Tag: HIPAA

November 26, 2019

4 Phishing Attack Trends of 2019

Few cyber threats are as prevalent and costly as phishing attacks. In 2018, Microsoft documented a 250% increase in phishing campaigns, which masquerade as legitimate products or services but actually carry malicious payloads that steal credentials and compromise IT integrity. To no surprise, the rise of phishing attacks continues to trend upward and is wreaking havoc for SMBs and enterprises alike. Even as companies implement automated defenses intended to keep phishing attacks out of employee inboxes, many inevitably make their way through. A recent survey found that nearly half of respondents reported malicious emails reaching employee inboxes every week, and 20% indicated that they experienced a data breach as a consequence of a phishing vulnerability. In fact, Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report concluded that ⅓ of all cyberattacks begin with a phishing scam. To maintain an edge, hackers are continuously evolving their strategies and improving their attack methods, making their efforts increasingly difficult to detect. In other words, employees may not be fooled by phony emails from a foreign leader or celebrity, but they could be compromised by a call or IM from their manager or CEO. Follow along as the ID Agent team outlines four of the latest phishing attack trends that you’ll want to know in order to protect your business. #1 Increased Personalization The past several years have seen billions of records compromised, and the consequences far exceed the immediate media scrutiny and consumer backlash that follows in the wake of breach. Cybercriminals are repurposing exposed information to craft sophisticated phishing campaigns that are camouflaged with authentic-looking information purportedly from known and trusted sources. For example, we recently reported on an Ocala City employee who transferred $640,000 to a fraudulent bank account in response to a spear phishing campaign that contained a legitimate invoice amount from one of the city’s construction contractors. Similarly, Italian precision engineering companies are facing a slew of phishing attacks that seem to originate from potential clients. Such emails will include company and sector-specific details and be embedded with a Microsoft Excel document that hosts malicious, credential stealing code. #2 Multi-platform Approaches Phishing scams are commonly associated with email messages, but today’s cybercriminals are taking advantage of diverse communication platforms to posit messages in our various inboxes. Often hackers leverage SMS and social media accounts to reach their victims. SMS phishing attacks, colloquially known as “smishing,” are targeting users’ reflexive instinct to trust and respond to text messages on their phone. Targeting users on their social media is no different and can have a similar result. In 2019, Facebook is the most impersonated social media platform, with a 176% year-over-year increase in phishing URLs. To be effective, hackers rely on the perception of authenticity, and reaching users on these familiar platforms can trick unsuspecting victims into handing over the keys to their accounts. #3 HTTPS Encryption In addition to reaching users in familiar territory, hackers are deploying the internet’s sign posts of security to elicit the trust of their victims. Specifically, cybercriminals are manipulating HTTPS, the internet protocol that denotes encryption and security, to trick users into a false sense of security. It’s estimated that 58% of all phishing campaigns use HTTPS, which both makes it less likely that users will identify the fraudulent website and that internet browsers will flag the unsecured connection. This tactic has become so prevalent that the FBI issued a public warning this summer urging people to take special care to evaluate their digital communications for intent rather than relying on traditional representations of internet security. #4 Dynamic BEC Campaigns Between the treasure trove of data available on the Dark Web to the information readily published on company websites, hackers can effectively impersonate higher-ups or IT administrators with staggering effectiveness. Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams rely on personalization, and today’s hackers dialogue directly with their victims to gain trust. Once achieved, hackers send a simple request, like editing a document or filling out a form that ultimately directs victims to a phishing website. To increase their efficacy, many cybercriminals include these links in attachments, which makes them both harder to detect by software and less likely to be identified by readers. Staying one step ahead It’s evident that phishing scams will continue to keep IT admins up at night for years to come. However, there is a silver lining. Unlike other cyber attacks, phishing scams are only effective if they are acted upon, and companies can mitigate such threats with regular, comprehensive awareness training to their employees. With the right solutions provider, you can equip your employees to stay abreast of emerging threats, report potential misuses of data, and transform themselves into the first and best line of security against cybercriminals. Whether you’re a small business or large enterprise, you have the power to stop phishing attacks from stealing employee credentials or proprietary information. Our BullPhish ID™ program simulates phishing attacks and conducts security awareness training campaigns to educate your employees, making them the best defense against cybercrime. Click the link to get started: https://www.idagent.com/bullphish-id.

November 11, 2019

The Unseen Consequences of Data Breaches

It’s no secret that the costs associated with data breaches are trending upward at alarming rates. Just this year, IBM’s annual Cost of a Data Breach Study found that the average cost of a single data breach is approaching $4 million. Although IT repair, identity monitoring services, and regulatory fines quickly make their way to financial statements, others covertly chip away at the bottom line over time. Simply put, it’s not enough to add up the quantifiable costs of a breach when assessing the ROI of cybersecurity in the equation. Companies must also factor in the unseen consequences of a data breach, which can often result in even more damage than initial costs. Patching up vulnerabilities and offering free credit monitoring as a post-breach response only treats the symptoms, while the underlying disease continues to progress. Keep reading to learn about four cascading consequences of data breaches that can impact your company in the long run. #1 Reputational Damage Reputational damage and brand erosion in the wake of a breach is not easily measured, as it is carries on for years after news of an attack. The Ponemon Institute estimates that 65% of data breach victims lose their trust in a brand after a data breach. Even worse, consumers voice their displeasure within their circles, a phenomenon that is magnified with the advent of the internet. Interactions Marketing notes that 85% will tell others about the breach, and more than 30% will take to social media to complain about the company. For today’s consumers, a data breach is akin to a scarlet letter that can brand a business for years. Whether it’s an SMB or large corporation, the efforts to overcome this stigma greatly outweigh the costs of protection, since companies often don’t always have a say in whether or not customers will give them a second chance. #2 Customer Attrition As frightening as it may sound, today’s consumers do not forgive companies that cannot protect their data and are increasingly more likely to stop spending altogether after a breach. A recent study by Business Wire found that 81% of consumers would stop engaging with a brand online following a breach, destroying years of relationship-building and promotional efforts. In fact, 80% of customers are willing to take their business elsewhere. Ultimately, customer rejection can be the proverbial nail in the coffin that prevents companies from ever truly recovering from a data breach. It’s estimated that 60% of SMBs fold within six months of a data breach. As one enraged Equifax consumer told The Wall Street Journal, “if I can’t trust Equifax to do their own job, I’m not going to hand them my money and say, ‘Hey, watch this for me.’” This customer’s sardonic take serves as an eerie warning to all businesses: data breaches have lasting effects. #3 Continued Attacks Companies compromised by a data breach can find themselves or their customers victimized again in the future. The rise of credential stuffing attacks makes it increasingly likely that hackers will apply previously stolen data to easily access accounts and IT infrastructure, often without detection. Nearly a quarter of all data breaches occur due to stolen credentials, and successive attacks only make reputational recovery and renewed customer confidence more difficult to achieve. Find out how Dark Web ID™ can shield your organization from credential stuffing attacks here: https://www.idagent.com/dark-web/ #4 Increased Premiums Cybersecurity insurance are becoming a widely adopted practice within the industry, yet their value can be easily skewed. As we reported last month, such plans do not holistically cover the cost of a data breach. As more customers cash in on these insurance plans, the costs increase and companies that file a claim can expect their premiums to rise. Moreover, many businesses discover that their policies provide insufficient protection against financial loss, as insurance companies battle to restrict payouts. In one case, a cyberinsurance company only agreed to pay $50,000 on damages to a company that exceeded $2 million. Cybersecurity insurance is by no means a “silver bullet” and could even invite additional costs after a data compromise. Applying the best solution Although the unseen consequences of a breach may appear worrisome, we’re not here to spell out doom and gloom. By being proactive, you can protect your institution from being victim to a breach, and future-proof yourself in the event of an attack. Cybersecurity needs to be a bottom-line, top priority at every company. Especially for SMBs who often lack the financial and personnel resources to recover from a breach, partnering with a managed service provider can provide the oversight and protection needed to navigate today’s digital environment. ID Agent provides a comprehensive set of people-centric cybersecurity solutions to private and public sector organizations worldwide. See how you can leverage solutions for Dark Web Monitoring, password management, and employee training to safeguard your customers, employees, and organization from breach. Resources https://www.ibm.com/security/data-breach https://www.centrify.com/media/4772757/ponemon_data_breach_impact_study_uk.pdf https://www.interactionsmarketing.com/press-releases/interactions-finds-45-percent-of-shoppers-dont-trust-retailers-to-keep-information-safe/ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191022005072/en/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2017/12/08/mind-the-trust-gap-how-companies-can-retain-customers-after-a-security-breach/#2235b64f6c95 https://www.inc.com/joe-galvin/60-percent-of-small-businesses-fold-within-6-months-of-a-cyber-attack-heres-how-to-protect-yourself.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-capital-one-hack-life-in-the-time-of-breach-fatigue-11564824600 https://info.idagent.com/blog/stop-credential-stuffing-attacks https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/DBIR_2018_Report.pdf https://info.idagent.com/blog/the-week-in-breach-09/25-10/01/19 https://slate.com/technology/2018/07/cyberinsurance-company-refuses-to-pay-out-full-amount-to-bank-after-hacking.html

