Category: Cybersecurity

Microsoft Vulnerabilities and Solutions

microsoft vulnerabilities and solutions

 

Microsoft Vulnerabilities and Solutions

 

critical-Microsoft-vulnerabilitiesTechnological advancement in the current digital era has increased vulnerabilities in businesses using Microsoft products. It has affected most managed service providers (MSPs) as they have become primary targets of cyber attackers. Small businesses are also exposed to severe dangers as cybercriminals target them to exploit their systems and paralyze operations.

Microsoft vulnerabilities are the stuff that nightmares are made of for many companies. There are so many vulnerabilities in Microsoft systems that might leave you wondering why you even use Microsoft products. Well, the answer is simple — Microsoft products are fantastic. And, because it is so popular, it’s no wonder that there are so many vulnerabilities. The truth is that despite having so many vulnerabilities, Microsoft has come a long way in fixing them with their monthly updates. Here, we break down all critical Microsoft vulnerabilities and provide solutions to protect against them.

Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerability

What Happened?  

Microsoft exchange server vulnerability is a serious threat that has affected Microsoft recently. In March 2021, the company had to conduct an emergency patching after discovering four types of vulnerabilities known as ProxyLogon in its products. After Hafnium, a Chinese-based threat team invaded thousands of corporations, this incident occurred. The heightened security concerns and attacks forced the court to command the FBI to instantly eliminate Web shells that the intruders utilized to launch their invasions of companies. In September 2021, Proxy Token, another flaw in the Exchange Server, emerged, giving attackers a channel to copy or forward targeted emails to an account that an assailant controls.

How Dangerous Microsoft Exchange Server Vulnerability Is For Small Businesses 

Microsoft exchange server vulnerability is a serious threat to small businesses. It contributes to organization data theft, leading to unauthorized access to company records. It also enables attackers to create malicious codes that give them remote administrative rights to access the company network. These practices can lead to the leaking of confidential customer information, which would later destroy the business image.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue

Small businesses have a variety of solutions to embrace to avoid Microsoft exchange server vulnerability. One of them entails configuring their Exchange framework to define change requests and validating any newly created files. Enterprises should also practice continuous patching of software to reduce the risk exposure.

Microsoft Patches Six Zero-Day Security Vulnerabilities

What Happened?  

In December 2021, Microsoft released patches for 67 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) in its products, 60 of which were essential and seven extremely critical, including six zero-day susceptibilities (https://cisomag.eccouncil.org/microsoft-december-2021-patch-tuesday/). These susceptibilities included CVE-2021-43890, which attackers utilized to distribute malware like BazarLoader, TrickBot, and Emotet. CVE-2021-43240 affected Windows NTFS by setting short names, which elevated privilege vulnerability. CVE-2021-41333 impacted Windows Print Spooler elements, while CVE-2021-43880 invaded Windows Mobile management appliances. CVE-2021-43893 interfered with windows file encryption systems, while CVE-2021-43883 interrupted the Windows installer.

How Dangerous Microsoft Patches Six Zero-Day Security Vulnerabilities Are For Small Businesses 

Microsoft patches six zero-day security vulnerabilities that are severe threats to small businesses. For example, they enable unsuspecting computer users to open infected files and documents. Attackers use this avenue to execute malicious malware codes. They also exploit susceptibilities via malicious programs like Bazaloader, Trickbot, and Emotet. Such elements contribute to the destruction of data backups and security infrastructure besides disclosing company critical information to intruders. Businesses that experience these factors make intensive capital and customers losses that affect their financial bases.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue.

Small industries have numerous solutions to Microsoft patches six zero-day security vulnerabilities. One of them includes using Microsoft-provided updates and installing them in their systems. Patching all Microsoft programs and software is also an important initiative for enterprises.

Windows Print Spooler Vulnerability

What Happened? 

Windows Print Spooler vulnerability is a severe threat in Microsoft systems. In 2021 July, Microsoft discovered another type of the above susceptibility known as CVE-2021-36958. This component gave local attackers a means of gaining access to SYSTEM privileges on their machines. This vulnerability misused Print features, Print drivers, and Windows print spooler settings configurations. Cyber attackers in this scenario connected to a remote printer server, and as a result, they could view, delete, change, and form new accounts with exclusive user rights.

How Dangerous Windows Print Spooler Vulnerability Is For Small Businesses  

Windows Print Spooler vulnerability is a risky sensation in small businesses that adversely affect their operations. When attackers access a compromised computer, they assign system and admin-level rights, making it hard for the users to detect the susceptibility quickly. Such characters can steal sensitive information and use it for malicious activities in the long run. The remote code execution in this kind of susceptibility destroys records and applications, generating significant losses to small businesses.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue

Enterprises have multiple ways to eliminate the Windows Print Spooler susceptibility. One of them entails applying CVE-2021-34527 security updates to secure their systems and configuring some registry settings to zero, including HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\PointAndPrint, NoWarningNoElevationOnInstall, and UpdatePromptSettings. Another viable solution is disabling the sprinter spooler on susceptible workstations and servers.

Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover Vulnerability

What Happened?

Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover vulnerability is a severe system threat that has affected most businesses in 2021. This aspect led to the leaking of around 100,000 passwords and login names of users of the Windows domain all over the world (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-exchange-autodiscover-bugs-leak-100k-windows-credentials/). Researchers identified that the primary cause of this problem was the wrong execution of Autodiscover protocol. As a result, the system sent personal details to third parties and untrusted sites.

How Dangerous Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover Vulnerability Is For Small Businesses 

Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover vulnerability exposes an entire organization to severe dangers. Attackers use this mechanism to get genuine credentials to access user accounts and disseminate ransomware. As a result, they infect company records and steal sensitive information such as customer and financial details, which they can later use to execute malicious activities. Such issues can tarnish the enterprise’s reputation, thus negatively affecting its revenue generation methods as clients shifts to other providers.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue

Businesses have multiple ways of mitigating Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover susceptibility. One of them includes blocking all the Autodiscover. [tld] domains in their DNS servers or firewall. This initiative ensures that their devices do not connect with such parts. Disabling Basic authentication is another effective mechanism that prevents the dissemination of credentials in explicit texts.

Microsoft Azure Customers’ Data Leak by WIZ Researchers

What Happened?  

A data breach is a serious threat to businesses and a prevalent issue in the current digital society. For instance, the Microsoft Azure customers’ data disclosure occurred in February 2021, where WIZ researchers obtained databases and accounts of thousands of Microsoft Azure customers, including Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil, in the Fortune 500 companies’ category. Information technology specialists discovered that the primary cause of this catastrophe was clients’ misconfiguration of Microsoft Azure. After Wiz examiners from Israel informed Microsoft about the issue, the company resolved it instantly.

How Dangerous Microsoft Azure Customers’ Data Leak Is For Small Businesses 

Data leakage can be a bad experience in a company if the leaked information lands in the hands of malicious individuals. If businesses encounter the scenario mentioned above, cyber attackers illegally access enterprise data, including customer particulars, and can later use it for ill purposes such as money theft.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue.

Small businesses experiencing Microsoft Azure customers’ data leak security problems can employ techniques such as requesting their clients to modify their login particulars as a precautionary measure. They can also ensure consistent updates of Azure containers used to patch known vulnerabilities. Such enterprises should also encourage their customers to utilize security software that quickly detects malicious attacks to ensure that they instantly respond to them once they occur.

MICROSOFTMicrosoft MSHTML

What Happened?  

In September 2021, Microsoft revealed the prevalence of a remote code execution (RCE) susceptibility in MSHTML, also called Trident. The threat allowed hackers to launch arbitrary programs on a victim’s computer through ActiveX control, which they sent through spear-phishing. Using the CVE-2021-40444 vulnerability, the intruder crafts malicious ActiveX using the Microsoft Office document hosting the browser. This individual then convinces users to open the harmful document, and the hazardous program executes on opening it. Cyber attackers, in this case, target Office 365 on diverse versions of the Windows operating systems.

