admin About 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses. So If you are the owner of small businesses, you need to include cybersecurity as an important part of your business toolkit. These cyberattacks are growing and changing as fast as technology, and cyber attackers plotting at various levels of your small business right now.
The Denial of Service Attack
A DoS attack is a kind of internet overloading where attackers send information and data all at once from multiple computers to overload your system to shut down. There are various types of denial of service attacks. A most common variant is the Distributed Denial of Service attack, where the attack originates from multiple computers simultaneously, therefore causing the victim’s resources to collapse. Undoubtedly, DoS attacks may appear undefeatable due to the fact that they take advantage of numerous susceptibilities in Internet protocols or even make the victims feel helpless when their systems are attacked. However, these attacks may be discouraged by taking a series of control and preventive measures.
When implementing the relevant measures to prevent DoS attacks, the different aspects which are used to perpetrate such attacks must be considered.
Network protective measures
When online services use a corporate network, one of the first measures that need to be considered is installing a router between this corporate network and the Internet Service Provider (ISP), so that security layers such as an access control list (ACL), which regulates network access based on requesting IP addresses, and/or a firewall, maybe easily implemented
Web applications protective measures
When designing protective measures for web applications, it is important to consider several cybersecurity-related aspects which will increase your system’s resilience and thereforeofyour client’s trust in your services.
Implement HTTPS and redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.
Implement a content security policy.
Use an updated version of TLS.
Malware
That’s one word that should set of off alarms bells whether you’re running an E-Commerce store or a brick and mortar shop with an online presence. Malware is the phrase for any of the malicious software that lie in to gain access to your system to cause some kind of damage. Malware covers a large number of viruses, Trojan Horses and other annoyances like Ransomware. Antivirus software creates a good moat around your business, and you should always be cautious of opening emails from people you don’t know.
Watch for pop ups promising needed updates that are really hiding malware. Updating your firewall is a good move too.
Password Attacks
Internet security experts tell you to make sure your small business passwords should not have common words and phrases or easy to remember terms like a variation on the name of your company.
Cyber criminals can unlock the door to your sensitive data using just one password as the key, these types of attacks into three subcategories:
The Brute Force Attack
A brute force attack is a cryptographic hack that depend on guessing possible combinations of a targeted password until the correct password is discovered. If have longer password, a brute force attack can be time consuming as the more combinations will need to be tested. A brute force attack is difficult to perform if methods such as data obfuscation are used. However, if the password is not strong it could simply take few seconds without any effort to get access, which is why all organizations should enforce a strong password policy across all users and systems.
You can throw any hackers off your trail by changing passwords frequently. Stay away from simple keyboard combinations and common misspellings. And once again foregrounding complete security software works wonders for your small business.
The Dictionary Attack
Quiet similar to the brute force version with a more narrowed focus, dictionary attacks can use an actual dictionary, but it’s more likely for them to contain a shorter list of words that an attacker thinks are likely to be successful. Commonly used password lists, popular names, pet names, movie or television characters, and other words can all be part of a dictionary list.Where you login plays an important role. Unsecured WiFi connections are public and more exposed to being hacked.
Slow down repeated logins, this is the simplest countermeasure available.
Lock accounts, even better, a system can be configured to lock an account after a specified number of attempted login.
Change passwords,modern systems typically require users to cycle passwords regularly. Some corporate environments require users to change passwords every 90 days, or maybe even every 30 days.
Finally, monitor for abnormalities, organization should be monitoring user accounts for anomalies, such as logins from unrecognized locations or devices, or repeated login failures.
Key Logger Attack
A keylogger is any piece of software or hardware that can intercept and record input from the keyboard of a machine without the user’s knowledge. The keylogger can either store the recorded data locally or send it to a remote PC controlled by the attacker. With this information, a hacker can work out your username and password for a range of sites without even seeing what comes up on the screen.
Avoid to use pirated and other suspicious freeware software
Maintain a password-change schedule
Use ‘Limited priviledges’ based OS profile, for daily low-profile tasks
Use a modern and up-to-date browser, that will help you in avoiding the MiTB based attacks
Back-up your data, to avoid data loss in case of account compromises.
Use 2-factor authentication on your accounts, as it will protect your account even if your password gets compromised
The Inside Attack
Some of the most impenitent breaches in small businesses occur when past employees decide to misuse the access to data and information. Small businesses don’t always need to gaze very far-flung for the threat of a cyber attack. When people quit or get fired, make sure you revoke their access to any data after their termination too.
If you leave this option open, an unhappy ex-employee can even use what’s called Ransomware against you.
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