Okay, so you set up a long password full of numbers and special characters to protect the valuable files, and your system rewards you with an approving green check mark, declaring the combination is strong and hard to crack. But then you accidentally stumble upon this article… and realize (ideally) that data protection measures might be much more complicated than it seemed.
Being one of the fastest growing parts of the IT industry, cybercrime has developed a myriad of exceptionally sophisticated, adaptable and truly effective tools to crack up most of the protective measures known today that we rely upon — or merely bypass them where it’s possible, like backdoor attacks do.
What Is a Backdoor Attack
As the name suggests, it’s a type of malware, or crypto algorithm, that cybercriminals use to get unauthorized access into the victim’s system or website. Simply put, they circumvent normal authentication ways by spreading malicious code through unprotected points of entry, such as outdated plug-іns or іnput fiеlds. Once they succeed, they can reach all your company’s sensitive data, including customers’ personal identifiable information (PII), such as name, social security number, financial information, biometric records and so on.
The worst part, however, is that backdoor attacks are very hard to indicate as they are covert, and usually take the form of installed programs or rootkits — which is why, with the rise of multі-user networkеd operatіng systems, they become a real threat that requires due attention.
Who’s Being At Gunpoint
According to Verizon’s research, 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small and midsize businesses, proving they are particularly vulnerable to backdoor attacks. Why? The answer is simple: because small organizations tend to have fewer resources to identify successful attacks (or timely close entry points off), they usually remain unaware of the attack until severe damage is done.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that new strains of malware capable of bypassing system’s scanners are being constantly developed, which makes backdoor detection even more difficult.
At the same time, the longer an attack goes undetected, the more damage it will cause. Today, the average costs of a data breach can exceed $100,000, not mentioning the price it could take to rebuild customer trust and business reputation. All together, with cybercrime advancing and backdoor attacks becoming even more prevalent, it’s vital for the small businesses to pay close attention to their cybersecurity efforts.
How to Prevent Backdoor Attacks
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Now, the measures listed below should help you ensure your vital files with sufficient levels of security!
Firewalls and Network Monitoring Tools
This measure is especially important for website owners. Make sure a web application firewall and network monitoring tools are included in your antivirus’ security suite: while the former grants access only to authorized users, the latter should guarantee that any suspicious activity — like unauthorized uploads or downloads — are tracked down and taken care of.
In addition to that, using website scanners to defend themselves against backdoor attacks is a measure that is particularly important for website owners. These scanners can patch vulnerabilities, mitigate malware, and alert the administrator as soon there’s a potential security threat has been detected.
Advanced Antivirus Software
It might sound way too obvious, but protecting your system with an advanced antivirus that’s able to detect and prevent possible threats — including backdoor attacks — remains the most reliable practice to avert threats, including backdoors which are installed through RATs, Trojans, and other types of malicious programs. At the same time, monitoring its latest versions is not less important: outdated databases make your antivirus software a useless process exploiting your CP capacities in vain, which is why it’s necessary to ensure timely updating of all virus databases.
Take Things Over Your Control
Finally, is it important to make sure your cybersecurity team performs satisfactory research to detect and review new types of malware on a regular basis. It’s necessary to update the scanner’s signature database with each new iteration it finds, helping to essentially mitigate even the smallest chance of an attack.
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Interesting related article: “What is Cybersecurity?“