Software supply chain attacks are trending!
— But what is a software supply chain attack? And how does that concern our business ?
You may have heard about the recent software supply chain attacks that have been making headlines. If you haven’t, here’s a quick rundown: these attacks occur when malicious code is introduced into an app or software program during the development process, and then used to gain access to sensitive data or even take control of the device itself.
Let’s delve deep anyway:
What is a Software Supply Chain Attack?
A software supply chain attack is when someone gains access to an organization’s software supply chain, typically by infiltrating their partners or vendors, acquiring the software or hardware components for use in a company or organization. What is a Software Supply Chain Attack? It’s a process of compromising an entire network by compromising a single device in that network. What this means is that the attacker doesn’t have to take over every single system individually—he or she can simply compromise one device and use it as a way to spread malware throughout the entire network.
It involves multiple stakeholders: the vendor, their suppliers and partners, and their customers.
However, software supply chain attacks are effective because they’re difficult to detect and even more difficult to stop. The reason for this is that most organizations don’t monitor their software supply chains at all, which means they don’t know if one of their suppliers has been compromised until it’s too late.
With this, the attacker gains access to all of your information, from personal data like social security numbers to proprietary data like trade secrets, and he or she can do whatever he/she wants with it!
Consequently, these attacks are becoming more common because they’re so simple to pull off. Hackers can get away with using fake IDs, or even just creating fake accounts! While there are some basic steps developers can take to reduce their risk, it’s hard to completely eliminate it without investing in more expensive solutions like containerization or encryption techniques that work at the application level instead of just at the operating system level like you’d find on some older devices.
Why are the software supply chain attacks trending?
It’s no secret that social media and the internet have made us all more aware of things going on around us. We know about the latest news as it happens, we know what’s trending, and we want to be a part of it. This is especially true when it comes to something like cybersecurity, where there are so many new innovations and important issues to pay attention to. It’s natural that people would be drawn towards this kind of thing—and it makes sense that hackers would want to capitalize on that interest by making the software supply chain attack seem trendy.
Therefore, Software Supply Chain Attacks are on the rise, and it’s not hard to see why!
- First, software supply chain attacks are on the rise because they are easy to pull off. It is easy to find vulnerabilities in software and exploit them to gain access to the network or even steal data.
- Secondly, because they can be very lucrative. The goal of these attacks is not just to breach security but also to steal data or money. They often result in millions of dollars lost annually.
- Thirdly, because they go undetected for a long time before they are noticed by anyone else other than those who intend to use that data illegally or unlawfully in some way (i.e., hackers). This means that it may take months before an attack is discovered by anyone other than those who perpetrated it originally!
- Fourthly, because software supply chains are so complex, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle making it a great breeding ground for malicious code—and if your company is buying from an untrustworthy source, your data could be at risk.
One of the finest examples of this was on Apple’s App Store, where malware called “XcodeGhost” was found in dozens of popular apps (including WeChat). The malware was able to bypass Apple’s code review process because it was hidden in plain sight—there were no red flags raised by the code’s similarities to legitimate software.
More than half of all apps on your phone contain some kind of malware, and that malware can be used to access sensitive information like your location and private messages. That’s why software supply chain security is so important—it gives you the tools you need to make sure that your code is safe before you download it onto your phone or computer.
Threats to the Software Supply Security Chain
There are two main threats to software supply security chains: insider threats and third party providers who have been hacked. Insider threats include corrupted employees who either want revenge on their employers or want access.
—An insider at one of your suppliers who has access to sensitive information about your company, including passwords for accounts or servers within your network. S(he) could use this information for malicious purposes, such as stealing data or credentials from other companies that use the same supplier’s services.
Conclusion
Software supply chain security is an area that has seen an increase in attention over the past few years—not only from corporations who want their products to be safe but also from consumers who are concerned about their own personal information being compromised. This is good news! However, there is still work to be done in terms of education, awareness, and implementation of best practices among all parties involved in software development, distribution and use (including consumers).
You may be interested in: Cloud Computing Helps Drive Supply Chain in Covid-19 World