How Dangerous Microsoft MSHTML Vulnerability Is For Small Businesses

Microsoft MSHTML vulnerability enables attackers to execute harmful codes from the logged-in user, which in the long run compromises the network and computer systems. This phenomenon gives ways for the attackers to steal essential records and sensitive data as they have total control of the system. Data theft can adversely affect the business’s reputation and lead to the loss of customers. In severe cases, enterprises become challenging to operate, leading to their closure.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue Microsoft MSHTML Vulnerability

Small business should train their employees to avoid opening documents from individuals they do not know to hinder Microsoft MSHTML vulnerability. System users should also shun disabling Microsoft protected view option in the office suite to allow the read-only capability of files and thwart the introduction of malicious contents. Enterprises should also disable ActiveX control through modification of the appropriate registry keys. They should also enable Application Guard, a security container that separates an individuals’ data from unknown records.

Manageengine Adselfservice plus Vulnerabilities

What Happened

In its application programming interface, the ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus vulnerability was initially discovered on 8th September 2021. ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus allowed users to reset and update passwords details on the directory. Research by the U.S. cyber security personnel showed that this susceptibility targeted U.S. companies. The threat allowed hackers to execute arbitrary codes on user systems, thus enabling them to take control of the computer system and install malware programs.

How Dangerous ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Vulnerabilities Is For Small Businesses 

ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus vulnerabilities cause devastating results in small enterprises, including loss of sensitive company and customer records. Another drawback of the threat mentioned above in corporations entails intensive disruption of operations and subversion of company focus. Such issues can severely affect a firm and even lead to its discontinuation.

Ways Small Businesses Can Fix This Issue

Small businesses should practice frequent updating of internet interfaces of the ADSelfService Plus to enhance protection against ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus vulnerabilities. It is also always advisable for enterprises to frequently review their system security recommendations and make the necessary changes.

Wrapping it up

It’s essential to update your Microsoft software to protect yourself and because your customers should have the best experience possible with your products.

The fact that you’re reading this means you care about computer security. That’s great! Because we do too. As Microsoft continues to find new and exciting ways to keep your data secure, we will continue to bring you the latest news and advice on staying protected in a fast-paced digital world.

Protected Harbor is your one-stop solution for all IT needs, including data center real-time monitoring, 99.99% uptime, safety, and security. We are not just your regular MSP; we treat clients as partners and build a solution from scratch according to your business needs and requirements. We want to know how we deliver an unmatched experience; our expert IT team is dedicated to satisfying your needs. That’s not it; learn more here; contact us now.

FBI: Russian hackers spy on, scour energy sector of the US; 5 companies targeted

FBI Russian hackers spy on, scour energy sector of the US 5 companies targeted

FBI: Russian hackers spy on, scour energy sector of the US; 5 companies targeted

According to a March 18 FBI advice to US businesses received by CNN, hackers affiliated with Russian internet addresses have been examining the networks of five US energy corporations as a possible preliminary to hacking operations.
As the Russian military suffers significant casualties in Ukraine and Western sanctions on the Kremlin begin to bite, the FBI alert only days before President Joe Biden openly warned that Russian-linked hackers could target US companies.

Key Highlights:

  • According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at least five U.S. energy businesses and 18 others in critical infrastructure sectors have seen “abnormal scanning” from Russian-linked IP addresses, according to a Friday bulletin first published by CBS News on March 22.
  • The behavior “certainly suggests early phases of reconnaissance, searching networks for vulnerabilities for use in potential future attacks.”
  • In a statement, Dennis Hackney, senior director of industrial cybersecurity services development at ABS Group, stated, “It is not surprising that Russia would activate its most effective war-fighting tools online.” “State-sponsored cyberattacks are difficult to attribute definitively,” he added.
  • On Monday, Biden warned business executives, “The enormity of Russia’s cyber capability is fairly consequential, and it’s coming.” Read more here.
  • Although no breaches have been established due to the scanning, the FBI advises the latest in a series of warnings from US officials to critical infrastructure operators about the possibility of Russian hacking. Biden’s public notice was broad and aimed to raise awareness of the problem, whereas the FBI advice was intended for a private, technical audience to help firms defend their networks.

An overview of the situation

In an address to the Detroit Economic Club, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that federal law enforcement is “working closely” with cyber personnel in the private sector and abroad to assess potential threats.

“With the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, we’re focusing especially on the catastrophic cyber threat posed by Russian intelligence services and the cybercriminal groups they defend and promote,” Wray added. “We have cyber personnel collaborating closely with Ukrainians and other allies overseas, corporate sector, and local partners.”

Wray’s remarks come four days after the FBI warned that vital infrastructure providers were under attack, particularly the energy sector.

According to CBS News, the FBI warning instructed: “US Energy Sector companies to analyze current network traffic for these IP addresses and initiate follow-up investigations if discovered.”

However, the FBI advisory does not specify if the “scanning” is a new threat.
“I’m not sure what this announcement is supposed to mean,” independent security consultant Tom Alrich said in an email. “Probably every large utility in the country is scanned thousands of times an hour, 24 hours a day, by bad actors, so I’m not sure what this announcement means.”

An attack on crucial infrastructure, according to experts, might be interpreted as a war crime, giving a nation-state actor pause. The most adept attackers, on the other hand, maybe able to conceal their origins, according to Hackney.

“He explained that the higher the sum of money, the better the cybercriminals’ capacity to hide who they are and how they are funded. “Because state-sponsored threat actors might have large funds, they are usually adept at concealing their true ties. As a result, assigning blame is impossible.”

President Joe Biden has warned Russia that “we are prepared to retaliate” if it “pursues cyberattacks against our industries, our key infrastructure.” For months, the federal government has been striving to improve the protection of 16 critical industries, including energy, communications, finance, and agriculture. On Monday, President Trump released a statement reinforcing previous warnings that Russia could use harmful cyber activity to retaliate for economic penalties imposed by the US and other countries.

Utilities in the United States have stated that they are “closely monitoring” the situation in Ukraine and that they are collaborating with their peers and the federal government.

“Russia has the capability to launch cyberattacks in the United States that have localized, temporary disruptive effects on critical infrastructures, such as temporarily shutting down an electrical distribution network.,” according to the assessment by Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Safety Tips from Protected Harbor

Protected Harbor’s security team has been following the matter for a long time and continues to emphasize cybersecurity. Some tips from our experts on how you can protect your business from cyberattacks:

  • Install firewalls and other advanced protections at workstations and network equipment such as routers and switches to detect unauthorized activity by hackers who might try compromising your system remotely through internet connections.
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery Plan- Always back up data before it is lost in case of an attack. Ensure that all devices are constantly updated with the latest antivirus software available. Password protection should be enabled not just on computers but also on any mobile device or tablet someone may have access to.
  • Know your organization’s pain points and consider how to protect them. Understand that cybersecurity is not just about protecting data but also ensuring resiliency so services can continue when attacked or compromised
  • Consider security from end-to-end; it’s essential to have a sound strategy for both physical and digital assets on-site and remote access via mobile devices.
  • Be aware of what you share online: make sure all social media posts are set appropriately (e.g., don’t post sensitive information like passwords); be cautious with attachments in emails; choose strong passwords that are different than those used elsewhere because they may get stolen by cybercriminals.
  • Logging tools such as Palo Alto Network’s next-generation firewalls should be used to monitor for odd activities (NGFW) continuously. The records should subsequently be examined daily to detect any irregularities.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all websites, accounts, systems, and network logins, particularly emails. A user’s mobile device is loaded with an application that generates a series of random codes during the login procedure. The code, as well as the password, must be entered by the user.
  • Patch any vulnerabilities and software, including older versions. If you merely patch against known attacks, you risk being caught due to an unknown exposure. Patch your computers, networks, webpages, mobile apps, and anything else connected to the Internet.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recently issued a notice listing 13 known vulnerabilities that Russian state-sponsored hackers have used to attack networks. Criminals use gaps to penetrate systems. Therefore network cybersecurity and network protection are critical for a company’s safety.

Recent cyber-attacks on government websites were carried out with simple tools. The website crashed due to multiple users accessing it at the same time. As shown in this piece, cyberwar threatens Western governments and agencies. To increase their security, businesses must take proactive actions.

Protected Harbor assists businesses in defending themselves and their IT operations against known and unknown threats, such as malware, ransomware, viruses, and phishing. We help organizations back up their data and prevent data loss due to ransomware attacks or other security issues. Learn more about Protected Harbor and request a free IT audit to learn how we can assist you in defending against the Russian Cyber Invasion.

Biden Warns of Russia Cyberattack on US Businesses & Economy

Biden warns of russia cyberattack on us businesses & economy

Biden Warns of Russia Cyberattack on US Businesses & Economy

russia cybertattackThe United States Government has warned privately-held American firms about the growing threat of cyberattacks from Russian hackers.

President Biden warned on Monday that Russia is considering launching cyberattacks on the US businesses in revenge for the economic sanctions placed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.

The President advised private sector organizations in the United States to tighten their cybersecurity against a potential Russian breach in a statement released days before he travels to Brussels for a NATO summit.

“It’s part of Russia’s playbook,” President Biden said in the statement. “Today, my administration is renewing those concerns, based on increasing data indicating the Russian government is considering hacking possibilities.”

According to Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security advisor for cyber and new technology, the administration has no evidence of a specific, significant potential cyberattack against the United States but rather “preparatory activities” targeting critical infrastructure.

Key Findings:

  • The US government has been more cautious about Russian hackers’ activities, even as it accuses Moscow of meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
  • The private warnings respond to mounting concerns from companies such as Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) that hackers are targeting in Russia and other countries.
  • The private, non-public warnings, first reported by Bloomberg, also signal the growing concern among US officials, who have been reluctant to publicly discuss alleged Russian hacking activities.
  • The private warnings also come as President Joe Biden’s administration reviews options to retaliate against Russia for its alleged hacking activities.

As the crisis in Ukraine rages, the US has previously warned that Russia may attempt to attack US corporations. According to Ms. Neuberger, the Biden administration’s warning on Monday was an attempt to raise awareness of Russia’s ability to launch a digital attack on American infrastructure.

Ms. Neuberger stated that the administration had lately noticed “preparatory behavior” for future hacking of American infrastructure and had shared that knowledge with businesses in a secret briefing last week. Scanning websites for flaws is one example of this type of action. Ms. Neuberger stated unequivocally that Russian hacking of essential infrastructures, such as oil and energy firms and hospital systems, continues to be a serious concern.

“There’s so much more we need to do to the confidence that we’ve shut our digital doors, especially for Americans’ important services,” Ms. Neuberger said, noting that the private sector manages most of America’s critical infrastructure. “Those owners and operators have the power and obligation to harden the systems and networks we all rely on.”

Last week, the White House briefed more than 100 US corporations on the best ways to guard against a cyberattack. On Monday, the Trump administration issued a directive to businesses to “quickly reinforce your cyber defenses,” recommending actions such as enabling multifactor authentication, ensuring data backups offline, and teaching personnel on hacking techniques.

In the statement, Mr. Biden added, “You have the authority, the capacity, and the obligation to increase the cybersecurity and resilience of the key services and technology Americans rely on.”

Protected Harbor’s Take On The Issue

As one of the top cybersecurity firms in the US, Protected Harbor has been following the matter for a long time. Last week Richard Luna, CEO of Protected Harbor, had a session with SCMagazine about how U.S. businesses can protect themselves from Russian cybersecurity attacks.

He gave the following tips on how to protect from Russian cyber-attacks.

  • A solid and robust firewall is a must that can be backed up by effective anti-virus software running on all devices in your network.
  • Install network segmentation or ‘air gapping,’ which prevents data transfer between networks without proper authorization. This process also limits potential damage if one part of your system gets hacked as it will not spread across the whole company’s systems afterward, potentially destroying them all at once.
  • Continuous monitoring for the unusual activity should be done through logging tools like Palo Alto Network’s next-generation firewalls (NGFW). The logs should then be analysed daily, so any anomalies are immediately noticed.
  • Enable MFA for all websites, accounts, systems, and network logins, especially emails. A typical method is that an application is loaded on the users’ mobile device generating a series of random codes during the login process. The user is requested to enter the code along with the password.
  • Patch for all vulnerabilities and software, even the old ones. Do not take shortcuts because if you only patch against known attacks, you may get caught due to an unknown vulnerability. Patch your systems, networks, websites, mobile applications, and everything on the Internet.

US Businesses need to quickly identify vulnerabilities, exposure, and misconfigurations that can give opportunities to hackers for gaining a foothold in their IT infrastructure and then implement relevant patches. Russian operators are well known for exploiting edge systems.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has put an alert recently that lists 13 known vulnerabilities used by Russian state-sponsored criminals to compromise networks. Network cybersecurity and network protection are essential for a company’s safety, as criminals detect the loopholes to infiltrate the system.

The recent attacks on government sites were carried out using trivial tools. Multiple users accessed the website at the same time causing a crash. Western governments and agencies are also at risk of cyberwar, as we have discussed in this article. Businesses need to take proactive measures to strengthen their security.

Protected Harbor can help organizations protect themselves and their IT operations from known and unknown attacks, including all forms of malware, ransomware, viruses, and phishing. We help businesses back up their data and prevent ransomware attacks or other security issues resulting in data loss. Learn more about Protected Harbor and reach out for a free IT Audit to see how we can help against the Russian Cyber Invasion.

What is Cybersecurity Mesh?

what is cyber security mesh

 

What is Cybersecurity Mesh?

 

Have you come across the term “cybersecurity mesh”? Some consider it one of the most important trends in cloud security and other cyber concerns today.

One of the newest cybersecurity buzzwords is cybersecurity mesh, one of Gartner’s top strategic technology trends for 2022 and beyond. Cybersecurity mesh, as a concept, is a new approach to a security architecture that allows scattered companies to deploy and expand protection where it’s most needed, allowing for higher scalability, flexibility, and reliable cybersecurity control. The growing number of cybersecurity threats inspires new security solutions, such as cybersecurity mesh, which is one such modern innovation. The security mesh enables fundamental distributed policy enforcement and provides easy-to-use composable tools that may be plugged into the mesh from any location.

  • Organizations that use a cybersecurity mesh architecture will see a 90 percent reduction in the cost impact of security incidents by 2024, according to Gartner.

Understanding Cybersecurity Mesh

Cybersecurity mesh is a cyber defense approach that uses firewalls and network protection solutions to secure each device with its boundary. Many security approaches guarantee a whole IT environment with a single perimeter, while a cybersecurity mesh takes a more holistic approach.

“Location independence” and “Anywhere operations” will be a crucial trend in the aftermath of the Covid-19 epidemic. This trend will continue as more and more organizations realize that remote working is more viable and cost-effective. Because firms’ assets are outside the traditional security perimeter, their security strategies must develop to meet modern requirements. The notion of cybersecurity mesh is based on a distributed approach to network and infrastructure security that allows the security perimeter to be defined around the identities of people and machines on the web. This security design creates smaller and more individual circumferences around each access point.

Companies can use cybersecurity mesh to ensure that each access point’s security is handled correctly from a single point of authority, allowing for centralized security rules and dispersed enforcement. Such a strategy is ideal for businesses that operate from “anywhere.” This also means that cybersecurity mesh is a component of a Zero Trust security strategy. With tight identity verification and authorization, humans and machines may safely access devices, services, data, and applications anywhere.

 

What Are The Benefits of Cybersecurity Mesh

It is recommended that organizations handle decentralized identity, access management, IAM professional services, and identity proofing when addressing their most critical IT security and risk priorities. The following are some of the ways that cybersecurity mesh can be beneficial:

Cybersecurity mesh will support over 50 percent of IAM requests: Traditional security strategies are complicated because most digital assets, identities, and devices are outside the company today. Gartner expects that cybersecurity mesh will handle the bulk of IAM requests and provide a more precise, mobile, and adaptable unified access management paradigm for IAM demands. Compared to traditional security perimeter protection, the mesh architecture provides organizations with a more integrated, scalable, flexible, and dependable solution to digital asset access points and control.

Delivering IAM services will make managed security service providers (MSSPs) more prominent: MSSP organizations can provide businesses with the resources and skillsets to plan, develop, purchase, and deploy comprehensive IAM solutions. By 2023, MSSPs that focus on delivering best-of-breed solutions with an integrated strategy will drive 40% of IAM application convergence; this process will move the emphasis from product suppliers to service partners.

The workforce identity life cycle will include tools for identity verification: Because of the significant growth in distant interactions, which makes it harder to distinguish between attackers and legitimate users, more robust enrollment and recovery methods are urgently needed. According to Gartner, 30 percent of big companies will use new identity-proofing systems by 2024 to address typical flaws in worker identification life cycle processes.

Standards for decentralized identity emerge: Privacy, assurance, and pseudonymity are hampered by centralized ways to maintain identification data. According to the mesh model’s decentralized approach, blockchain technology protects anonymity and allows individuals to confirm information requests by providing the requestor with the least required information. Gartner estimates that by 2024, the market will have a genuinely global, portable, decentralized identity standard to address business, personal, social, societal, and identity-invisible use cases.

Demographic bias will be minimized in identity proofing: Document-centric approaches to identity proofing have piqued the interest of many businesses. The rise of remote work in 2020 highlighted how bias based on race, gender, and other traits could manifest themselves in online use cases. As a result, by 2022, 95% of businesses will demand that identity-proofing companies demonstrate that they minimize demographic bias.

 

How to Implement Cybersecurity Mesh

The future of cybersecurity mesh appears to be promising. For example, Gartner estimated in October 2021 that this design would help minimize the cost impact of security events by 90% on average over the next five years. By 2025, Gartner expects it to serve more than half of all identification and access requests.

Mesh can therefore make a difference. How can you make the most of it? One method is to develop a roadmap for integrating cloud security and other technologies. This single, integrated solution can maintain zero trust and other critical defensive measures. It will be easier to create and enforce policies if this is done. It will also be accessible for security personnel to keep track of their assets.
Furthermore, IT teams can enhance this work by ensuring that basic protections are in place. Besides multi-factor authentication, Protected Harbor recommended data loss prevention, identity administration and management, SIEM, and more.

 

Conclusion

In the following years, the concept of cybersecurity mesh will be a significant trend, and it will provide some critical security benefits that standard cybersecurity techniques do not. As more businesses begin to digitize their assets and migrate to cloud computing environments, they recognize the need to protect sensitive data. Beyond the existing physical limits, the cybersecurity mesh will provide better, more flexible, and scalable protection to secure their digital transformation investments.

Protect your critical data assets, talk to Protected Harbor’s cybersecurity specialists about the notion of cybersecurity mesh and other advanced security solutions like remote monitoring, geoblocking, protected data centers, and much more.

VoIP Monitoring Software’s Critical Security Flaws Discovered

Voip monitoring softwares critical security flaws discovered

 

VoIP Monitoring Software’s Critical Security Flaws Discovered

There’s no question that VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is revolutionizing how businesses communicate, but there are growing pains like all new technologies. One of the significant issues with VoIP is that it can be challenging to detect and diagnose problems. That’s where VoIP monitoring comes in.

VoIP monitoring is the process of keeping track of voice traffic and identifying issues with call quality. VoIPmonitor is a popular monitoring software that allows users to listen to and record VoIP calls. It includes call analysis, quality measurement, and media analysis features. A PENETRATION-TESTING & vulnerability research firm, Kerbit, detected new vulnerabilities in VoIPmonitoring, and issued a warning about the flaws and how hackers could exploit the scenario.

What is VoIPmonitor?

VoIPmonitor is an open-source network packet sniffer for SIP RTP and RTCP VoIP protocols that runs on Linux and allows users to monitor and troubleshoot conversation quality and decode, play, and archive calls in a CDR database.

The software involves the measurement of jitter, latency, and packet loss, all of which impact the quality of a VoIP call. Simply described, it’s the monitoring of VoIP conversations’ quality of service (QoS), which includes both fault and performance management. Monitoring metrics from the source to the destination and vice versa and the mean opinion score (MOS) and round trip time (RTT) will ensure that everything is under control throughout the communication and connection.

What are the flaws identified by Kerbit?

Kerbit detected three vulnerabilities, which are listed below:

  • CVE-2022-24259 (CVSS score: 9.8) – An authentication bypass problem in the GUI’s “cdr.php” component allows an unauthenticated attacker to elevate privileges via an exceptionally crafted request.
  • CVE-2022-24260 (CVSS score: 9.8) – An SQL injection vulnerability exists in the GUI’s “api.php” and “utilities.php” components, allowing attackers to elevate privileges to administrator and retrieve sensitive data.
  • CVE-2022-24262 (CVSS score 7.8) – A remote command execution via the GUI’s configuration restore capabilities due to a missing check for archive file types, which allows a bad actor to execute arbitrary instructions via a forged file.

The vulnerability allows users to upload any file extension they want and can get them to run, essentially giving hackers admin privileges. The flaws could have been used to crash applications, but bulk-uploading extensions and overwhelming the network.

Unauthenticated attackers could elevate privileges to the administrator level and execute arbitrary commands if critical security vulnerabilities in VoIPmonitor software are successfully exploited.voip monitoring

Other Types of VOIP Attacks?

VoIP technology is just as reliable and secure as a traditional telephone, if not more so than a cellular connection. Every network must be appropriately set up and fortified to be completely hacker-proof.

Most VoIP cyber assaults are caused by administrators failing to implement adequate security measures, resulting in VoIP security attacks and, in particular, SIP hacking. SIP servers, after all, are at the heart of both internal IP telephony and commercial services, as seen in the diagram:

It’s vital to keep your SIP servers safe. The following are four types of SIP-based VoIP hacks that have gained popularity in the telecom business in recent years:

  1. SIP Amplification Attack – DDoS
    As this protocol has become widely employed in VoIP systems, SIP hacking remains one of the most prevalent security concerns in the telecom space. The following is a typical scenario for a SIP amplification attack:
    A hacker uses DDoS to launch a mass application layer attack on the SIP protocol to disrupt it. For example, an attacker might compromise SIP servers and send many (10+) faults to the victim, allowing them to send IP Spoofed packets and repeated Responses.
  2. SIP Trust Relationships Hack
    SIP gateways rely on SIP Trunks for call initiation and CDR/invoice management, making them easy targets for VoIP attacks. SIP trunks frequently lack passwords or employ IP-based filters for trunk authentication. Most SIP trunks also have Direct INVITE privilege without REGISTER, making them vulnerable to assaults.
  3. SIP Authentication Hack

SIP 2.0 uses the MD5 message-digest technique to hash the UAC password to offer extra security to VoIP networks.
The issue with such an authentication method is that it isn’t completely safe. When UAC requests authentication from a UAS, the latter generates and sends a digest challenge to the UAC. The most basic authentication challenge consists of the following:

  • a Realm – required to identify credentials within a SIP message.
  • a Nonce – a unique MD5 string produced by the UAC for each registration request; A Nonce has a timestamp and a secret, a non-reusable phrase that ensures it has a finite lifespan.

