campaigns detected until they are deactivated, with identification of the countries in which they are active, data and alarms in real time. Since this year, the Kartos platform also offers a Takedown Service for social profiles, domains and fraudulent subdomains, as well as cloned websites detected by the platform. Contact us for more information on how Kartos can help you protect your brand from cloning and abuse on the internet and social networks.
Cybersquatting: what is it and how to protect yourself?
Cybersquatting: what is it and how to protect yourself?
Cybersquatting is an increasingly widespread cybercrime that exploits the value of brands to make illegitimate profits by squatting on their domain. This cybercrime is becoming commonplace in the digital environment, so it is crucial for organisations to know exactly what cybersquatting is and how to protect themselves against it.
What is cybersquatting?
Cybersquatting is the act of registering, selling or using a domain name in bad faith, taking advantage of the reputation and commercial value of a famous brand or name with the intention of making illegitimate profits. Essentially, cybersquatting is a form of online piracy that causes harm to businesses and individuals. The term comes from squatting, which is the act of illegally occupying property, with the addition of cyber, to confine it to the digital environment. In this case, the squatted property would be the corporate domain. This is why cybersquatting is also called cybersquatting. Cybersquatters often register domain names or create subdomains that are identical or confusingly similar to popular brands in order to trick users into visiting their website. This leads users to fraudulent websites with various illegal intentions: selling fake goods, scams, data theft... In addition, cybersquatting is also often used by cybersquatters to profit from the sale of squatted domains to legitimate companies at exorbitant prices, in order for them to avoid damage to their brand. To combat cybersquatting, ICANN has developed the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). This procedure makes it easier for affected companies to recover domain names registered in bad faith. To find out more about cyber-attacks on businesses, go here→ How to protect yourself in the midst of a wave of cyber-attacks on businesses.
Differences between cybersquatting and phishing
Although both are cybercrimes that involve the misuse of names and trademarks and sometimes go hand in hand in a cyberattack, the cybersquatting and phishing are not exactly the same thing.
Cybersquatting is the registration, trafficking or use of a domain name that is identical or similar to a well-known trademark. Its aim is to make financial gain through that identical or similar domain name.
It does not necessarily involve deceiving users or stealing personal information; sometimes it is simply used to force the organisation to ransom the domain. Phishing, in turn, involves sending fake emails or creating fake websites that mimic legitimate companies or brands in order to trick users into obtaining personal information, financial information or login credentials. It aims to gain access to accounts, steal identities and commit fraud. It involves the use of social engineering techniques to manipulate victims into believing they are interacting with a trustworthy entity. Often, however, the first step in a phishing attack is cybersquatting: a real domain is used to create a fake website or profiles as the basis of the deception.
Some examples of cybersquatting
Some prominent examples of cybersquatting are:
- Registration of domain names identical or similar to famous brands with the intention of reselling them to their rightful owners at an excessive price.
- Use of domain names to divert web traffic to sites with pornographic content, misleading advertising or illegal activities.
- Blocking domain names to prevent legitimate companies from registering and using them, in order to sell them to the highest bidder.
- Creation of fake websites that mimic the appearance of well-known brands to deceive users and obtain personal or financial information.
Detection of cybersquatting
Some of the most effective strategies for detecting cybersquatting are:
- Domain monitoring. One of the most effective ways to detect cybersquatting is through regular monitoring of domain names. Such tools issue real-time alerts when a domain name that is similar to the organisation's domain name is registered, allowing quick action to be taken to protect the brand.
- Use of internet service provider (ISP) domain look-up tools. The tool shows the many variations that could be used to commit cybersquatting. These tools also indicate which domains have already been registered.
- WHOIS search. The WHOIS database is a valuable resource for detecting cybersquatting. A WHOIS search provides information on who has registered a particular domain name. In this way, an organisation can check whether a domain name similar to its brand name has been registered by someone who has no legitimate relationship to it.
- Phishing detection tools. Sometimes cybersquatters use cybersquatting in their phishing tactics to trick users into visiting their fraudulent websites. Phishing detection tools help to identify these websites and, collaterally, to detect cybersquatting.
The role of new technologies
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are beginning to play a crucial role in the fight against cybersquatting. Their detection, analysis, learning and automation capabilities make them key tools for proactively, accurately and effectively combating cybersquatting. As cybercriminals develop more sophisticated tactics, their use will become increasingly critical. The use of AI and machine learning-based solutions allows:
- Proactive detection of suspicious domains: real-time detection and analysis of new domain registrations and patterns indicating possible cybersquatting, such as names similar to well-known brands.
- Constant monitoring of registered domains: continuous monitoring of detected suspicious domains similar to the brand, with alerts on changes in content or usage that may indicate fraudulent activities.
- Identification of cybersquatting techniques and patterns: recognition of common methods used by cybercriminals, such as addition, substitution or omission of characters in domain names.
- Reduction of false positives: accuracy in distinguishing between legitimate domain registrations and real cybersquatting cases, reducing false alerts.
- Automated real-time response: activation of automatic response protocols to block the suspect domain, notify the authorities and the affected brand and proceed to takedown.
Most used methods of cybersquatting
Cybersquatting can occur in different ways.
Homographic
It involves replacing characters in a domain name with visually similar characters, often indistinguishable to the naked eye. This method is particularly effective because of the difficulty for the human eye to distinguish between certain characters, especially in URLs.
Addition
It involves adding additional characters to an existing domain name. It is particularly effective when targeting brands with short names, as an additional character can easily go unnoticed.
Omission
In this case, it refers to the removal of characters from an existing domain name. It is quite effective when targeting brands with long names, as one less character goes unnoticed.
Domain change
It involves slightly altering an existing domain name, often by changing the order of the characters, introducing a spelling mistake or using a domain extension different from the organisation's official one. Its effectiveness is based on the very mistakes users make when typing a domain into the search engine.
Subdomain
A common cybersquatting tactic is the creation of subdomains outside one's own brand. A subdomain is an extension of the main domain name. Cybersquatters register subdomains containing the name of popular brands to trick users and redirect traffic to fraudulent sites.
How to prevent cybersquatting
Preventing cybersquatting can be a challenge, but there are several strategies that help protect the brand and domain:
- Early domain registration. Register domain names that are important to the brand early. This may include variations, common misspellings and other domain names that could be attractive to cybersquatters.
- Trademark protection. Registering the trademark provides additional legal protection against cybersquatting. If the trademark is registered, it ensures the possibility of winning a domain name dispute.
- Constant vigilance. Continuous monitoring of the domain with automated tools capable of alerting about the use or registration of domains and subdomains that are the same or similar to corporate domains is essential.
- Use of a private registration service. When registering a domain name, it is advisable to use a private registration service, so that cyber criminals cannot access the information associated with the registration.
- Legal action. Take immediate legal action to recover the domain name when cybersquatting is detected. The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) is the process for doing this.
You may be interested in our publication→ Brand protection: strategies to prevent fraudulent use.
Protect yourself from cybersquatting with Kartos by Enthec
Kartos XTI Watchbots, our Cyber Intelligence platform, uses in-house developed Artificial Intelligence to help organizations monitor their domain and detect any associated cybersquatting.
In addition, Kartos by Enthec provides organizations with real-time alerts about the existence of domains and subdomains associated with those of their brand and offers takedown services for the removal of those that are fraudulent.
Contact us to learn more about how the solutions of our Kartos XTI Watchbots Cyber Intelligence platform can help you detect and prevent cybersquatting, protect your brand, and avoid cyberattacks.
New Takedown Service
New Takedown Service
Since July 2024, Kartos has included in its offer a Takedown Service for the removal from the network of content that may pose a harm or risk to the organisations it monitors.
What kind of Takedowns does Kartos offer?
An operation can be performed on multiple types of content, depending on the repositories where they are located. In the service associated with Kartos, the takedowns offered are the following:
- Fake websites that operate fraudulently by impersonating the brand in order to carry out scams, fraud or phishing.
- Removal of content on impersonation profiles on social networks through fake profiles of brands or individuals.
These services are offered exclusively on the findings detected by Kartos in its use as a monitoring tool.
What specific actions are carried out by the Kartos Takedown Service?
For Web:
- Blacklisting on all major platforms
- Intervention in domain and hosting providers.
- Regular mails of information on the status of the service
- Final report on the results of the action.
For Social Media Content:
- Actions on the content of profiles on the main networks, to prevent damage to people or brands through the publication of offensive, false or malicious content on their own or fake networks.
What is the average resolution time of the Kartos Takedown Service?
The average resolution time depends on the type of takedown that needs to be performed:
- Phishing, copyright infringement and fake websites can take from hours to 4 days.
- Those related to social media impersonation require the involvement of legal teams and can take up to a month to complete.
If you would like more information about the new Kartos Takedown Service, please contact us.
Keys to preventing data leaks
Keys to preventing data leaks
A data breach is a security incident in which confidential information is accessed or extracted without permission, which may include personal data, credentials or any other sensitive information of individuals and organisations. Here, we explain in more detail what it means and the fundamental keys to preventing a data breach.
What is a data leak?
Data leakage is one of the most common and damaging incidents in the field of cybersecurity.
A data breach occurs when confidential information is accidentally or unlawfully exposed. This can happen inside or outside an organisation, and can be the result of a cyber-attack, human error or a failure in security systems. The information leaked in a data breach varies widely in content. It can be personal data, such as names, addresses and social security numbers; financial data, such as credit card numbers and bank account details; or corporate data, such as product details and business strategies. The consequences of a data breach are generally significant. For individuals, it can end up as identity theft or financial fraud. For businesses, it can result in legal fines, loss of reputation and damage to customer relationships. Data leakage can be a quick event, where data is exposed and used immediately, or it can be a slow process, where data is collected over a long period of time before it is used.
Main types of data leakage
Data leaks are differentiated into different types such as:
Interns
In internal data leaks, data is leaked or leaked from within the organisation. It happens when employees or persons with authorised access to confidential information disclose or extract it in an unauthorised way, intentionally or unintentionally. Also, when an unauthorised person outside the organisation gains access to the organisation and its data. Generally, the latter type usually corresponds to a cyber-attack. Some of the main causes of insider leaks include:
- Disgruntled employees or employees with malicious intent who steal data for personal purposes or to sell to third parties.
- Lack of adequate controls and monitoring of the activities of users with access to sensitive data.
- Lack of clear information security policies and insufficient staff training.
- Vulnerabilities in systems and applications that allow unauthorised access to information.
- Cyber-attacks executed to obtain the information.
External
External data leaks are incidents in which confidential information is leaked without authorisation, willingly or unwillingly, by persons or entities outside the organisation, from outside the organisation.
Within external corporate data leaks, those caused by third parties represent a significant threat to an organisation. These leaks occur when an external entity that has legitimate access to an organisation's data, such as a service provider or business partner, inadvertently or maliciously exposes that information. Third parties within an organisation have access to a wide range of corporate data, from personal information of employees and customers to trade secrets and intellectual property. If they do not follow appropriate security measures, they become a weak link in the information security chain. To mitigate this risk, organisations must ensure that all third parties they work with have robust information security policies and procedures in place. This involves conducting cybersecurity audits, including data security clauses in contracts and, most effectively, automated, continuous, real-time monitoring of third-party risk.
4 causes of data leakage
Data leakage can be caused by voluntary and malicious acts or involuntary acts.
The most common causes of unintentional corporate data leaks include:
Use of suspicious software
Suspicious programmes, often disguised as legitimate software, can infiltrate an organisation's systems and give illegitimate access to confidential information. They are introduced by employees unaware of the risks or by external attackers. Once inside, these programmes collect and transmit sensitive corporate data. Infiltration of malware into the corporate system can occur through unwitting installation of malicious software, use of unauthorised messaging or cloud storage applications, downloading infected files or connecting to insecure public networks. Constant supervision and monitoring of activities is essential to detect and prevent the use of malicious software that can lead to data leaks.
Vulnerabilities in the system
Failures in firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security controls can leave data exposed to external attacks. In addition, inappropriate network configurations, such as the setting of access permissions, communication protocols, and other network settings, are likely to open unauthorised access to information. Also, lack of security patches and updates to applications and operating systems or lack of data encryption and protection make information more vulnerable to theft.
Social engineering
Social engineering is a major cause of corporate data breaches. Cybercriminals manipulate employees into revealing confidential information, often through phishing or phishing tactics. These attacks become very sophisticated, masquerading as legitimate communications from colleagues or superiors. Social engineering exploits the human tendency to trust and cooperate. To circumvent it, companies must implement cybersecurity training and awareness and appropriate security policies to mitigate this risk.
Improper design or implementation of security protocols
If security policies are not properly implemented and enforced, this creates vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit to gain access to sensitive organisational data. It is crucial that companies design robust security protocols and ensure that they are properly enforced. Ongoing training and security audits are essential to prevent data leaks, as well as monitoring user activities and reporting security incidents. Security protocols must also be regularly reviewed, tested and updated to ensure their effectiveness.
Tips to prevent data leakage
We recommend that you consider the following tips on how to prevent a data leakage:
Use two-factor authentication
Dual authentication is a security measure that requires users to provide two forms of identification before accessing systems. This can be something the user knows, such as a password; something they possess, such as a mobile phone to receive a verification code; or something inherent to the user, such as a fingerprint. This additional layer of security makes it difficult for cybercriminals to access data, even if they have obtained a password. Dual authentication is a valuable investment in protecting corporate data.
In addition, two-factor authentication can be complemented with other measures such as data encryption and activity monitoring to further strengthen corporate information security. You may be interested in our publication→ Good information security practices for your company.
Keeping equipment up to date
Outdated systems have security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals try to exploit to execute attacks. Updates include security patches that fix vulnerabilities as they are detected. In addition, newer versions of software and hardware often incorporate better security measures. It is therefore crucial that companies implement a policy of regular updates and ensure that all devices, tools, systems and applications are up to date. This requires investments in time and resources, but is an essential preventive measure to ensure the protection of corporate data.
Regulating access to confidential information
It involves implementing a system in the organisation that ensures that only authorised employees have access to sensitive data. Access control systems, such as role-based authentication, are an example of such a regulation. Limiting access not only reduces the possibility of data being compromised internally, but also reduces the risk of cyber criminals gaining access through compromised accounts.
Update data security policies
Given the continuous evolution of threats, data security policies easily become obsolete. It is therefore imperative that organisations establish a recurrent process of updating these policies to incorporate the latest technologies and procedures. In addition to adapting to changes in the technology environment, security policy updates also allow organisations to incorporate new regulatory requirements, organisational growth and change, and reviews following a security incident.
Cyber-intelligence for the prevention of data leaks
Cyber Intelligence is an essential tool for the prevention and localisation of corporate data breaches, providing the information needed to understand, mitigate and respond to threats. It enables organisations to identify and monitor suspicious activities, both internal and external, that may indicate potential or actual activity to access, extract or leak sensitive information. Cyber Intelligence is based on the collection and analysis of information about potential threats in cyberspace. It includes the identification of suspicious behaviour patterns, the detection of open security holes and exposed vulnerabilities and the prediction of future threats. This enables organisations to adopt a proactive, risk-based security approach to protect their sensitive data. One of the main advantages of Cyber Intelligence is its ability to provide a real-time view of security threats. In this way, it enables organisations to respond quickly to threats, thus minimising the impact of any data leakage. In addition, Cyber Intelligence helps organisations to better understand the threat landscape. This includes identifying threat actors, their tactics, techniques and procedures, and the types of data they are seeking. With this information, companies can develop more effective defence strategies. By incorporating Cyber Intelligence into their data cybersecurity strategy and combining advanced analytics, constant monitoring and security best practices, organisations significantly strengthen their defence posture against data breaches.
Protect your organisation's data with Kartos By Enthec
The Kartos By Enthec helps you protect your organization's data thanks to continuous, real-time automated monitoring of the external attack surface.
Using Artificial Intelligence developed in-house, the Kartos XTI Watchbots Cyber Intelligence platform can detect in real time any corporate data leak, both its own and that of your third parties, issue an alert, and locate the vulnerability that caused it.
Don't wait any longer to protect your data and negate the consequences of any leak. Contact us to learn about our solutions.
Security breach: What it is, types and how to find it
As our reliance on digital technology grows, so does the importance of protecting our systems and data against security breaches.
In this article, we explain a security breach and its main characteristics. Let’s get to them!
What is a security breach?
A security breach occurs when an unauthorized intruder bypasses a system's security measures and gains access to protected data. Breaches can result from external attacks by hackers or internal actions, such as employees accessing information they don't have permission for.
In cybersecurity, a security breach can have serious consequences. Individuals' personal and sensitive data can be stolen and used for malicious purposes, such as identity theft, running phishing campaigns, or financial fraud. Organizations can also suffer significant damages, such as loss of intellectual property, damage to their reputation, and loss of customer trust.
Security breaches can occur in any type of system or network, regardless of the information it contains. This includes, for example, computer networks, database systems, and mobile devices
With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), even everyday devices such as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, or thermostats can be vulnerable to security breaches.
Detecting a security breach is a challenge for organizations. Attackers often use sophisticated techniques to hide their activities so that breaches can go undetected for months or even years. For this reason, companies invest in intrusion detection technologies and tools to monitor their different attack surfaces for suspicious activity and findings.
Once a breach is detected, responding quickly to neutralize or minimize the damage is crucial. This can involve identifying and repairing the exploited vulnerability to taking compromised systems offline and notifying any affected parties.
In many cases, law also requires organizations to report their security breaches to the appropriate authorities.
You may be interested in our publication→ Information Security: 5 Best Practices to Implement in Your Company.
Types of Prominent Security Breaches
Security breaches can lead to a large number of vulnerabilities. Among the highlights are:
Confidentiality Breach
A confidentiality breach is a specific type of security breach that occurs when the confidentiality of data is violated. In terms of cybersecurity, confidentiality refers to the practice of maintaining the privacy of information, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access it.
Confidentiality breaches have different causes. An attacker can exploit a cybersecurity system vulnerability to access protected data, an employee can lose a device containing sensitive information, or a user can be tricked into revealing their password through a phishing attack.
The consequences of a confidentiality breach are often severe. For an organization, it can lead to loss of competitive advantage, reputational damage, and possible legal penalties for non-compliance with data protection laws due to security breaches, in GDPR.
Integrity Breach
An integrity breach is a specific type of security breach that occurs when the accuracy or consistency of data is altered without authorization. In terms of cybersecurity, integrity refers to ensuring that information is accurate and has not been improperly modified.
Integrity breaches can result from malicious actions, such as a hacker's attack that alters data, or they can result from unintentional errors, such as a system failure that corrupts data.
When an integrity breach occurs, data that should be trustworthy is no longer trustworthy. Many organizations use hashing techniques and digital signatures to ensure data integrity. These techniques allow organizations to detect any data tampering. However, it is not impossible that even these techniques could be compromised in a cyberattack.
Availability Breach
An availability breach is a specific type of security breach that occurs when data or systems are unavailable to authorized users when needed. Regarding cybersecurity, availability refers to ensuring that systems and data are accessible and functional when needed.
Availability breaches result from various incidents, from system failures and human error to malicious attacks.
The most common attack that causes an availability breach is a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, in which the attacker floods a system with traffic to overload it and make it inaccessible.
Users cannot access systems or data when an availability breach occurs, impacting service and business continuity. Organizations should have disaster recovery and business continuity plans to recover quickly from an availability breach.
What should I do if I'm affected by a security breach?
When an organization suffers a cybersecurity breach, it needs to act quickly to:
- Identify the nature and extent of the incident.
- Isolate affected systems to prevent further damage.
- Document details of the incident.
- Communicate the breach to stakeholders, including customers if their data is compromised.
- Inform the relevant authorities.
- Investigate and remediate the breach.
- Review and update security policies and procedures.
Keys to Prevent a Security Breach
Data breach prevention is essential in any corporate cybersecurity strategy.
Some keys to protecting your organization are:
- Awareness and education. Personnel are the first line of defense against cyber threats. The organization should provide regular cybersecurity training to keep everyone informed about the latest threats and how to avoid them.
Security policies. Establish clear policies on the use of company systems and data. This includes strong password policies, use of VPNs for remote access, and restrictions on the use of personal devices.- Updates and patches. Keep all operating systems and applications up to date. Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software.
- Firewall and antivirus. To protect your network, use a robust firewall and antivirus software that is always active and up-to-date.
- Two-factor authentication. Implement two-factor authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security, as it requires a second form of identification in addition to the password.
- Backups Make regular backups of all important data. This will allow for faster recovery in the event of a data breach.
- Incident response plan. Develop an incident response plan. It should include how to identify and report a data breach and the steps to contain and recover from it.
- Security audits. Conduct regular security audits to check the protection status and identify and remediate any vulnerabilities.
- Data encryption. Sensitive data must be encrypted to protect it in a breach.
- Vulnerability detection. Continuous monitoring of the different attack surfaces, external and internal, for real-time detection of any security breach that occurs.
If you want to learn more about cybersecurity, check out our publication→ The Cybersecurity Trends You Need to Know About.
