What The Latest Cybersecurity Trends Mean For Your SME 

It's open season for cybercriminals. Research from TWC highlights that the time between March and July is the peak period for cyber attacks targeting organisations, meaning that businesses of all shapes and sizes must remain vigilant. Comparing that with the uptick in cybersecurity incidents that hampered governments and global corporations alike this year already, it’s clear that smaller businesses must act quickly to avoid being caught out.

To stay safe in cyberspace, prevention is always better than the cure. Below, we’ll tackle emerging cybersecurity trends and how businesses can enhance their security and stay vigilant at a time when cybercriminals and fraudsters are growing ever more sophisticated.  

Playing Tricks With Packages 

Hackers will use many of the daily routine, mundane tasks we do to probe for weaknesses. That now includes targeting users as they download digital “packages” of files. There have been increasing incidents of package impersonation attacks via public repositories such as NPM, RubyGems, and PyPl. These play out as cybercriminals create fake packages that mimic legitimate ones in these repositories, and when developers unknowingly download one of these ‘packages’, they also install malware or other malicious code into their systems. The impact of such attacks can be serious as the information on a business’s servers is sensitive. 

To reduce the risk of these attacks, businesses must act to expand the verification and software composition analysis to identify potential threats.

Having verification measures in place checks a package's cryptographic signature and can authenticate the source, therefore ensuring the package is genuine. It can also verify the integrity and dependencies of the package, adding another layer of reassurance that it has not been tampered with. A final check is to run a software composition analysis, which can detect suspicious or malicious code within a package. 

 Multiplying Attacks From Multi-Factor Authentication

Most associate multi-factor authentication with an added layer of security. But even this can potentially be exploited. Businesses are seeing increasing incidents of push spam attacks, where an attacker will send countless push notifications demanding access, tricking an overwhelmed user into approving their entry into their system. The other increasingly common tactic is the ‘man in the middle attack’, which gives access to an account when an attacker intercepts the communication between the user and the server — thus obtaining authentication information. 

One obvious solution is improved employee education on the importance of not approving such requests, and increasing vigilance against unsolicited pop-ups or other suspicious activity. However, that will never fully eliminate the chance for human error.

So how can we bolster security? Hardware tokens could be a compelling solution to this threat. These tokens form an additional layer of security by generating a unique, one-time password that’s entered alongside regular login credentials. Since the password changes every time a user logs in, it’s much harder for attackers to access accounts.

Generating Security With AI

The rise of generative AI is offering many businesses opportunities to find new efficiencies. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are finding ways to benefit from this technology too. With tools like ChatGPT, cybercriminals have a powerful tool to craft more convincing phishing and smishing lures, even with limited technical skills of their own. 

Whether it’s phishing over email or text, companies must be on the front foot to tackle these incidents as they become more common. As before, employee education and training can form a crucial first step in helping with this, as well as staying vigilant against suspicious texts, emails and links. The second line of defense, as mentioned, is having resilient security measures in place, such as multi-factor authentication, as well as keeping device software up to date. 

Finally, don’t let the good name of your company be used against you. Some attackers may copy your domain name and impersonate a legitimate business in a homograph attack. It’s all too easy to overlook the small differences between characters that might be used to replicate a safe domain name with a malicious one — which is why it’s crucial to also consider choosing a domain name with built-in protection to guard against such vulnerabilities. Some domain providers are protecting their customers by automatically blocking all homographs of customers’ domain names at the time of purchase, effectively preventing any efforts to mimic legitimate websites.

API Attacks On The Rise

APIs have undoubtedly become the foundation of modern software development, given their data sharing capabilities and ease of integration. But this reliance on APIs comes at a risk. With attacks only getting more sophisticated–for instance, injection-based attacks, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or SQL injection, or smarter social engineering tactics–hackers are getting better at getting users into divulging sensitive information. Thankfully, that risk can be mitigated.

While cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities in APIs to steal data, compromise systems or launch attacks on other applications or networks, implementing authentication protocols can reduce the likelihood of this threat. Tools like these can help businesses control access to their APIs, review access controls lists and ensure only authorised users can access APIs. Proper encryption of API data can also go a long way in helping protect sensitive data in transit, so data gets to where it needs to be safely. 

But this isn’t a checkbox exercise - instead, businesses must perform regular penetration testing to identify and address any vulnerabilities before it's too late. 

Securing The Path Ahead

Businesses must be vigilant that new technologies bringing them new efficiencies are not also working against them. After all, cybercriminals are just as invested in utilising the latest and greatest trends in technology.

But by having strong awareness and security-savvy employees, a protected domain name, as well as strong authentication protocols across the board, businesses can rise above the risks in 2023 and beyond. 

By Alexander Falatovich, Senior Cyber Security Threat Analyst at Identity Digital

You Might Also Read:

The Reality Check For Small & Medium Businesses:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 

« NSA Warning: China Is Stealing AI Technology
What Is The Difference Between Phishing, Smishing & Vishing?  »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

D-RisQ

D-RisQ

D-RisQ is focussed on delivering techniques to reduce the development costs of complex systems and software whilst maximising compliance

Intercede

Intercede

Intercede is a cybersecurity company specializing in digital identities, derived credentials and access control, enabling digital trust in a mobile world.

Bromium

Bromium

Bromium deliver a new technology called micro-virtualization to address the enterprise security problem and provide protection for end users against advanced malware.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Norway

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Norway

NCSC is part of the Norwegian Security Authority, and is Norway's national cyber security hub and the national CERT.

Microsoft Security

Microsoft Security

Microsoft Security helps protect people and data against cyberthreats to give you peace of mind. Safeguard your people, data, and infrastructure.

National Cyber Security Centre (CNCS) - Portugal

National Cyber Security Centre (CNCS) - Portugal

CNCS is the operational coordinator and Portuguese national authority in cybersecurity working with State entities, and digital service providers

CyberPoint

CyberPoint

CyberPoint delivers innovative, leading-edge cyber security products, solutions, and services to customers worldwide.

Halcyon Knights

Halcyon Knights

Halcyon Knights is a specialist executive search and IT recruitment agency in the APAC region. Areas of specialisation include cybersecurity.

CertiK

CertiK

CertiK uses rigorous Formal Verification technology to provide hacker-resistant smart contract and blockchain audits, thorough penetration testing, and customized security integrations.

Immuta

Immuta

Immuta empowers data engineering and operations teams to automate data governance, security, access control & privacy protection.

Sotero

Sotero

Sotero is the first cloud-native, zero trust data security platform that consolidates your entire security stack into one easy-to-manage environment.

SYN Ventures

SYN Ventures

SYN Ventures invests in disruptive, transformational solutions that reduce technology risk.

Mindsprint

Mindsprint

Mindsprint (formerly Olam Technology and Business Services - OTBS) are a leading edge technology and business services firm.

Sec3

Sec3

Sec3 is a security and research firm providing bespoke audits and cutting edge tools to Web3 projects.

Inroad Technologies

Inroad Technologies

Inroad Technologies provide IT services that help keep your business computers, servers and networks secure and trouble-free.

Xcede

Xcede

Xcede are global technology recruitment specialists. We connect companies with exceptional professionals who empower growth.