How Digital Hacks Can Improve Your Competitiveness
If you have ever thought of working in a highly competitive business, you are probably familiar with Cybercrime and Corporate espionage. These two fields are intertwined, and business leaders constantly devise new strategies and policies to maximize profit and minimize risk. There are various methods to improve your competitiveness through digital life hacks. Let us take a closer look at each of them. You’ll be amazed at what they can do for your business!
Cybercrime
Hacktivists have a long history of hacking and targeting government systems, including banks and telecommunications systems. Hacking for political purposes has become commonplace, and these activists have prior criminal records. Many of them are dangerous and even willing to harm people for a good cause. Unfortunately, these criminals often operate under the cover of large groups, and they are difficult to track down. Here is a list of notable hacktivists.
The simplest example of cybercrime is the theft of personal information. For example, the theft of financial information is one way cybercriminals can make unauthorized purchases or transfers of money out of victims’ bank accounts. Dedicated cybercriminals even go as far as creating counterfeit credit cards using stolen information. On the other hand, healthcare information refers to data used in medical services, including hospital records and medical insurance. Therefore, it’s crucial to protect this data and keep it private.
Cybercriminals can range from individuals to state-sponsored actors. Their methods of breaking the law vary, but they all share some fundamental traits. For example, a single hacker can access the stock market of the United States, while a North Korean state-sponsored group can distribute ransomware on a massive scale. Fortunately, there’s no need to be an expert in computers to become a cybercrook. Cybercriminals are more common than ever, thanks to the Internet and mobile technologies.
In addition to personal information, companies may be at risk for financial loss if a cybercriminal breaches sensitive information. One recent hack involving the popular credit-card company Equifax exposed the personal information of 147 million users. The hacker retaliated by temporarily crippling the credit-card giant’s website. The damage to businesses caused by cybercrime can be felt far beyond financial loss. Companies need to rethink how sensitive information is stored on computers. Some companies have stopped storing this information altogether.
Corporate espionage
Corporate espionage is a form of cybercrime where an individual or company steals information from another. In this case, the victim is unaware that they have been compromised, thus giving the perpetrators a competitive advantage. However, this practice is illegal, and there are consequences for violators, including imprisonment and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. In the U.S., corporate espionage is governed by the Economic Espionage Act of 1996.
Industrial espionage has several causes, including human spies posing as employees or competitors. However, technical intrusions can also occur. For example, the use of a VPN is vital to protecting sensitive information while traveling abroad. Furthermore, employees are advised to avoid using unsecured wifi networks while traveling, and mobile devices must be protected with specialist technology to prevent hacking attempts. This article explores the causes and prevention of digital hacks for corporate espionage.
The purpose of corporate espionage is to obtain valuable information from a company. The targeted information could include employee personnel records, client lists, supplier agreements, research documents, and prototype plans for new products. The information can be used for fraudulent purposes and can even be used to conduct illegal activities. For example, if an individual is able to steal sensitive information from a company, they could take advantage of the situation to increase their profits.
To steal trade secrets, a thief only needs a computer with an internet connection. The attacker can even create a fake email account using the stolen data. The attacker then uses the information to target the company and take it over. If the information can be stolen and misused, it can cost the company billions. The cost of corporate espionage is extremely high, but it is difficult to calculate accurately.
Exploitation of vulnerabilities
One of the most common types of digital hacks is zero-day exploits. These attacks rely on a vulnerability that exists in a specific software program or hardware component. The vendor of that software will eventually issue a patch, which will fix the vulnerability. However, until then, the system remains open to cyber attacks. To mitigate the risk of zero-day exploits, security software should detect them. In the meantime, you should use a firewall that blocks any malicious software that uses zero-day exploits.
A common example is the Mirai botnet, which spreads by exploiting a software vulnerability. An exploit is a fast way to set up a botnet and prepare for a distributed denial-of-service attack. Old operating systems and software are susceptible to exploits. Always update your operating system and software because security patches can make your system less vulnerable to attack. The exploit will slide malware into the system, which is known as the payload.
A security researcher has found that not all vulnerabilities are exploitable. Some are too high for thieves to reach or lead to basements that are locked. Therefore, it is difficult for cybercriminals to take advantage of such vulnerabilities in this case. However, a recent study shows that only 5.5% of vulnerabilities are exploited in the wild. The same is true for a vulnerability that is hidden within a software application or device.
One such vulnerability has recently come to the attention of the U.S. government. It involves a flaw in a software program called Log4j, which could give hackers unrestricted access and lead to a fresh round of cyber attacks. As a result, companies are scrambling to patch their vulnerable machines. The CISA added this vulnerability to the Known Exploitable Vulnerabilities Catalog. Federal agencies have until December 24th to install patches.
Mobile devices
It is possible to attack your mobile phone with malware. Malware is often carried on USB drives left around. Hackers wait for you to plug in the drive and infect it. All it takes is to view a file on the USB drive to infect your device. You can prevent this attack by using anti-malware software. Be extra cautious if you find yourself at a public wifi hotspot.
Trojanized apps downloaded from unknown sources are one of the most common attacks on mobile devices. The purpose of these malicious applications is to gain root privileges on the device and steal information and money. While most Android users are safe from malicious software, those running other operating system versions are at risk of infection. Malware programs are commonly disguised as legitimate applications. The malware then steals sensitive information, including passwords and credit card information.
Hackers are also targeting smartphones to steal information. Smartphone services are a prime target for attackers, as the recent iCloud leak revealed. Hackers are attempting to breach enterprises through mobile devices, and many experts in cybersecurity do attack simulations for their clients. Unfortunately, these demonstrations are often undetected, making it crucial to take appropriate precautions. In order to protect yourself from mobile phone hacking, follow the tips below.
Install updates on your operating system as soon as they become available. This is because hackers know of the vulnerabilities and exploit them as soon as they are released. Another common digital hack for smartphones is using applications. Depending on the device, you can download applications from websites and messages, but they increase the risk of malware infections. Furthermore, malicious code can be hidden inside these applications and allow hackers to access sensitive data. Moreover, you should not install any application that was not downloaded from the official store. It is also important to read reviews of applications before downloading them.