October 24, 2019

How to Stop Credential Stuffing Attacks

A quick glance at recent reports or news headlines paints a dismal picture of the data breach landscape in 2019. Both by the measure of the number of companies compromised and the number of records accessed, breach incidents are occurring at a record-setting pace, with over four billion records exposed for misuse and abuse this year.

October 03, 2019

NCSAM 2019: Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility

If we were to record a time-lapse of cybersecurity awareness over time, it would reveal an exponential curve driven by news headlines of privacy breaches and data misuse. In today’s fast-paced digital environment, the most practical solutions for securing organizations and users are often clouded by bright shiny objects. Recognizing this trend, the theme for this month’s 16th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is: “Own it, Secure it, Protect it”. Follow along as the ID Agent team breaks down the basics and outlines how cybersecurity is truly a shared responsibility for us all, as consumers, SMBs, and MSPs. You are what you consume In the wake of the heavily publicized Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal, it’s no secret that even seemingly innocuous information in our digital profiles is incredibly valuable to hackers. To make matters worse, it is constantly being exchanged on the Dark Web in order to be exploited in the near future. Social media is a double-edged sword, enabling us to innovate and communicate at rapid speeds, but also inviting cybersecurity threats that can compromise personal data. How can we strike the right balance? OWN IT. By understanding your digital profile, keeping privacy settings updated, and monitoring applications, you can take control of your personal information. Vigilance becomes increasingly relevant as we begin to see more social engineering methods, where fraudsters will take the guise of someone you trust in order to siphon your friend’s, family’s, or company’s data.

September 26, 2019

Best Practices for GLBA and FINRA Compliance

When it comes to security compliance and regulatory oversight across America, no verticals or functions are being spared. The financial services industry is one that has recently come under scrutiny, as stakeholders begin to realize the sensitivity of data flowing through their processes and organizations. Keep reading for a breakdown of Gram-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) compliance, along with a checklist of the top 10 cybersecurity best practices as reported by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). Financial Privacy and Safeguards The Gram-Leach-Bliley Act, also known as the Financial Modernization Act of 1999, requires financial institutions to explain how they share and protect their customers’ private information. Additionally, these rules apply to entities outside of the financial services industry that process or receive such information, which can range from real estate companies to tax preparers and more. Below are the two key components to the GLBA, with the second holding specific implications for data security: Financial Privacy Rule – In order to be compliant, organizations must communicate how they share sensitive data, inform customers of their right to opt out of information-sharing agreements, and explain how they protect customer data. Safeguards Rule – Regulating the confidentiality of customer information is separated into three main initiatives: employee security awareness training, information systems, and system failure. Although there are many steps and requirements, we’ve got you covered. With BullPhish ID™, you can check security awareness training off the list and move one step closer to compliance. The ROI of Compliance At this point, you may be wondering why you have to be compliant. The threat of non-compliance penalties may seem enough, amounting to $100,000 per violation, but it barely scratches the surface. Individuals can face additional charges that include prison time, and although the risk of reputational damage is not easily quantifiable, it is often even more crippling. In a world where customer loyalty and trust are king, unauthorized sharing or leaks in customer data can result in brand erosion and revenue loss. Practice Makes Perfect As your go-to solutions provider, we’re not here to spell out doom-and-gloom, but instead to help solve your problems. Click the link below to download the Small Firm Cybersecurity Checklist by FINRA: https://www.finra.org/compliance-tools/cybersecurity-checklist. Ready to take the first step to being GLBA compliant? Learn how BullPhish ID can help you easily manage the recommended security awareness training:

September 05, 2019

HIPAA 101

Maintaining compliance in today’s ever-changing environment is no easy task, particularly within the healthcare space. In the past, hackers opportunistically targeted providers due to poor security networks and infrastructure. Over time, however, cybercriminals have realized the true value of personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI), which can be leveraged for identity theft, financial fraud, and other lucrative attack types. Exposed patient data is quickly becoming a sought-after commodity on underground marketplaces such as the Dark Web, forcing companies and MSPs to take notice. Follow the ID Agent team as we provide a snapshot of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) today and discuss its implications for your business. History of HIPAA Established in 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was introduced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to set standards for data security and privacy in the healthcare sector. The legislation was passed with good intentions but designed for a world that still operated using paper records. As technology drastically shifted market dynamics, some of the provisions quickly grew outdated, Nevertheless, the Security Rule has passed the test of time in many ways, providing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for protecting individuals’ electronic personal health information. Cybersecurity Guidelines In December of 2018, HHS issued new cybersecurity guidelines in an effort to drive voluntary adoption of best practices. Such guidance could signal impending legislation to come in the near future, so our experts curated some key takeaway: 1) Risk Analysis Organizations must assess all potential risks and vulnerabilities affecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI across their ecosystem. This is easier said than done. Many companies underestimate how far PHI travels inside or outside their networks, which have led to costly HIPAA violations in the past. Determining the need for business associate agreements is a key element of a risk analysis, since they govern how entities handle PHI. 2) Social Engineering As evidenced by recent events, healthcare organizations are often subject to phishing and ransomware attacks. Even though employee training and simulated phishing attacks have been recognized as the best defense to mitigating social engineering hacks, they are rarely facilitated (see graph below). Thankfully, BullPhish ID™ offers robust security awareness training campaigns to educate employees and demonstrate the cybersecurity posture of your organization. Employee training – 2019 Security Metrics Guide to HIPAA Semi-Annually Yearly Never train Don’t know how often they train 8% 60% 10% 13% 3) Insider Threats Whether it’s born out of innocent curiosity or malicious intention, employee snooping is a serious vulnerability to PHI. Even worse, it can not only result in HIPAA violations, but also be identified as criminal activity by state attorney generals. As public vigilance of security and privacy continues to increase, being featured in headlines as the victim of an insider attack poses serious consequences for brand equity and customer loyalty. 4) Enterprise Risk Management Iliana L. Peters, Former Acting Deputy Director for HIPAA at HHS, recommends that organizations partner with solution providers that can perform comprehensive risk management and offer expert counsel. Given that the majority of Office for Civil Rights settlements are related to risk management, organizations have a financial incentive to enlist in IT security best practices and training. Solutions Although ongoing HIPAA compliance may seem like an arduous undertaking, it can greatly benefit your organization from a strategic perspective. Far too often, it’s the simple, easy-to-patch vulnerabilities that slip through the cracks and lead to expensive violations or breaches. Even those with advanced defenses can be inadvertently compromised by bad passwords or employee phishing. However, we’re not here to spell out doom-and-gloom. Find out how our experts and solutions can help you: Proactively monitor the Dark Web for compromised employee or patient data Transform your employees into the best defense against cybercrime with simulated phishing attacks and security training Consider implementing Compliance Process Automation Also, download our guide below to see how HIPAA compliance varies by state and region.

May 30, 2019

You’ve Been Breached: Now What?

So you’ve been breached. Now what? Once the dust has settled use it as a learning opportunity & tune up your cybersecurity plan. We can help.

May 14, 2019

Migrate With Caution: Microsoft Office 365 Security

The benefits of moving your business to the Cloud have become crystal clear in recent years. It allows you to empower your aging IT infrastructure, integrate your existing tools seamlessly, scale as your organization grows and work anywhere on any device. However, as is often the case, convenience comes at a cost to security. Cloud services are no exception. In fact, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released an Analysis Report after having conducted interviews with customers who used third-party partners to migrate their email services to O365. It found that these organizations had a mix of configurations that lowered their overall security posture and led to user and mailbox compromises and vulnerabilities. Here is what you need to know about the risks involved in transitioning to O365 and other cloud services. Default settings = Defeated settings CISA found that multi-factor authentication for administrator accounts was not enabled by default by either the customer or third-party integrator. Azure Active Directory (AD) Global Administrators in an O365 environment have the highest level of administrator privileges at the tenant level. This is equivalent to the Domain Administrator in an on-premises AD environment. The Azure AD Global Administrator accounts are the first accounts created so that administrators can begin configuring their tenant and eventually migrate their users. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is not enabled by default for these accounts. These accounts are exposed to internet access because they are based in the cloud. If the password has been compromised on the Dark Web or elsewhere, these cloud-based accounts could allow an attacker to maintain a constant presence in a customer’s critical O365 services from the very start of migration – essentially giving them the keys to the kingdom. Solution: Ensure that multi-factor authentication is enabled from the beginning of your migration to the cloud. If you are unsure how to do this, a reliable Managed Service Provider will be able to implement this step. Think Before You Sync Azure AD Connect integrates on-premises environments (non-cloud) with Azure AD when customers migrate to O365 (cloud). This technology provides the capability to create Azure AD identities from on-premises AD identities (or to match previously created Azure AD identities with on-premises AD identities). The on-premises identities then become the authoritative identities in the cloud. In order to match identities, the AD identity needs to match certain attributes. If matched, the Azure AD identity is flagged as on-premises managed. Therefore, it is possible to create an AD identity that matches an administrator in Azure AD and create an account on-premises with the same username. One of the authentication options for Azure AD is “Password Sync.” If this option is enabled, the password from on-premises overwrites the password in Azure AD. In this particular situation, if the on-premises AD identity is compromised, then an attacker could move laterally to the cloud when the sync occurs. Solution: Ensure Azure AD password sync is planned for and configured correctly, prior to migrating users. A knowledgeable Managed Service Provider will be able to guide you through proper implementation of this precautionary measure. Just Following (Legacy) Protocol? Azure AD is the authentication method that O365 uses to authenticate with Exchange Online, which provides email services. It is important to keep in mind that there are several protocols associated with Exchange Online authentication that do not support modern authentication methods with multi-factor authentication features (such as POP3, IMAP and SMTP). Legacy protocols are used with older email clients and can be disabled at the tenant level or at the user level. However, if your organization requires older email clients as a business necessity, these protocols will not be disabled. This leaves email accounts exposed to the internet with only the username and password as the primary authentication method. Given the rampant exposure of credentials on Dark Web markets and elsewhere, a breach is highly likely to follow. Solution: One approach to mitigate this issue is to inventory users who still require the use of a legacy email client and legacy email protocols. Using Azure AD Conditional Access policies can help reduce the number of users who have the ability to use risky legacy protocol authentication methods. Taking this step will greatly reduce the attack surface for organizations. Again, an experienced Managed Service Provider will be able to ensure that your business is using the proper protocols. ID Agent provides a robust suite of services to address the risks faced by MSPs and that of their SMB clients. BullPhish ID™ delivers security awareness training and phishing simulations created specifically to help employees recognize and avoid phishing traps. Dark Web ID™ monitors the dark web for employee and supply chain credential exposure, which most often results from using those credentials on third-party websites. SpotLight ID™ provides comprehensive personal identity protection and restoration services for employees and customers, mitigating risk and providing peace of mind.

