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Understanding what a threat vector is and its importance is fundamental in the realm of cybersecurity. Guaranteeing the security of your organization's systems, services, networks and applications is crucial, and protecting your threat vectors through effective prevention strategies is an effective method to achieve this.
The terms threat vector and attack vector tend to be used interchangeably however they have, while closely related, slightly different definitions. A threat vector is more about the ‘what’ and ‘where’ of potential threats, encompassing all possible ways that security could be compromised, including the actors behind the threats. Whereas an attack vector is the ‘how’ of an attack, the specific route or tool the attacker uses to achieve their objective. This article will outline what a threat vector is, and the most common examples of threat vectors before detailing prevention strategies for protecting threat vectors.
Contents
What is a Threat Vector?
A threat vector may be defined as any channel or medium that may carry a potential threat with the capability to compromise the system, network, or organization. It is used to describe methods and paths through which the malicious individual can act, delivering threats, such as unauthorized access, data breaches, or malware infections.
Threat vectors are not restricted to technical means, such as vulnerabilities in software or network configurations, but also comprise more general factors like insider threats, social engineering, or even physical security weaknesses. In essence, a threat vector is a medium that may be used by a malicious individual to mount an attack or hamper normal operations.
Threat Vector Cybersecurity Examples
To assist you in understanding where to focus your efforts in order to mitigate against the risks of threat vectors, we have listed some common examples below.
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Phishing Emails: Cybercriminals send fraudulent emails that look like they are from reputable sources. Usually, they contain a link or an attachment with some sort of malicious code that installs malware or attempts to extract sensitive information if a user clicks on or opens it. This is arguably the most common example of how a threat vector is exploited, with 57% of organizations experiencing daily or weekly phishing attempts.
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Malware: Malicious software, including viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware, into the system via downloads or attachments to emails, or even through the use of infected USB drives. Various malware could result in system damage, data theft, or even access for attackers.
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Social Engineering: Attackers manipulate users into divulging sensitive information or performing some action that causes the system to be breached. This may include contacting employees, pretending to be someone from an IT employee, and eliciting their passwords.
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Unpatched Software: Unless appropriately updated or patched, vulnerabilities in the software may be used as an entry point for attackers to gain unauthorized access to, or control over, systems. Known vulnerabilities within outdated software have become a regular target of attackers.
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Insider Threats: Security breaches can be caused by insider employees, contractors, or other insiders to systems and data through intentional or accidental means. These could be caused by misuse of access privileges, negligence, or malign intent.
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Brute Force Attacks: Attackers try to enter accounts by guessing passwords, either cycling through a list in chronological order or using automated software that will continue trying various combinations until it hits upon the correct combination.
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SQL Injection: The attackers use this method to inject malicious SQL queries in input fields of web applications, and the queries give them access to the underlying database.
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Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks: Public Wi-Fi or poorly secured networks can be used by attackers to intercept data or get unauthorized access to devices attached to the network. Attackers usually perform such techniques as man-in-the-middle attacks in an attempt to eavesdrop on communications.
Prevention Strategies for Protecting Threat Vectors
Phishing and Social Engineering Prevention
Phishing and social engineering attacks can best be combated through wide user education. It’s beneficial to conduct regular training on how harmful phishing can be, how to know a suspicious email, and what to do when they think they have encountered some suspected threats. Also utilizing advanced email filtering systems capable of detecting and blocking phishing attempts before reaching users' inboxes is essential. Lastly, anti-phishing tools scan emails for malicious links or attachments, or the domains most commonly used in phishing attacks for further protection.
Malware and Ransomware Protection
Utilize strong endpoint tools for security against viruses, malware, and ransomware. Such tools require frequent updating to safeguard against new threats and ideally should include real-time scanning to detect and quarantine malicious software before it may cause harm. Moreover, all kinds of software, ranging from operating systems to applications, should be kept up to date and patched regularly to minimize entry points and vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malware.
Insider Threat Mitigation
Enforce rigid access control policies to ensure only employees have access to relevant data and systems that their job functions require. It is also important to review and update these permissions regularly, especially in case of any role or responsibility change. The continual monitoring of user activity can also help in identifying unusual behavior that may point toward an insider threat. Also, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools empower organizations to take control of the movement of sensitive data around the organization and, in doing so, prevent its unauthorized transfer.
SQL Injection and Web Application Security
Encourage good coding practices that assure safety, especially within web applications, and test applications for security vulnerabilities before deployment. Check in particular if input validation has been done and prepared statements have been used to prevent SQL injection attacks. It’s good practice to utilize an application log monitoring solution to ensure you can detect these threats early, preventing the likelihood of them impacting the end user. Also, implement web application firewalls (WAFs) to protect the web application by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic between a web application and the Internet. WAFs are capable of blocking malicious requests that aim to exploit vulnerabilities such as SQL injection.
Continuous Security Awareness
Implement and maintain a security awareness program with a comprehensive update for all employees to understand the current threats, secure practices, and the importance of vigilance in preventing security incidents. Develop an incident response plan, including steps to take in the event of a breach, communication protocols, containment strategies, and recovery procedures.
Enhance Security with Logit.io
By opting for Logit.io’s security analytics you can enable your teams to alert upon a wide range of conditions to assist in identifying bad actors and suspected security threats. With security analytics, you can analyze network traffic to detect patterns indicative of an attack and conduct root cause analysis for security incidents, enhancing the security of your organization. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Logit.io platform, don’t hesitate to contact us or begin exploring the platform for yourself with a 14-day free trial.
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