Repercussions of a security breach
When a company suffers a security breach, these are the main consequences it must face:
Financial Damages
Security breaches have financial repercussions for businesses. Direct costs include system recovery and repair, as well as potential fines and legal penalties.
Indirect costs can include losing customers due to mistrust, damage to the company's reputation, and diminished brand value. In addition, businesses may face costly litigation from affected customers or employees.
Reputational Damage
A security breach can significantly damage a company's reputation for protecting its brand. When customer personal data is compromised, trust is eroded, leading to a decline in customer base and sales.
In addition, negative perceptions of the company can affect relationships with business partners and investors.
Reputation recovery often takes a considerable amount of time and requires high investments in security and public relations campaigns.
Data Loss
Data loss is a devastating consequence of a cybersecurity breach. Lost data can be specially protected by laws such as GDPR and include sensitive customer information, intellectual property, financial records, and more.
Its loss can mean disruption to business operations and require considerable effort to recover or rebuild data. In addition, the leaked data can be used for illicit purposes, such as identity fraud.
Kartos by Enthec helps you avoid security breaches
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots, the Cyber Surveillance and Cybersecurity platform developed by Enthec, allows your organization to proactively, continuously, and in real-time control key aspects to avoid security breaches that jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate data.
Through monitoring of the Internet, the Dark Web, the Deep Web, and social networks, Kartos detects exposed security breaches affecting your organization's information in real-time so that you can correct and nullify them before they are used to execute a cyberattack.
If you want more information on protecting your digital assets with Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots, contact us and discover all the solutions we offer.
System Vulnerabilities in Cybersecurity
System vulnerabilities in cybersecurity are being exploited with increasing sophistication and precision. The risk for institutions and companies, regardless of their size, is increasingly evident. In recent times, we have witnessed numerous attacks, including on important public institutions such as the SEPE in Spain or the Colonial Pipeline, the largest oil pipeline network in the US. In this scenario, it is essential for organizations to reduce the risk of suffering a cyber attack. To delve deeper into this, in this article we will talk about system vulnerabilities in cybersecurity.
What is a Cybersecurity Vulnerability?
A vulnerability is a weakness or flaw within an information system that poses a security risk. It could originate from a configuration error, design flaws, or procedural failure.
This security “hole” represents an entry point for cybercriminals who use these vulnerabilities to enter our system and compromise its availability, integrity, and confidentiality.
Therefore, it is vital to keep our systems safe, find these vulnerabilities as soon as possible, and fix them to avoid these risks.
Difference between vulnerability and threat in cybersecurity
As mentioned, vulnerabilities are flaws, “security holes” in our system. Threats are those actions carried out by cybercriminals who exploit these vulnerabilities.
Therefore, they are different things. The vulnerability is the security breach while the threat is the action that exploits the security breach.
Generally when vulnerabilities appear, there will always be someone who will try to exploit them.
What types of vulnerabilities can I have?
We will now discuss the types of vulnerabilities we can suffer from. However, it is worth remembering that some are more important than others. We will have to assess the importance of each vulnerability, as having an exposed database is not the same as having a leaked commercial PDF.
We will now comment on the types of vulnerability by establishing the following classification:
SQL injection vulnerabilities
These vulnerabilities occur when SQL code that was not part of the programmed code is inserted. This technique alters the operation of a database.
The attacker’s hostile data can trick the interpreter into executing unwanted commands or accessing data without authorization.
Authentication vulnerabilities
These are flaws related to input data validation that allow attackers to access our system.
Another critical point here is passwords. Using insecure passwords makes systems vulnerable, and if they are easily cracked, they can lead to incursions by unauthorized third parties.
Vulnerability exposed data
Many web applications and APIs do not adequately protect sensitive data, such as financial, health, and personal information. Attackers can steal or modify this weakly protected data to commit credit card fraud, identity theft, or other crimes.
Configuration vulnerabilities
These types of vulnerabilities are due to software or server misconfigurations. It can lead to system disablement or other more powerful attacks, such as a Dos attack.
Other types of configurations are related to security, such as open cloud storage and misconfigured HTTP headers.
All operating systems, frameworks, libraries, and applications must be securely configured and patched/updated promptly.
XSS (Cross Site Scripting) Vulnerabilities
This type of vulnerability is characterized by allowing scripts from languages such as VBScript or Javascript to be executed. XSS flaws occur when an application includes untrusted data on a page without proper validation or escaping.
Cybercriminals can hijack user sessions by executing these scripts. Phishing to steal passwords and data is an example of such an attack.
Component-related vulnerabilities
Components, such as libraries, frameworks, and other software modules, run with the same privileges as the application.
An attack could result in data loss or server access if any of these components are vulnerable.
Kartos locates your organization's exposed vulnerabilities
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots is the Continuous Threat Exposure Management platform developed by Enthec for the protection of organizations. Thanks to its technology designed to scan the three layers of the web in search of threats, Kartos locates open gaps and exposed vulnerabilities in your organization to prevent them from being used by cybercriminals to develop an attack. Contact us to learn more about how Kartos can help you neutralize exposed system vulnerabilities and avoid the threats they entail.
Common Types of Cyberattacks (Part I)
In this article, we will talk about the most common types of cyberattacks.
We call cyberattack any offensive maneuver employed by individuals or whole organizations that targets computer information systems, infrastructures, computer networks, and/or personal computer devices. These attacks try to hack into a system using one or several digital acts, usually from an anonymous source, to steal, alter, or destroy a specified target.Among the common types of cyber attacks we find the following:
Malware
Malware is any software that intentionally performs malicious actions in a system without the user's knowledge. Viruses, worms, and trojan horses are different kinds of malware.
Virus
A computer virus is a small script of code that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs called hosts and inserting its code to alter how a computer operates. Of course, since this is a type of malware, it is all done without the permission or knowledge of the user.
Worm
A computer worm is a standalone malware program that replicates itself to spread to other computers. This differs from a virus because the virus needs a host program, but the worm does not. A worm often uses a computer network to spread itself, relying on security failures on the target computer to access it. Once there, it will try to scan and infect other computers.
Trojan Horse
A Trojan Horse Virus is malware that downloads onto a computer disguised as a legitimate program. It typically gets hidden as an email or free-to-download file attachment and then transfers onto the user’s device. Once downloaded, the malicious code will execute the task the attacker designed it for, such as spying on users’ online activity or stealing sensitive data.
Kartos helps you protect your organization by locating its vulnerabilities
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots is the monitoring platform developed by Enthec for the protection of organizations. Using its army of bots, Kartos crawls all three layers of the web, locating exposed vulnerabilities and open gaps in the organization that can be used to execute any of the common types of cyberattacks we just saw. Thanks to kartos, organizations can proactively defend themselves against these threats, preventing them from materializing. Contact us for more information on how Kartos can help you protect your organization.
Do you know how to protect your user privacy?
The tendency of users when using technologies is not to worry about the use of their private information.
Acquiring private information can be dangerous if that data is not protected. Such vulnerable data can be stolen by cybercriminals and published through leaks on the deep web
When using internet services, they commonly use tracking methods in which information is actively or passively collected from the user. This information is trusted not to be used by a third party, exposing threats to your privacy.
Tracking Techniques
Some tracking techniques used to profile habits, tastes, and other user details are explained below.
- Cookies: Text files that store information sent by the web service in the user’s browser.
- Privacy policies: When the online service stores and manages confidential data, it must indicate to the user how this information will be used.
- HTML5 elements: Storage mechanism, also known as “Client-Site-storage,” with more storage capacity than cookies.
- IP address and geolocation: When a user browses the Internet, the service provider automatically assigns the user an IP address. An online service can use this IP address to identify the user's city of residence.
- Social Networks: All social networks, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, collect information from users and share it with third parties.
- Google services: Google has several services that monitor and record each user's activity.
Tools to protect yourself
The following are some of the most commonly used online tools and services to prevent personal information filtering.
Search Engines
There are alternative search engines where there is no vulnerability to privacy when it comes to making queries and doing so confidentially and anonymously:
- Ixquick: A search engine that does not record IP addresses, does not correlate with visitors and search criteria, and does not use tracking cookies.
- Startpage: Search engine based on Ixquick with the characteristic that it can function as a proxy server between the user and the Google search engine. The results will be the same as those returned by Google but without collecting information about the user who performs the searches.
- DuckDuckgo does not record the user’s personal information or search criteria, nor does it allow the sending of information about the user or their search criteria. It also does not allow sending information about the user to the sites he/she visits.
Privacy settings in browsers
- Firefox: The privacy settings section called “Tracking” contains the alternative to indicate options to prevent tracking.
