External Threats In Cyber Security: A Guide
The external threats organisations are facing are growing exponentially.
Advances in technology are enabling cyber criminals to orchestrate highly targeted cyber attacks to gain access to systems, networks, and sensitive data.
Estimations have shown that ‘cyber crime will cost the world economy USD 10.5 trillion per year by 2025’, emphasising that even businesses with robust software systems are at risk.
To remain vigilant, organisations must be prepared against the different types of external threats and have prevention strategies in place to minimise the risk of data breaches, prevent reputational damage, and more.
In this guide, we’ll cover different types of external threats, as well as some prevention strategies.
Types Of External Threats
External cyber security threats fall into three categories: malware, hacking, and social engineering.
Types of external threats within these categories include, but are not limited to:
- Ransomware
- Drive-by attacks
- Pretexting
- Brute force attacks
- Session hijacking
1. Ransomware
As a type of malware, ransomware holds a device or network hostage by preventing organisations from accessing their own files.
Considering research has found ‘ransomware attacks rose by 74% between 2023 and 2022’, its prevalence cannot be understated.
Cyber criminals typically encrypt files, preventing the victim from accessing a device and the data stored on it, before demanding a ransom in exchange for decryption.
Payment is typically demanded in a cryptocurrency through an anonymous web page.
Ransomware has the potential to cause organisations operational downtime, financial loss, and reputational damage.
2. Drive-By Attacks
Drive-by download attacks hide malicious codes, programs, or files on seemingly harmless websites.
If a user unknowingly clicks on one of these links, malware is automatically installed on their device, be it a computer or mobile, without their knowledge.
While other cyber attacks rely on human error for network access, drive-by attacks exploit security vulnerabilities so that users’ devices become infected by simply visiting a compromised site.
This covert network infiltration thus allows threat actors to steal sensitive information, eavesdrop, and infect systems with malware.
3. Pretexting
Pretexting involves malicious actors using open source intelligence to ‘fabricate a story, or a pretext’ to build the trust of their victims.
For instance, a threat actor might pretend to be part of the victim’s IT team or a newly appointed executive.
Armed with this fake identity and ‘inside knowledge’ they’ve gained from open source intelligence, they trick and manipulate the victim into sharing sensitive information, downloading malware and more.
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4. Brute Force Attacks
A common external threat in cyber security is brute force attacks.
This hacking method relies on trial and error to crack passwords, login details, as well as encryption keys, with research showing ‘over 80% of breaches categorised as hacking involve brute force attacks or use of lost or stolen credentials’.
With the rise of AI and automation, the efficiency and scale cyber criminals can execute brute force attacks are increasing.
As such, the importance of exercising good password hygiene in your organisation becomes all the more pressing, as using reused passwords increases your vulnerability.
Other means of protection involve network monitoring as well as firewall protection.
5. Session Hijacking
Session hijacking occurs when a cyber criminal gains access to a system when the victim is connecting online for a legitimate purpose.
They steal a user’s session ID, tricking the application server by posing as the legitimate user.
Ways malicious actors carry this out is to use captured and brute forced session IDs to seize control of a legitimate user’s session while the session is still in progress.
Session hijacking allows a threat actor to infect an organisation with malware, launch denial of service (DoS) attacks and open businesses up to more external threats.
How To Prevent External Security Threats
There are many methods to prevent external security threats, but organisations need to adopt a multi-layered, proactive approach to minimise their risk.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Cyber criminals frequently target poorly protected endpoints as a means of gaining access to a company’s IT network.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) detects abnormal endpoint activity and automates responses to mitigate risks arising from threats such as malware.
EDR reduces the risk of data breaches, minimises the potential financial impact, and improves your overall cyber security posture.
Regular Cyber Awareness Training
Cyber awareness training is the key to preventing external security threats and improving threat response times.
Regularly carrying out training on the latest external security threats will help to ensure your teams can detect and report any threats they encounter, such as phishing.
As many cyber breaches are the result of human error, cyber awareness training helps to ensure all employees are aware of their vulnerability to attacks, in turn helping to minimise external threats.
Vulnerability Scanning and Patch Management
To prevent external security threats, vulnerability scanning and patch management are essential.
Monitor for known vulnerabilities across all devices that are connected to networks, and be sure all staff install security updates as and when they’re released.
This will help to close vulnerabilities, improving security and optimising performance.
How We Can Help
To mitigate the risk of external threats, organisations must implement proactive strategies to elevate their security posture.
Net Consulting offers tailored cyber security consultancy services centred around NIST’s Cyber Security Framework.
Our team specialises in helping organisations to safeguard their most critical assets.
Get in touch with a member of our team today to discuss your security needs.
