To do so, they conduct enough research first to gain knowledge about the user and their organization that helps the phishing email appear legitimate (that’s the social engineering part). Email Phishing with Social Engineering: In these attacks - almost always launched with a phishing email - cybercriminals con users into parting with their credentials willingly, by signing on to a fake website, for example.Here are some of the common ways cybercriminals breach passwords: This is particularly dangerous because valid credentials let a bad actor appear to be a genuine user going about their business while they extract the passwords of other users. How Bad Password Data Breaches Happen to Good CompaniesĪ large proportion of database breaches involve a cybercriminal simply strolling in the front door using a legitimate password. That’s why, for example, in early 2021, 2.3 million records stored in the user database of the dating site MeetMindful were dumped on the Dark Web for free to any threat actor - including everything from encrypted passwords and Facebook IDs to dating preferences. But with a valid password in hand, they can reverse engineer the algorithm - which is like cutting a master key to all those passwords. In theory, even if cybercriminals breach the password database, it’s useless without the algorithm that hashed the passwords. Here’s how: When a user creates a password, the text is “hashed,” or scrambled into numbers and secured as a code in a database. Threat actors can find leaked passwords easily, and one set of credentials can sometimes open the door to hundreds of others. Eight out of 10 breaches in 2020 featured either stolen credentials or a brute-force break-in trying multiple passwords, according to Verizon’s annual data breach survey. Stealing passwords is the most popular way cybercriminals break into systems and breach databases. But analyzing the rash of recent data breaches, it looks like most people treat passwords like house keys: they don’t give them a thought until they lose them - or they’re robbed. To learn more about mobile phone and online security, check out the FCC consumer guide: Wireless Connections and Bluetooth Security Tips.Passwords are the keys that secure everything we own online. Public WiFi networks are another way that cyber criminals target travelers. If you plug your device into a USB port and a prompt appears asking you to select "share data" or “trust this computer” or “charge only,” always select “charge only.”.Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.Using AC power outlets can help you avoid any potential risks, so be sure to pack AC, car chargers, and your own USB cables with you when traveling.Here are some tips to guard against "juice jacking:" Criminals can then use that information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors.Īlthough "juice jacking" has been demonstrated to be technically possible as a proof of concept, the FCC is not aware of any confirmed instances of it occurring. Malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. You could become a victim of "juice jacking," yet another cyber-theft tactic.Ĭybersecurity experts warn that bad actors can load malware onto public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices while they are being charged. If your battery is running low, be aware that juicing up your electronic device at free USB port charging stations, such as those found in airports and hotel lobbies, might have unfortunate consequences. Planning to travel? No doubt you'll have your cell phone or another portable device, and you'll need to re-charge it at some point.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |