Enthec

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:

1. 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.
2. 
   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.
3. Updates and patches. Keep all operating systems and applications up to date. Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software.
4. Firewall and antivirus. To protect your network, use a robust firewall and antivirus software that is always active and up-to-date.
5. 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.
6. Backups Make regular backups of all important data. This will allow for faster recovery in the event of a data breach.
7. 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.
8. Security audits. Conduct regular security audits to check the protection status and identify and remediate any vulnerabilities.
9. Data encryption. Sensitive data must be encrypted to protect it in a breach.
10. 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.

by Enthec

Types of Malware and keys to prevent these attacks from affecting the security of your company

Protecting against malware involves deploying a corporate strategy based on in-depth knowledge of the threat.
From Enthec, we tell you what malware consists of and its different types.

What is malware

A malware attack is a malicious attempt to gain access to computer systems, networks, or computers to steal sensitive information, infect systems, encrypt data, or cause damage. The goals of malware include gaining unauthorized access, stealing data, encrypting information, or damaging the affected system.
Organizations must be aware of and protect against these attacks because of the serious consequences they can entail if successful, such as financial losses, operational disruptions, data recovery costs, and reputational damage.
If you're wondering how many types of malware there are, read on; we'll tell you below.

The Different Types of Malware You Need to Know About

Malware can be classified into different categories depending on its purpose:

Virus

One of the most well-known types of malware is viruses. These viruses aim to disrupt the normal functioning of the computer device, regularly replacing executable files with others that contain the device's code.
Its infection can be through removable devices, emails, or network connections.

Adware

It is software designed to display unwanted advertising on screen. One of the methods that infects the system is after downloading a program and inadvertently allowing permissions.
The other method of infection can be browsing a website, taking advantage of the vulnerability in the user's browser to perform an unintentional download.

Spyware

It is a type of malware that hides in the computer system, monitors user activity, and steals information.

In this case, it is infected through unsafe web pages, taking advantage of vulnerabilities through ads or pop-ups that, when clicked, download this type of malware.

Trojan

This malware appears legitimate, harmless software but aims to control your computer, introduce more malware, steal data, and spread to other devices.
Rear doors

Back Doors

After installation, it provides access to malicious users to control a computer remotely.
It infects computers from untrustworthy websites or downloads. It can also infect through emails.

Keyloggers

Records keystrokes made on the keyboard to store them in a file and send them over the Internet. They can be hidden on removable devices, in emails or downloads from non-legitimate pages.

Thieves

This type of malware accesses private information stored on the computer to steal and share the most sensitive data, such as passwords.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that infects a computer to take control of it and, in exchange, demands a ransom payment.

When ransomware infects your computer, it encrypts all files and folders, preventing access without a key. It is spread through attachments in untrustworthy emails or web pages.

Computer worm

They are programs that make copies of themselves by remaining in different places in the system. They can make system changes without authorization, decreasing system performance or worsening the connection.

Rootkit

This type of malware allows hackers to access your computer without your knowledge to hide the processes and files on your system for a malicious purpose. It can infect other devices with files or downloads from non-legitimate sites.

Botnets

Botnets are any group of devices that are infected and controlled remotely by an attacker to control as many devices as possible and carry out illicit activities.
It spreads through malicious code on websites after exploiting its vulnerability.

Rogueware (rogue software )

This type of malware masquerades as a security tool that launches an alert or a fake message indicating that something is wrong with the computer to click on a link to download software that solves the problem.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is a type of malware that involves cybercriminals using users' devices without their consent and using the machine's resources to "mine" forms of online money known as cryptocurrencies.

Malicious Apps

These types of apps masquerade as legitimate apps or try to emulate other successful apps.
Once installed on the device, they will ask us for a series of abusive permissions or, on the contrary, they will make fraudulent use of those permissions.

Ways to get malware into a system

Malware gets into a system in different ways. Some of the most common are:

• Email: Cybercriminals often use email to distribute malware. This can be through malicious links or attachments in phishing emails.
• Internet downloads: Some websites may try to install malware on a device when you visit or download something from them. This is especially common on websites that offer freeware or pirated software.
• External storage devices: Devices such as USB drives can contain malware. If they connect to the system, malware can install itself automatically.
• Exploiting vulnerabilities: Cybercriminals often exploit software vulnerabilities to introduce malware into a system. This can be through outdated or unpatched software.
• Social media: Malicious links can also be distributed through social media platforms. Clicking on a malicious link can install malware.
• Mobile apps: Malware is often spread through malicious apps on mobile devices. These apps may look legitimate, but they contain malicious code.

You may be interested in our post→ Common types of cyberattacks.

How to identify a potential malware infection

To identify if a computer is infected with any malware types, it is crucial to pay attention to specific telltale symptoms. Some of the common signs of malware infection include:

• Slow system performance: If your computer runs slower than usual, freezes, or doesn't respond appropriately, it could indicate infection.
• Pop-up messages: The constant appearance of pop-up messages on the desktop can signify infection.
• Internet connection issues: Difficulties connecting to the internet or slow browsing can indicate the presence of malware
• Unexpected changes in the system: new icons on the desktop, files with unknown extensions, disappearance of the antivirus, or deactivation of the firewall are red flags.
• Abnormal computer behavior: Automatic actions such as opening unsolicited windows, changes in application languages, or missing files needed to run programs can be signs of infection.

Awareness to protect against malware

Since malware infection is almost always the result of social engineering techniques, malware awareness is essential in any work environment.
Knowledge is the best protection against significant damage to computer systems, including data loss, information theft, and disruption of business operations.
It's critical for everyone in any organization to understand malware, how it spreads, and how they can prevent it. This can include training on identifying suspicious emails, the importance of not downloading files from unknown websites, and the need not to click on unsolicited links.
This training and awareness must be regularly updated to prevent routine and trust from becoming vectors facilitating the attack.
In addition, workers should also be aware of the warning signs of a malware infection, such as slow system performance, frequent crashes, unwanted pop-up ads, and unexpected changes in system settings.
The time that elapses between the attack, detection, and communication is essential to protect against the malware deployed and avoid or minimize damage.

Protect mobile devices from malware

Mobile devices are now incorporated into any organization's work. Many of them are privately owned by workers, who use them outside of working hours and the work environment.
Therefore, to protect against malware, the organization must expand the scope of training and awareness to include this type of device, as long as it can access the corporate system from it.
Some recommended actions to protect mobile devices against different types of malware are:

• Regular updates: keep the operating system and all applications current. Updates often include security patches that protect against new threats.
• Security software: Install a reliable security application with antivirus and anti-malware protection. Some of these apps also include additional features such as remotely locking and wiping the device if it is lost or stolen.
• Safe downloads: Only download apps from official app stores like Google Play Store or Apple App Store. These stores typically have strict security policies and review apps for malware.
• App permissions: Review the permissions that an app requests before installing it. If an app requests unnecessary permissions for its operation, it could be a sign that it is malicious.
• Safe browsing: Avoid visiting unsafe websites or clicking on suspicious links that could install malware on your device.
• Public Wi-Fi: Be careful when using public Wi-Fi networks, as cybercriminals frequently use these networks to spread malware. It's wise to consider using a VPN when you're on public Wi-Fi.
• Screen lock: Use a screen lock to protect your device in case it is lost or stolen. This can help prevent unauthorized access to your information.

In-depth threat knowledge allows organizations to effectively protect against malware types and leverage the capabilities of new cybersecurity solutions, such as our Kartos Corporate Threat Watchbots cyber surveillance platform to prevent attacks before they materialize. Contact us to learn about our solutions!

by Enthec

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.

by Enthec