Where Are You Most Vulnerable?

Hackers understand that employees are often the weakest link in an organization’s security. That’s why 98% of cyber attacks rely on some type of social engineering, costing companies $billions every year.

Are you familiar with these new Cyber criminal techniques that can leverage ANY connected employee to breach your security?

As an increasing number of employees are forced to work remotely during the COVID-19 crisis, IT networks have become even more vulnerable to cyber-attack, especially when users connect over unsecure Wi-Fi and/or Home Networks with their personal devices.

In addition to raising awareness about new security threats for your employees, we’ve included 8 tips to help teleworkers (and any connected employees) improve security. You’ll also see recommendations on how ongoing Cyber Security Awareness Training is crucial to a strong defense.

While users are regularly encouraged to keep their anti-virus definitions and software up-to-date, 6% percent of users NEVER receive any type of security awareness training, while another 33% receive only once per year or when they join the company.

 

Key Security Lingo

Every employee should also become familiar with the latest phishing and ransomware strategies to prevent becoming that weak link.

Phishing (or Spear Fishing)

Vishing

Pretexting

Business E-Mail Compromise (BEC)

Baiting

From an IT Security perspective, the term “social engineering” refers to cybercriminals using any number of psychological tricks to get users to perform actions (click on an email or link) or divulge personal or confidential information.
While technical hackers seek vulnerabilities in the networks or software, social engineering cybercriminals exploit an end user’s tendency to trust.

Other types of social engineering may include creating distrust, or starting conflicts by altering private or corporate communications. There are literally thousands of variations to social engineering attacks, limited only by the criminal’s imagination.

Phishing (or Spear Fishing)

Phishing is the most common type of social engineering attack. Hackers pose as a trusted source (a friend, boss, colleague, bank official, government agency, etc.) and concoct a seemingly logical scenario for handing over login credentials or other sensitive personal data.

The cybercriminal may obtain your email address from a compromised email account or web directory and then go “Phishing,” sending general emails to everyone, or go “spear fishing,” personalizing an email for just you.

The email will contain:

• A link that you just have to click on, taking you to a website that asks for your personal information and/or automatically downloads malware
• An attachment of pictures, music, movie, document, etc., that has malicious software embedded. 

 

Vishing

Another type of phishing, using voice instead of text. The cybercriminal recreates an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system of a trusted company, attaches it to a toll-free number and tricks you into responding to the cell phone prompts with your personal information.

 

Pretexting

Pretexting is a social engineering technique of presenting oneself as someone else in a fictional situation in order to obtain private information.

This may be another phishing exploit, or use baiting techniques, but it’s all about developing a believable story, which may include:

Urgent request for help. Your ’friend’ is stuck in another country and needs money to get home or to pay a fine. Or the CEO sends an email titled “URGENT!!!!!,” with a message containing spelling mistakes.

Ask you to donate to a fundraiser, or some other cause. Disaster relief, political campaign, or charity needs money and/or your personal information to keep you informed.

Notify you that you’re a ‘winner.’ This phishing attack claims to be from a lottery, or a dead relative, or the millionth person to click on their site, etc. In order to receive your “prize” you will need to provide your bank routing number along with other details to steal your identity.

Pose as tech support or other professional. Also considered a “Quid Pro Quo” attack, the cyber-criminal is responding to an issue, and requests information, and/or a download of a scanner (malicious software) to scan your system. The criminal may be quite helpful and provide productivity tips while stealing your identity.

 

Serious Business Pre Text

One form of pretexting, called Business E-Mail Compromise (BEC) uses a variety of tactics to con the company into wiring funds. The cybercriminal group likely gains access through spear-phishing and/or malware, and then spends weeks or months discovering the organization’s billing process, vendor payments, and the CEO’s email style and travel schedule.
Then when the CEO is out of office, the scammers send a targeted email posing as the CEO to the finance officer (bookkeeper, accountant, controller, or CFO ) requesting an immediate wire transfer. The vendor will sound familiar though the account numbers will be slightly different.

If undetected, the initial and subsequent requests will cost the company thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

 

Baiting

This type of social engineering scheme dangles malicious devices inside a seemingly harmless carrier, hoping someone will “take the bait.”

These schemes are often found on Peer-to-Peer sites offering a recent movie, or music to download, but they’re also found on social networking sites, job posting sites, online auctions and e-commerce sites.