On the other hand, Hashed passwords are no longer sufficient to defend VoIP systems from sophisticated authentication assaults. With a Network Analyzer or a brute-force attack, hackers may now crack MD5 cash and gain access to a SIP authentication header.

  1. Creating a Fake Caller ID/ Spoofing

In SIP, caller ID isn’t adequately protected, and hackers have lots of tools for spoofing the SIP INVITE Request Message from the header. This is a prevalent method of voice fraud used to attack PBX systems. As a result, you must also protect that endpoint to avoid roaming fraud or call hijacking.

What can we do?

By including VoIP in your portfolio, you may improve your commercial offering by having IP-based voice features that bring value to both data and video. It also allows you to compete with over-the-top (OTT) service providers who cannot guarantee service quality (QoS). After all, quality and security are the fundamental differentials that customers are most likely to notice regarding voice service. Delivering faultless VoIP call quality involves real-time customer experience management, including total visibility of the traffic running through your IP network.

The VoIP monitoring market is heating up as businesses search for the right solution that fits their needs. Companies are always concerned about security when giving their staff or contractors unfettered access to internet and phone services in remote environments because of the inherent risk of not being in a secure network. However, many remote users still want access to secure phone and internet lines to stay connected without worrying about data costs.

Protected Phones by Protected Harbor is a cloud-based unified VoIP solution that provides businesses with the security and flexibility they need to enable remote work and 24×7 live support with a dedicated system. To learn more about our solution and how we can partner with you, please visit our website or contact us today.

What is an Incident Response Plan (IRP) Checklist?

incident response plan

 

What is an Incident Response Plan (IRP) Checklist?

An Incident Response Plan is your best bet for protecting your company from the consequences of a data breach. The time to plan and prepare for security crises is NOW, whatever they may be, long before they occur.

What is an Incident Response Plan?

A cybersecurity incident response plan (IR plan) is a set of guidelines designed to assist businesses in preparing for, detecting, responding to, and recovering from network security problems. Most IR strategies are tech-focused, addressing concerns like malware detection, data theft, and service disruptions. However, any sizeable cyber assault can have a wide-ranging impact on a firm; therefore, the plan should include finance, customer service, HR, employee communications, legal, and other outside entities.

Why is Incident Response Plan Important?

An Incident Response Plan is important because it defines how to reduce the length and severity of security incidents and identify stakeholders, streamline digital forensics, enhance recovery time, and prevent unfavorable publicity and customer attrition.

Small cybersecurity mishaps, such as malware infection, can quickly escalate into more significant issues, resulting in data breaches, data loss, and company interruption.

A good incident response procedure will help your company reduce damages, patch exploitable vulnerabilities, restore affected systems and processes, and close the attack vector.

Incident response is essential for preventing future occurrences and maintaining a company that handles sensitive data like PII, PHI, or biometrics.

IRP Audit

Before writing your Incident Response Plan, you should conduct a security audit of your company. This will help you identify weak areas. You should also identify who is responsible for the incident and determine who will handle the incident. In addition, you should define the parties involved and who will handle it.

Creating an IRP should include several key stakeholders, such as representatives from different company areas, including outside PR. In addition to the team members, it should also include the CEO, board members, and PR representatives. The process should be transparent and approved by key stakeholders easy to implement, but it should not be overly complex. It must be simple to understand, and it should be based on a multi-tiered approach.

How to create an Incident Response Plan & Checklist?

Create an Incident Response Plan

  • The first and most important step in incident response planning is preparation. It should include defining the roles of the IR team and creating an underlying security policy. The security policy should identify the locations and relative value of sensitive data, as well as how many IT resources your company needs to respond to an attack. Make sure that your executives are on board with the plan before it goes live.
  • The second step in creating an Incident Response Plan (IRP) is testing. It is critical to test the IRP to ensure that all components are working correctly. The purpose of testing is to determine whether the plan is effective and whether the team can handle the incident effectively. The IRP must be supported by upper management. The plan must be able to prevent or mitigate a security breach. It must be easy to implement, and it should be quick to execute.
  • The final step in creating an Incident Response Plan is to define the response, the incident, or the event that will trigger it. There are many types of incidents, and different responses must be developed for each. Your IRP should identify the kind of security incident likely to occur and identify responsible parties. In addition, you should include a comprehensive communication plan, including the methods and frequency of communication with the affected parties.

Creating an incident response plan checklist can help your staff cope with a significant incident. IR Plan checklist is made keeping in mind what should be done after an incident.

Post-Incident– The ultimate step of an incident response plan is to create a post-incident investigation checklist. This checklist should include various information, such as disk images, logs, and network traffic reports. It should also detail key elements, including entry point, root cause analysis, and organizational resources targeted in the aftermath of an incident. After the investigation is complete, the team should recommend changes to prevent the same occurrence from occurring again.

Recovery– A recovery phase focuses on bringing systems back to normal operation. The response team must notify affected parties of the nature and extent of the attack within a specified period, such as 72 hours for GDPR. Once the system has been returned to production, the team needs to perform necessary tests, validate that it is operating normally, and document the process. The entire process should take a minimum of a day, depending on the size of the IT network and the business operation.

The recovery phase involves bringing affected systems back to production and testing them regularly. A well-developed plan should include these processes. The more specific they are, the better your plan will be. The more thorough and comprehensive your plan is, the more effective it will be.

Conclusion

The purpose of our cyber incident response plan checklist is to assist your IT security team in developing a complete, coordinated, repeatable, and effective incident response strategy.

Please remember that creating a cybersecurity incident response plan is never a one-time task. Unfortunately, enterprises and their IT security teams may find themselves outmaneuvered by hackers who pivot in their attack strategies/TTP and malware choice if they do not engage in frequent incident response training and IR exercises, including real cyber assault scenarios.

This article should provide you with the information and resources you need to design and implement a successful incident response plan. Partner with Protected Harbor to add best-in-class behavioral analysis to all of your essential data repositories and infrastructure to ensure your data is safe.

At Protected Harbor, we work with individual customers on an Incident Response Plan (IRP) and help them perform an audit to determine where they are today within their IRP. We follow the Critical Controls and guide our customers that match their Incident Response Plan with the specific controls. This provides them with the ability to have a real improvement plan in place.

With that being said, don’t miss out on other crucial aspects of data protection that can be included in your checklist—things like protected data center, disaster recovery plan, backups, testing, and so on. Contact us to create an IRP which is best for you.

What is API security, and why does it matter?

api security

 

What is API security, and why does it matter?

The process of preventing or mitigating attacks on APIs is known as F. APIs serve as the foundation for mobile and web apps. As a result, it’s vital to safeguard the sensitive information they send.

An API is a software interface that determines how different pieces of software interact with one another. It regulates the kind of requests between programs, how they are made, and what data formats are utilized. APIs are being used in the Internet of Things (IoT) and website applications. They frequently collect and process data or allow the user to submit data processed within the API’s context.

Google Maps, for example, is powered by an API. Google Maps can be embedded into a page by a web designer. When users use Google Maps, they are just using a prewritten API given by Google, rather than code that the web designer built piece by piece. API security includes both your APIs and those you use indirectly.

Web API security entails user and program authentication to secure sensitive data and prevent malicious conduct. Web API security is critical to the success of web applications and for safe communication in your company. This article walks you through the procedures to secure the security of your APIs.

Types of API Security

API security has grown increasingly critical, especially with the rise of IoT. Users, APIs, and the apps and systems they interact with exchange critical and sensitive data. Hackers can use an insecure API to get access to a computer or network that is otherwise secure. Let’s take a look at commonly used API security types.

API Gateway Security

api security

An API Gateway is a critical component of an API security architecture because it acts as a focused server that regulates traffic. This functionality can also detect potential vulnerabilities, potentially exposing your APIs.

The process of defining API security involves four steps. The first step is to determine the security goals. Next, you need to identify testable implementation constraints and complete the verification. During this step, you need to ensure that the security measures are sufficient to protect your API from threats. The third step involves identifying new assets and goals. And the fourth step is the security strategy to implement the controls that will protect your API.

When you develop a sample API, incorporate security controls into the code. These controls will prevent unauthorized users from modifying or intercepting the messages. Another step is to enforce the security policy in your API. You should use application-level security measures and check your code for vulnerabilities. For example, use OAuth to protect your API against external attackers. However, this is not enough. It’s imperative to follow data privacy regulations.

Restful API security

REST APIs support HTTP and Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption. TLS is an internet security standard that verifies that data delivered between two systems (a server and a server, or a server and a client) is encrypted and unaltered. This means that a hacker attempting to steal your credit card information from a shopping website will be unable to view or modify your information. If a website’s URL starts with “HTTPS,” you know it’s secured with TLS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure).

REST APIs also use JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), a file format that makes data movement between web browsers easier. REST APIs don’t need to keep or repackage data because they use HTTP and JSON, making them much faster than other APIs.

Web Application Security

Web application security is the practice of defending websites and online services from various security risks that take advantage of flaws in the application’s code. Content management systems (e.g., WordPress), database administration tools (e.g., phpMyAdmin), and SaaS apps are common targets for online application assaults.

Organizations that fail to safeguard their web applications are vulnerable to attack. This can lead to data theft, strained client relationships, canceled licenses, and legal action, among other things.

Why does API security matter for businesses?

Many organizations use APIs, but do they adhere to API security best practices? If not, this may be one of the most overlooked security risks. These services are not limited in the number of resources they allow, which opens up the door to brute force attacks. Additionally, APIs can expose users’ sensitive information to attackers who take advantage of weak authentication processes. It usually takes 200 days before a company becomes aware of a breach – and it usually takes an external party to discover it.

Developing API security is an important step in securing your application. This requires you to adhere to best coding practices and implement proper security practices. Some common vulnerabilities make your system prone to attacks, such as user-level authentication, weak encryption, storing critical secrets on disk, and not applying security updates and patches. So, it is vital to protect your business against these problems.

In addition to good coding practices, API security can also be compromised if a user uses unsecured public Wi-Fi, as these networks are the perfect environment for hackers. The security of your API depends on how you secure it, so be sure to use a secure VPN to prevent such problems. If you are using public Wi-Fi, your software must have a VPN for security.

Why is API important?

It is vital to protect your business against security issues. There are several ways to do this. For example, you should check your APIs periodically to ensure that they are secured against malicious code. You can test the security of your APIs with a tool like Sqreen. These tools are free and can be used by any business. A security expert can recommend the best practices to secure your APIs. If you don’t want to worry about security, use a security tool to protect your application.

In addition to keeping the data of your customers safe, APIs also help companies protect themselves from identity theft. There are many different types of attacks that can target an API, and each one has its own unique set of risks. For example, two-factor authentication is the best way to protect your APIs. It can prevent unauthorized transactions and can also prevent bots. Then, it would help if you used a security solution that protects your business.

The key to protecting your APIs is a comprehensive security strategy. Your security team should consider your business’s API access. It should be able to handle unauthorized access and protect sensitive data. It’s essential to know how APIs work. You can also implement a firewall by integrating the security solution into the API.

How to implement API security?

To protect your APIs, you need to consider all possible threats. Your APIs should be protected against attacks that might be malicious. By doing this, you’re preventing the attackers from using sensitive data. Moreover, it’s essential to encrypt your APIs as they may become vulnerable to attack from external sources. You need to ensure that every API you offer is encrypted and password-protected so that there’s no way for hackers to access them.

Verification
To secure your API from ill-usage, you need to validate users’ identities. You can verify user identity by using a unique API key. To prevent this, you can also verify their identity through the server. To prevent DNS, routing, or IP spoofing, you must implement an authentication protocol to avoid possible attacks. The best way to ensure this is to integrate authentication into your API security framework. If you do not, it’s impossible to guarantee your API will be secure.

Authentication
It is essential to the security of your API. Authentication ensures that your APIs are only accessible to people with the proper credentials. By ensuring that only trusted users can access your data, you can increase the trust of your APIs. This is important for several reasons. For one thing, authentication keeps unauthorized users from damaging your data. And when the user wants to change the API, they need to verify that the user is indeed you.

Limit Access
A good API security policy is not just a matter of setting limits. It also ensures that the APIs are secure. An attacker will not be able to get access to sensitive data if they are not logged in. A good security plan will prevent this from happening. It will also protect your APIs from brute force attacks. It would help if you did not allow people to access your stored data. Object-level authentication will ensure that your users are authenticated.

Conclusion

APIs are expected to become the leading attack vector shortly because they are an attractive target to attackers.

Taking proactive actions to safeguard your API design is the only method to protect your API from attackers.

Following an API Security checklist, such as the one outlined in this post, is the best method. You can also partner with one of the leading security services providers, and they can take care of this for you.

Protected Harbor secures your business using OWASP and similar resources, making sure you’re safe from the most common vulnerabilities at all times. Protected Harbor partners with the clients understanding their requirements and then successfully implementing the ways you might need to safeguard your API against common threats. There’s still a lot to learn about API security, but this is a fantastic place to start. Secure yourself today.

API Security Checklist

A checklist to help you plan and carry out your testing strategy:

  • Create a separate test environment for your API whenever possible so you can test without breaking production.
  • Create functional tests for the happy path first, then automate them with your preferred toolchain.
  • Using the same tools, create negative tests for edge scenarios that lead to security concerns. Begin with testing authentication as a first quick victory.
  • Create detailed documentation for all access control techniques, such as roles, in your APIs. Create test users with a variety of permissions and access to secret resources. Then create test scenarios in which these users try to access unlawful resources. Keep in mind that authorization is just as necessary as authentication!
  • Don’t think of your API as if it were a black box. Discover the kind of issues that your back-end architecture is susceptible to (such as mass assignments, SQL injections, etc.).
  • Create test cases with input exceeding boundaries. Additional attributes, going outside established constraints, and command or SQL injections are all examples (if necessary).
  • Keep an eye on all error responses for signs of internal information leakage.
  • Include security tests in the performance testing process to guarantee that any unusual behavior under stress does not compromise security.

What causes healthcare data breaches the most frequently?

What is the most common cause of healthcare data breaches?

Patient’s medical records are a goldmine for malicious hackers—if they can get their hands on them. According to Cisco Internet Security Threat Report, healthcare is currently the most targeted industry by cybercriminals.

Health data breaches have been on the headlines for a while now. From the crippling breach of Anthem to the compromising of 10 million patient records at UCLA Health — nothing is sacred when it comes to cyberattacks these days. While the impact of security incidents might differ depending on their magnitude, it seems that poorly protected IT systems and hacking/IT incidents are often the biggest culprits in causing privacy and financial setbacks.

Healthcare data breaches are on the rise. Although many are concerned with hacking, several factors could potentially cause a significant healthcare data breach.

Common causes of healthcare data breaches!

Data breaches are becoming more and more common. With the rise of hacking, phishing, malware attacks, and new security regulations, all healthcare organizations need to stay proactive in protecting their data.

The most common cause of data breaches for healthcare organizations is malicious or cyber-criminal attacks. Data breaches can come from various sources, including hackers stealing protected health information (PHI) from an organization’s database, unencrypted devices, or a weak, stolen password. One of the biggest causes of healthcare data breaches is misconfigured medical devices and office equipment. Medical device security remains a major concern for organizations. Click here to know how do breaches happen and how to prevent them?

Hacking/ IT Incidents accounts for 47% of healthcare data breaches making it the #1 cause of healthcare data breaches.
(Source: Electronic Health Reporter)

hacking bar ratioPatient Data Theft: High risk
Health care industry members are all too familiar with data theft and new methods of exfiltrating information from connected medical devices such as electronic medical records (EMRs) and protected health information (PHIs). IP-enabled medical devices can be easily exploited by experienced hackers because of minimal access controls and known vulnerabilities. A hacker may then take data directly from the medical device, but since medical devices typically contain limited data, he is more likely to go to servers, data centers, or other devices on the network, like the XP workstation that is connected to the electronic medical record. Data breaches in healthcare are defined as theft and loss 32% of the time, compared to only 15% in different industries, 2nd to Hacking and IT incidents, as per Healthcare drive. With the number of high-profile breaches in healthcare over the past three years, healthcare organizations need tighter controls to mitigate this risk.

 

What is the cost to your company?

According to IBM’s Cost of Data Breach Report 2021:

  • Healthcare organizations spent an average of $161 per breached record in 2021, which is expected to increase in the future.
  • On average, it takes 329 days to identify a breach.

The reports show that the cost of data breaches has risen once again, reaching a record high since IBM first published the report 17 years ago. The average cost of a data breach increased by 10% year over year, to $4.24 million per incident and that of healthcare data breaches increased by $2 million to $9.42 million per incident in 2021. The average cost of ransomware attacks was $4.62 million per incident.

How can you avoid a data breach?

  • Back up data– Having a proper backup schedule and implementing a secure process to access the off-site data is a preliminary requirement. Confirm that your backup/recovery partner is also HIPAA compliant. Cloud hosting solutions can also be considered for better security.
  • Two factor authentication- Multi-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is a simple concept that can be implemented by companies easily. A key benefit of two-factor verification lies in its very name: it requires two variables to access an account, just as you need two keys to enter a house. The security is therefore twice as strong.
  • Safeguard data and devices- Ensure that the tools and policies for security are implemented, securing all the devices accessing your network. Remote monitoring for unauthorized access and unusual activity can opt. Limit and set proper data control and access for the devices.
  • Train and educate staff– create a policy for regular security training and practice sessions. Identifying phishing emails, ensuring password complexity, and adhering to anti-malware protocols should be a part of this training. More details

To wrap things up!

Security and compliance are among the top factors healthcare organizations consider when adopting new technologies. Many organizations didn’t or were not able to take the time to strategically align new cloud-based tools and platforms with existing security standards as they transitioned to remote work after the pandemic.
Security and privacy should be a priority when working with technology partners in healthcare. It is a trusted partner’s responsibility to ensure users’ privacy and security, having incorporated a variety of safeguards into their processes, designs, and code, as well as constructing the infrastructure to ensure careful protection of user information. Cisco, Greenway, GE Healthcare, and Protected Harbor are some of the most trusted and reliable healthcare IT solution providers who take pride in their experience of delivering solutions to healthcare and other organizations.

What is a data breach? How to prevent one?

What is a data breach How to prevent one

What is a data breach? How to prevent one?

Data breach has become more common every year. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) data breach 2021 report there were over 1291 data breaches that exposed more than 7 billion records last year. Data breaches can harm your company’s reputation, bringing production to a halt, and even cause enough financial harm to send your company under. In this article, we will review what is data breach and how to stop one?

What is a data breach?

A data breach is a cyber-attack where unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive personal or confidential information. When a security breach occurs, the hacker can steal and misuse personally identifiable information (PII) such as social security numbers, credit card details, bank account numbers, and even your protected health information (PHI) that could be used for fraudulent activity. A data breach on an organization leads to the release of client information or internal content, moreover, it can be intentional (theft, sabotage) or unintentional (internal error).

Among the data breaches, this year, the manufacturing and utilities sectors were deeply affected, accounting for 48 breaches and 48,294,629 victims. The healthcare sector was second, with 78 compromises and more than 7 million victims. In addition, financial services, government, and professional services each sustained more than 1.5 million victims.

Security magazine’s top data breaches list for 2021:data breach

  • Brazilian Database — 223 million, January
  • Bykea — 400 million, January
  • Facebook — 553 million, August
  • LinkedIn — 700 million, June
  • Cognyte — 5 billion, June
  • Other notable breaches: Ubiquiti, Clubhouse, USCellular, Twitch, T-Mobile, Panasonic, GoDaddy

How do breaches happen?

Data breaches come in many forms. In the case of Asian delivery and rental company Bykea, it was a lack of server encryption. A flaw in Facebook’s address book contacts import feature was their undoing. Cognyte let an unsecured database get indexed, Twitch got hit due to a bad server configuration, and for T-Mobile, it was weak access control points.

Missing Security Patches –  Security tools can become outdated quickly and updates are needed to stop new threats. It’s not just antivirus software that needs patching, many network-level vulnerabilities are caused by unpatched Cisco, Microsoft, and Apache applications.

Unencrypted Data – It is simply plaintext or unaltered data that can be accessed by anyone. This can be sensitive information stored online on cloud servers with no layers of protection. By using encryption, you can prevent brute force attacks and cyberattacks, such as malware and ransomware. Using encryption, data is protected while being transmitted in the cloud or on a computer system.

Phishing – This is the most common hacking technique, that can trick an employee into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Phishing attacks are used by hackers to gain direct access to a target’s email, social media, or other accounts or to change or compromise connected systems, such as point-of-sale machines and order processing systems.

Spyware – This is a type of malware that tracks your activity until a hacker has what they need to strike. Employee’s don’t even have to download an infected file to get tagged with spyware,

Worms – This is a type of malware hackers install onto a system’s memory. Once installed, worms infect your entire system, stealing data directly, changing system files, or opening a backdoor for hackers to control later on.

Virus – This relies on an employee activating the infected file themselves. The majority of viruses are downloaded from shady websites, usually by people who have no idea what they’re doing. This is another example in support of employee cybersecurity education.

Trojan horses – Attacks of this type pretend to be another program. If you attempt to pirate software or download it from an untrustworthy source, it will often come packaged with a trojan horse. After you’ve installed your program, it often works as it should, but at the same time, a trojan horse is collecting your data or controlling your PC in the background.

Ransomware– The most obvious and dangerous type of malware is ransomware. Viruses, worms, and trojan horses make it onto the computer, and it then annihilates it. To unlock the victim’s system, hackers force them to pay a ransom, often in bitcoin. Victims of cyber-attacks have in some cases paid millions of dollars to get back access to their networks.

How to prevent a data breach?

A data breach is a threat to every organization. It can happen to anyone, from the smallest e-commerce company to the largest bank. Although it’s on the rise, It can be avoided if you know how.

