Are you a business owner who isn’t sure how to spot a cyberthreat on your website?
Going into the new year, cyberattacks are going to be faster, harder to spot, and more effective. This can mean the difference between a small security event and a data breach.
So, here, the most common cyberthreats that businesses face will be explored, as well as what to do in each situation.
Unexpected System Slowdowns
One sign of a cyber threat is a sudden slowdown in systems, as well as unexplained spikes in bandwidth usage or even devices that run unusually hot. All of this can point to malware or unauthorised data exfiltration.
How To Manage This
You should instruct your IT team or cybersecurity provider to investigate traffic logs, as well as isolate affected devices and scan for malware signatures. Continuous network monitoring tools will help flag these abnormalities faster in the future, so get those installed as soon as possible. You can also spot this issue faster by having Managed Detection and Response software installed, so check out the Red Canary MDR guide to find the right option for your company.
Login Attempts from Unfamiliar Locations
One major red flag is unusual login behaviour, which can look like repeated logins from a foreign IP address, as well as trying to access private domains at unusual hours. Credential-based attacks are one of the most common methods for hackers and, with the rise of phishing and AI-generated impersonation attempts, they are one of the most successful too.
How To Manage This
Enable multi-factor authentication for all accounts, especially those that are administrative. You should also ensure that identity management platforms are set to trigger automatic alerts for suspicious access attempts.
Employees Reporting Suspicious Emails or Message Requests
Thanks to artificial intelligence, modern phishing attacks can often be impossible to distinguish from legitimate communication. Things such as deepfake audios, spoof domains, and AI-crafted messages can now trick even tech-savvy staff. So, if you have members of your team who are reporting suspicious emails, this will need to be investigated before it escalates.
How To Manage This
You should aim to reinforce a trust but verify culture and any suspicious messages must be forwarded to your ID department or cybersecurity provider, without clicking any links or downloading attachments. You should halt all pending transfers until verification is complete, and then implement e-mail security gateways and ensure that your staff undergoes ongoing training for long-term prevention.
Unauthorized Changes to Files
If you notice that files are vanishing, new accounts are appearing, or security settings are being disabled, this is often a sign that an intruder is trying to escalate privileges and hide their tracks.
How To Manage This
You should review system logs immediately and lock down or accounts. Any IT team should restore files via secure backups if there has been tampering. As a business owner, you may need to temporarily revoke admin privileges for users who don’t require them. Then, you need to conduct an integrity audit of all critical systems to help identify hidden changes.
Security Tools Sending Alerts or Being Disabled
If your antivirus or endpoint protection sends you an alert, you should not ignore it. However, if these tools suddenly stop sending you alerts, that shouldn’t be ignored either. In most cases, a cyber hacker will aim to disable firewalls or try to get access via login areas, and also disable security software before they launch an attack.
How To Manage This
You should make sure that alerts send the message to the right people, and if any system is down, take everything offline and review in a safe setting. When the crisis is over, update all security.