- Opera: Configuration options that allow the management of cookies, SSL certificates, and passwords can be applied.
- Chromium: In the same way as Opera and Firefox, managing various cookie management privacy details is possible.
- VPN: VPN is a technology that allows private connections between two points using a public network such as the Internet. The benefit of VPNs is to hide the user’s IP and to be able to access Internet sites that are blocked in the country from which the request is made. The VPN service routes the request to the website using an IP address belonging to a different country.
Anonymous Proxy Servers
A proxy server is a middleware solution, which works by routing requests and responses transparently between the two. It allows the possibility of hiding the client’s IP address, as the destination will only see the proxy's IP address.
There are several lists of anonymous proxy servers that allow IP hiding data.
Other solutions
There are other exciting techniques and tools to protect against tracking that are interesting and could be explored in more detail:
- HTTPS Everywhere extension: Extension developed by the Tor Project and EFF team, with the primary objective of capturing requests made with the HTTP protocol against a list of sites and overwriting requests so that they use HTTPS.
- Web browser plug-ins: Extensions that allow you to easily clean information stored in the browser, such as Click and Clean.
- Privacy Bagder: Add-on developed by EFF that allows you to block trackers such as Ghostery but also will enable you to block “Ads”.
Qondar helps you protect your personal information
Qondar Personal Threat Watchbots is the cyber surveillance platform developed by Enthec for the protection of people's information and digital assets. Thanks to its continuous and automated monitoring capabilities, Qondar crawls the Internet, the Depp Web and the Dark Web and locates leaked and exposed personal information, issuing alerts about the findings in real time. Contact us to find out how Qondar can help you protect your privacy online
Enthec in Leanfinance
Enthec in Leanfinance
https://leanfinance.es/enthec-caso-exito-sector-ciberseguridad/
Enthec participates in FEINDEF, the International Defence and Security Exhibition
Madrid, 17th, 18th and 19th May 2023:
Enthec participates in FEINDEF, the International Defence and Security Fair, a reference forum for the defence and security sector in Spain, invited by INCIBE in the Innova for Def&Sec Space.
The Three Layers of the Web: Internet, Dark Web and Deep Web
This article will discuss the Internet, the Deep Web, and the Dark Web and the content found in each. These are commonly referred to as the three layers of the Web or the three levels of the Web.
Internet
The Internet is a web-like network of interconnected computers worldwide. It consists of servers that provide information to millions of people who are connected through telephone and cable networks. Its origins date back to 1969, when the first computer connection, known as ARPANET, was established between three universities in California (United States).
One of the most successful services on the Internet has been the World Wide Web (WWW or the Web), to such an extent that confusion between the two terms is common. The WWW is a set of protocols that allows, in a simple way, the remote consultation of hypertext files.
The Deep Web
The Deep Web is part of the World Wide Web and cannot be found on common search engines like Google. The part that is available to everybody is called the Surface Web. The first person to use the term “Deep Web” was Mike Bergman, a computer scientist, in 2000.
The Deep Web is not the same as darknet or the Dark Web, though they could quickly appear to have the same meaning.
Accessing the deep web does not require unique protocols; that is the main difference.
The Dark Web
This term refers to content that search engines do not index, requiring authorization or special software to access. It is all that deliberately hidden content that we find on the Internet.
A darknet is a private or closed computer network. The Dark Web comprises independent networks (specific networks such as TOR or IP2).
The Dark Web is a part of the World Wide Web located on the darknets. To access it, you must know a password and use specific software. It can only be accessed through the Tor or IP2 browser. The encrypted nature of the browser means that anyone trying to access the dark web remains anonymous by default.
Google or any other search website cannot find a darknet. The Dark Web exists within the Deep Web but is not an equivalent network.
Kartos crawls the three layers of the Web to locate vulnerabilities in your organization
Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots is the Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) solution developed by Enthec to protect organizations. Through its army of bots, Kartos crawls the Internet, the Deep Web and the Dark Web to locate exposed vulnerabilities and open corporate breaches that are public and for sale and that can be used to engineer a cyberattack against the organization. Kartos works continuously, automated, autonomous and in real time. It does not require implementation in the organization's IT system and issues alarms in real time about the vulnerabilities and threats it finds. Contact us to receive more information on how Kartos can help you neutralize ongoing threats against your organization.
Media presence: TiC Cybersecurity
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