The first step is to stop thinking about your data as “yours” and start thinking of it as “theirs.” The security of your data is no longer just about what you can do to protect it; now, it’s also about what others can do to steal it. It’s not enough to secure your own network. You must also take steps to secure the networks and computer systems of those who connect to yours. Below are the best practices to follow to prevent data breaches:

  1. Educate and train your employees- Employees might be a weak link in the data security chain, and of-course human being human, open suspicious emails every day. A proper training and awareness plan would minimize the chances. As part of this effort, you can teach them how to create strong passwords, how often passwords should be changed, and how to identify, avoid, and report phishing scams.
  2. Create procedures and update software regularly- It’s wise to create data security procedures and update them consistently. Install patches, application software, and operating systems whenever available. Performing regular security audits reveals data integrity and serves as a data protection checklist. Also, perform regular vulnerability checks. Businesses must include in their vulnerability assessments all aspects, from data storage to remote access for employees to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy as well as policies and procedures.
  3. Data backup, recovery, and remote monitoring- It’s utterly important to have your data backed up because sometimes data breaches can delete your data. Your IT team should have a 24×7 remote monitoring of your network and an automated remote backup system in place. You can work with an MSP if you don’t have a dedicated IT team.
  4. Encrypt data- To maintain the confidentiality of your data while using email or other services, make sure that they are encrypted before they are being sent. Ensure your team has a dedicated Wi-Fi network that the public cannot access. The most sensitive data may need to be restricted from Wi-Fi use since it may allow cybercriminals to intercept it.
  5. Data protection regulations compliance- Organizations must adhere to the regulations and compliances to manage data privacy and people’s data. Companies that store, process, or transmit credit card information must abide by the PCI DSS to safeguard sensitive PII such as credit card numbers. The HIPAA regulations govern who can view and use protected health information, such as the name and Social Security number of patients.
  6. Developing data breach response plan- Even though many companies haven’t developed response plans for breaches yet, such a framework has an important role to play in dealing with cybersecurity incidents, limiting damages, and rebuilding trust among employees and the public. To do this, you need to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of those tasked with handling breaches. A summary of the investigation process should also be included. Additionally, consider multi-factor authentication and encryption as methods of protecting your data.

To wrap things up

A data breach can happen to anyone and when it does, it’s not just your business that is affected. It’s your customers, employees, and brand. To mitigate the risks of a data breach by implementing a strategy that fits your organization’s needs it is important to invest in full-proof security and follow the best practices. Data breach response plans and the security infrastructure vary from organization to organization.

But you don’t have to go it alone. Partnering with a data security and managed IT services provider who understands your business and application needs can help set you up for success. Cisco, Symantec, Transunion, Protenus, and Protected Harbor are some of the top data breach solution providers. With the growing number of data breaches, it’s imperative to have an effective solution in place, so don’t waste any more time, get protected today.

China eyeing U.S. healthcare data

china eyes on us healthcare data

 

China eyeing U.S. healthcare data

Do you want your PHI (protected health information) or DNA going to an authoritarian regime that has a history of using DNA for repression and surveillance? People’s Republic of China (PRC) has collected large sets of data from U.S. over the years, through every means possible. Access to American healthcare data now poses a serious risk to the privacy, economy, and national security of the United States.

The Covid-19 outbreak is only one part of the healthcare pandemic the country is suffering. The sudden dent in the healthcare infrastructure left the companies and the government reeling. As COVID rates and testing have requirements spiked, China’s BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute) Group, the world’s largest biotech and healthcare analytics company, proposed to help build and run advanced COVID testing labs throughout the U.S.  BGI would provide technical expertise, high throughput sequencers, and even make financial donations for more research.

With America struggling to set up enough testing and research facilities, China’s proposal was hard to ignore in times of such desperation. That is until the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center raised suspicion and warned against it.
“access to U.S. healthcare and genomic data by China poses serious national security and privacy risk for the United States.” The NCSC said in a statement. Apparently, the Chinese biotech group supplying the COVID-19 testing kits and helping to set up more than 18 research labs also planned on using samples to obtain healthcare data on American citizens, such as DNA and PHI.

 

China’s access to U.S. healthcare data

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been looking to obtain America’s ethnically diverse health data for years. According to National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), they have been able to gain access to US healthcare data, including genomic data, through a variety of channels, both legal and illegal, including theft of research and cyberattacks.”

According to a report by CFR (Council of Foreign Relations), China already has more data on the genetic sequencing of the US population than the United States has on its own population.
Chinese companies invested in U.S. firms that handle sensitive personal and healthcare data, providing them with easy access to this US Electronic Health Records (EHR). For example, BGI purchased U.S. genomic sequencing company Complete Genomics in 2013, and China’s Wuxi Pharma acquired NextCODE Health in the U.S. and later formed Wuxi NextCODE Genomics.

Recent healthcare data breaches from hackers in China within the PRC government include the theft of personal data and EMRs. Anthem Inc. in 2015 lost healthcare data on roughly 78 million people; information including health identification numbers, names, Social Security numbers, employment, and income information. Two individuals based in China were indicted by the U.S. Justice Department for hacking Anthem and three other U.S. companies, in 2019.

 

The China Challenge

Bill Evania, a veteran of both the CIA and the FBI, also suspected that offer of help from BGI was a modern-day trojan horse. Using the labs as a way to establish a foothold in the U.S. healthcare market, much like previous corporate acquisitions, and then mining the health data even US Government agencies can’t access. Further, all Chinese companies are obligated to share data collected with the PRC government under the PRC’s national security laws. So any Chinese healthcare company on U.S. soil poses a national security risk.

We have seen the consequences in the past. The U.S. Department of Commerce sanctioned two subsidiaries of China’s BGI in July 2020 over the PRC government’s use of genetic techniques to repress Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang.

But how has this happened? China has taken the advantage of the loose safety and security infrastructure protecting our PHI and EMR. Policies need to be revamped concerning the sharing and control of these data at the national and international levels.

China’s BGI has collaborated with many American healthcare and research entities over the past decade, providing them with genomic sequencing services, as well as gaining access to health records and genetic information of U.S. citizens. But to date there are not enough regulations and policies to stop internal employees to share such information with other company employees, who just happen to also work for the Chinese government.

 

Conclusion and Diagnosis

“We have a short term approach to data management, solve the problem today, but that often leads to larger problems down the road.”                                – Richard Luna, CEO, Protected Harbor

To address the ever-growing surveillance capabilities of China and other authoritarian states, the U.S. and other nations should take bold action instead of timid, gentle steps. To begin with, the government needs to strengthen healthcare privacy legislation and regulation. Enhanced privacy laws would provide protections against only for foreign states, but also from domestic governments and private parties wishing access to protected healthcare data.

National healthcare IT organizations should also increase user safety and privacy, encryption, reporting, auditing, to enhance data transfer and internet openness. Since electronic health records (EHR) are now the norm, every healthcare organization must be sensitive to the intersection of health information, security, and must adhere to HIPAA compliances. HIPAA Security Rule involves many physical safeguards, technological measures, and organizational standards. It applies to technology in three key ways: technologies that store PHI must log out after a certain time to prevent unauthorized access, all users must be assigned unique logins that can be audited, and, PHI must be encrypted.

No healthcare IT department is alone in the battle to protect against illegal or legal healthcare data breaches. Partnering with reliable and secured healthcare IT solution expert such as Protected Harbor can help solve the issues at a grassroots level. With two organizations working together, the healthcare data industry can lay multiple pillars of healthcare data infrastructure to strengthen national security. We cannot accept our information as safe as is, given the scope of data collection on devices and China’s known involvement in this area. There are no checks and balances in the sharing of data. For example, a company allows the vendors access to the billing data to generate reports. But the vendor has access to ALL of the data, not just what’s needed to generate reporting. The IT department and cybersecurity U.S. needs to be heavily vested in the security and safety of data.

The U.S. has spent the last decade creating interoperable healthcare systems and China is now using legitimate interconnected companies to capture data. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, different technologies and data have been linked at a faster rate than security measures applied to the data. Millions of Americans have lost their DNA and personal information, allowing China to leverage our health information to develop artificial intelligence and precision medicine, putting America’s $100 billion biotechnology industry at a disadvantage. We need to cut the oxygen and this starts from the ground level moving up the ladder to the national level.