Tag: business cyber security

  • Are cyber attacks still being conducted the same way in 2025? Top 8 cyber attack methods explained

    Are cyber attacks still being conducted the same way in 2025? Top 8 cyber attack methods explained

    New year, new threats? Hackers have not slowed down their efforts year over year, in 2024 the average cost of a data breach rose to 9.36 million US dollars. Of course this is taking into account the massive breaches that occurred last year with one attack costing the company that was targeted $500 million dollars.

    Still, even for smaller businesses the average cost is usually somewhere between $120,000 to $150,000 – no small sum. Year over year though, the types of attacks haven’t changed even if they’ve become more effective in scale. These top 8 attack methods remain the same (with the first one leading in effectiveness by a landside):

    1. Phishing: Phishing remains the top attack vector in 2024, with 90% of attacks still starting with a phishing email. Our advice on how to spot a phishing email has also stayed the same.
    2. Ransomware comes in second and is preceded by a phishing email 40% of the time. In 2024 the largest single ransomware payment of all time was made to the “Dark Angels” ransomware group to the sum of $75 million.
    3. Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks are not a new player to the game, but they are part of an overall strategy we’ve seen by attackers to weaponize operational technologies to cripple businesses – either for a payout or just to send a message.
    4. Man-in-the-middle attacks involving intercepting private conversations or data between one or two parties, a good example of this is an attacker setting up a fake Wi-Fi connection or intercepting unencrypted HTTP connections to gain user login information to a website.
    5. SQL Injection attacks are a difficult one for consumers to guard against as they’re conducted on the backend of a businesses website or database and involve “injecting” malicious code. If you’re a business owner, it’s crucial to work with competent developers when creating consumer facing websites (especially if you’re collecting sensitive data through them).
    6. Cross-Site Scripting Attacks are again difficult to guard against, these attacks are also extremely inconspicuous as the attacker in effect sets up a honey pot on the victim’s server or website and waits for it to collect data from the site’s users. Again, it’s crucial to work with a competent developer and IT provider when to protecting your data both internally and from being externally exploited.
    7. DNS Spoofing involves redirecting users from the site they were intending to visit to an unknown site where their data can be collected (usually login information for the site they intended to navigate to). One trick for telling if the page you’re on is secure is to look for the little lock symbol in your navigation bar, this is a sign the page you’re on is using a secure connection.
    8. Zero Day Exploits are the most difficult to protect against as they are attacks that are literally exploited the same day they’re discovered. Hackers are constantly looking for new ways to access your systems, and even if you’re a small business you’re never too small to be of use to them (even if it means leapfrogging past you to exploit your customers).

    There is never a better time than the start of the year to evaluate your technology systems for improvements, at Valley Techlogic we can provide you with a comprehensive report on our recommendations for your business as well as a tailored plan to bring your business up to date in 2025. Schedule a consultation today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on X at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • China sponsored hacking data dump highlights the importance of seeing the bigger picture when it comes to your cyber security protections

    China sponsored hacking data dump highlights the importance of seeing the bigger picture when it comes to your cyber security protections

    It’s not a new concept to many Americans that cyber warfare crosses all borders and boundaries and affects many areas of our day to day, from the increase in attacks at the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine, to concerns related to our voting systems and democracy, to even leaving US citizens nationwide transfixed over the implications of an errant balloon. Overseas sponsored cyber-attacks tend to strike a different chord with us than attacks that originate stateside.

    Many of us have heard of applications on our phones being rife with spyware connected to China, conversations about apps such as Temu or TikTok and how to safeguard our information from not only being sold and used in overseas ventures but even whether these apps are a potential threat vector have lead to talks about whether they should be banned outright. Again, the fear surrounding the unknown nature of the threat these apps may or may not pose is often palpable.

    Awareness is only one part of the equation when it comes to overseas invasions of a digital nature, agreeing on what to do about it, how to prevent it or whether it can even be prevented in our interconnected world is no small matter and something that is constantly debated at a government level.

    We don’t often have the proof needed to back up the claims that are made, however, that these cyber-attacks are occurring. As you would expect the threat actors behind attacks on other countries are experts in their field and covering their tracks can often be a matter of life and death for them.

    That’s why the leak that occurred this week of a 600-page document detailing a complex network of for hire hackers used to spy on Chinese citizens and conduct global cyber attacks is so shocking. The document which was posted to GitHub is being analyzed and experts are weighing in on what is nearly a first of its kind look at the inner operations behind global cyber warfare conspiracies that have proliferated news cycles for decades.

    This leak occurs during heightening tensions with the US and China and is being dubbed “the tip of the iceberg” by FBI Director Chris Wray who reported in October that Chinese cyber operations are the “biggest hacking program in the world by far, bigger than ever other major nation combined” in an interview with CBS News.

    You may be reading this now wondering, what does this have to do with me? Well besides the implications when it comes to our global security, cyber attacks don’t occur in a vacuum.

    Hackers are constantly looking for new ways to infiltrate systems and the aftermath is new threats are being released for public consumption. Not every hacker is an expert, and many attacks don’t have financial motivation and are simply orchestrated to disrupt.

    We need to come together as a community and make sure we’re doing everything possible to prevent our systems from being infiltrated and our devices from being used in potential attacks.

    Even if your business is unlikely to be targeted by an overseas orchestrated attack, that doesn’t mean it cannot be used to assist a specific hacker’s operations and the more ways we shut down cyber attacks as a profitable enterprise the better off we all will be.

    If you want to know how you can help or where to start, here are 10 items you can implement in 2024 that will be up your cyber security protections 10-fold.

    If you need help with the implementation of cyber security measures in your business, Valley Techlogic is the resource you’ve been looking for. We are experts in the field of cyber security and for helping businesses improve their cyber security protections and comply with government regulations and frameworks. Reach out to us today to learn more.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, an IT service provider in Atwater, CA. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic.