How much do you know about cyber security and the way it impacts businesses here in Australia?
We may be isolated geographically from the rest of the world, but thanks to the internet we can connect to anywhere in a moment. This has opened up a lot of opportunities for growth and innovation, but it also means we can be attacked from anywhere without proper cyber defence.
So, what can you do to mitigate this? It starts with awareness. Here is what you need to know about cyber security threats so you can better defend your business.
What are cyber attacks?
There is a network of cyber criminals that can cause significant damage to businesses of all shapes and sizes that lack proper defence. They stage various types of attacks that can compromise systems, inflict major costs, and stop business operations in their tracks. And it’s not just expert hackers.
Cyber Crime as a Service (CaaS) has emerged as an online marketplace on the dark web where people can purchase hacking tools, malware, stolen data, and other cyber-criminal services. This enables even the most amateur cyber criminals to stage complex attacks with major fallout.
So how can you stay protected? By understanding the kind of attacks you are likely to face, you can bolster your defences and keep your business safer online.
Different types of Australian cyber attacks
There are a number of different types of cyber attacks. Here are the most common facing Australian businesses.
Phishing
Phishing attacks happen when a cyber attacker sends a deceptive email, message, or link to obtain sensitive information. This could be usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data. In most instances, the attacker will masquerade as a trusted source and create a sense of urgency so action is taken quickly. However, with effective email filtering and proper awareness, you can easily avoid this attack.
Ransomware
Ransomware refers to a type of malicious software (malware) that attackers use to access and encrypt systems to block access. The attacker will then demand payment for the release of the compromised data and systems, essentially stopping operations until the ransom is paid. It may infiltrate your system via phishing attempts, malicious links, infected USB drives, and unsecured public networks. By understanding how you may be impacted, backing up your data, and investing in endpoint protection, you can move past these attacks with little fuss.
Denial-of-service (DoS)
The purpose of a DoS attack is to disrupt the functioning of a business by targeting their system, network, or service to make it inaccessible. Attackers will do this by overloading a system or network with a large volume of traffic, overwhelming bandwidths, memory, or processing power. This makes things slow and unresponsive, preventing smooth operations and impacting service delivery. An attack like this may be motivated by financial gain, revenge, or to simply create chaos, but you can prevent it from impacting you with bandwidth filtering and effective planning.
Man in the Middle (MitM)
MitM attacks occur when a cybercriminal intercepts and manipulates communication between two trusted parties without their knowledge. This allows them to listen in on confidential communication, manipulate data being transferred, or even masquerade as one of the trusted parties. Criminals launch this attack via a few methods, including unsecured Wi-Fi networks, compromised network devices, and unencrypted communication channels. You can help protect your business against this threat with encryption software, network protection, and awareness training.
SLQ Injection
SLQ stands for Structured Query Language and is used in programming to manage data held in large database management systems. SQL is mostly used for querying, updating, inserting, and deleting data. So, a SQL injection happens when vulnerabilities are exploited during these processes to gain authorised access. Those with effective firewalls and assistance from a security provider can enjoy peace of mind knowing the likelihood of this is significantly reduced.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
XSS is focused on web applications. It happens when attackers inject malicious scripts into web pages that are viewed by other users. Consequently, sensitive information can be stolen, sessions can be hijacked, malware can be distributed and websites can be defaced. Make sure your web applications can validate or sanitise user input, and you can reduce the chance of this occurring.
Zero-Day Exploits
Technology is essential and invaluable. However, sometimes software and hardware can possess unknown vulnerabilities. In some cases, attackers will exploit these vulnerabilities, launching an attack that disrupts systems, breaches data and causes financial loss. With effective patch management and endpoint protection of your devices, you can help prevent zero-day exploits from becoming an issue.
DNS Spoofing
Your Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for the communication between your computers, services, or any resource that is connected to your network. Essentially, it translates domain names into numerical IP addresses, allowing computers to communicate with each other. DNS spoofing happens when the DNS is altered to redirect queries to malicious websites or other locations chosen by the attacker. However, you can help prevent this from happening with DNS filtering that detects and blocks malicious activity.
Important cyber security insights
By understanding cyber security and all of the potential risks, you can help make sure your business is better protected against attacks of all types. Here are some extra tips to keep in mind when defending your organisation from the impact of an attack.
Use a strong password
Your passwords are the gateway to a lot of important systems, data, and applications. So, the weaker the password the easier it is for an attacker to gain access and breach your organisation.
Looking at the time it takes for an attacker to crack your password, an 8-character key with numbers, upper and lower case characters, and symbols can take as little as 3 hours. On the other hand, an 11-character key with numbers, upper and lower case characters, and symbols can take as long as 300 years (give or take).
So, the stronger your password the better defended you will be. By implementing password policies across your organisation, you can help make sure you are more secure.
Educate your team
Your team are the first line of defence. If they know what to look for in the event of an attack, it can allow them to mitigate its effects.
Take a phishing attack. If a team member knows what to look for when it comes to suspicious messages, it can prevent them from clicking a malicious link. Similarly, for DNS Spoofing, if a staff member is directed to a malicious website, they can inform the rest of the team and lessen the chance of spreading.
Invest in your cyber defence
Cyber security is the most important investment you can make. There are a number of tools and services out there that can secure your network, back up your data, allow you to form a disaster recovery plan, and fill any vulnerabilities in your infrastructure. With these in place, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your business is more secure.
Protect yourself from Australian cyber attacks with TBTC Melbourne South
TBTC Melbourne South is here to help you defend your business against all kinds of cyber attacks. We will take the time to get to know your business, including your needs, goals, security gaps, and growth plans. This allows us to make tailored recommendations that bring tangible benefits, rather than wasting your investment on things you might not need. Allow us to walk side by side with you as you enhance your cyber security posture. Talk to us today.