May 02, 2019

“BERN” App Divulges 150 Million Voter Records

The future of community organizing or the latest flagrant violation of online privacy? That’s the debate currently raging over the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign’s roll-out of its new “BERN” application. The campaign positions it as a new organizing tool that assists volunteers in tracking potential supporters – permitting them to log the name and background of anyone they talk to: from friends and family members to complete strangers on the street. But skeptics argue that the database of personal information could open non-supporters up to harassment. While a sizable proportion of the data the app requests is publicly available for savvy political operatives who know where to look, critics say that having the data neatly compiled — while not giving people a way to opt out of it — presents online and offline safety concerns. So how did this hotly debated application expose private information of up to 150,000,000 American voters? It seems that an error in the app’s source code caused personal voter identification numbers to be exposed for several hours before ultimately being corrected. Visitors to the website could simply use the F12 Developer Tools shortcut to inspect HTML elements, displaying results like this: (personal information redacted to protect user privacy) Defenders of the application note that information like this has long been accessible by campaigns through the use of CRM tools like NGP VAN and others. However, opponents argue that there are some important caveats. Traditionally, campaign staff using the above tools are limited to data about the precincts they work in, data packets are coded, and personnel are monitored – the BERN app contained no such restrictions. Publishing voter files online is illegal in every state – and for good reason. In some states, voter ID numbers are identical to other identifying numbers like those found on Driver’s Licenses or Social Security cards. This is deeply troubling as hackers and criminals could use these legitimate records to make counterfeit IDs and subsequently use them to open bank accounts and commit other types of fraud. Setting aside critical identifiers like Social Security numbers, the exposed information such as a user’s age, residence, gender, zip code and other “banal” data can be cross-referenced with personal records already compromised on the Dark Web. For example, a cybercriminal typically purchases stolen credit card information on the Dark Web for less than $10 per record. To carry out an online purchase, a hacker would have to know your address and ZIP code – and thanks to the BERN leak, this information is already out there. For in-store purchases, a hacker could simply clone your credit card and, in the rare case that a store associate asks for a photo ID, use the Driver’s License number found on BERN to create a convincing and scannable counterfeit ID. (sample Dark Web advertisement for stolen credit card information) So how do you protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft? Organizations have proved time and time again that they are unable to ensure complete security of your personal information; therefore, it would benefit private citizens to enroll in an Identity Monitoring service. By enlisting the help of a trusted provider, online users can monitor their credit cards, driver’s license, Social Security number, medical records and even their passwords – and be alerted when they are for sale on the Dark Web, the world’s largest marketplace for stolen information. ID Agent provides a robust suite of services to address the risks faced by MSPs and that of their SMB clients. BullPhish ID™ delivers security awareness training and phishing simulations created specifically to help employees recognize and avoid phishing traps. Dark Web ID™ monitors the dark web for employee and supply chain credential exposure, which most often results from using those credentials on third-party websites. SpotLight ID™ provides comprehensive personal identity protection and restoration services for employees and customers, mitigating risk and providing peace of mind.

April 26, 2019

Game of Thrones: An SMB Cybersecurity Analogy

***SPOILER ALERT: this article contains some plot details up to Season 8, episode 2*** The epic struggle of Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and their fragile coalition of allies against the looming undead army of White Walkers bears a striking resemblance to the growing specter of cyberthreats against small to medium sized businesses in recent years. So how do you make people care about cybersecurity as much as they care about who will reign supreme over Westeros? Simple – frame these threats in the fantastical terms they already understand from Sunday nights watching HBO. Westeros as an SMB Westeros, the fictional continent where much of the show’s action takes place, is an excellent metaphor for your organization’s IT environment. It has a clear perimeter as an island surrounded by water and contains significant assets – food, weapons, livestock, infrastructure and its citizens (just as a business owns personal data, payment information, intellectual property and other sensitive material). While there is some warring between the Lannisters, Starks and other houses, it’s helpful to think of them as various departments within the same organization – jockeying for resources, much as different business units might fight for limited budget. A united Seven Kingdoms allows us to recognize the true existential threat to the security and prosperity of Westeros’s inhabitants – the White Walkers. The most direct cybersecurity parallel to this horde of undead would be a malware botnet. A botnet is a collection of internet-connected devices such as computers, smartphones or IoT devices whose security has been breached and control ceded to a third party (the ice-cold third party being The Night King in this scenario). Much like The Night King is able to raise his victims from the dead to join his ranks, hackers are able to fool unsuspecting users by implanting and executing malware on their devices, oftentimes through advanced phishing attacks, to take control of them. This malware could restrict access to business-critical systems for a ransom and harvest user credentials to grant hackers access to financial resources — two techniques that could potentially bankrupt an SMB. The hacker can also use infected devices to carry out ever larger-scale attacks, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against your website. As we learned in the latest episode of Game of Thrones, The Night King is seeking to launch a DDoS attack on Westeros and beyond, with the goal of permanently shutting down the living. Another similarity that Game of Thrones superfans will appreciate: neither the White Walkers nor hacking tools were originally conceived with destructive purposes in mind. The White Walkers were originally human-like figures created with magic by the Children of the Forest to protect them from the First Men. They were defense weapons created with good intentions that eventually became so powerful, they threatened all of humanity. Similarly, cyberweapons like StuxNet were originally developed as tools of defense to limit the advances of Iran’s nuclear program, but have since fallen into the hands of third-party criminal groups, who continue to leverage the techniques that made StuxNet possible. Speaking of hacking tools that were previously only available to national governments but are now utilized by criminals, the White Walkers currently have access to more powerful resources than ever before – namely, a terrifying ice-fire-breathing dragon. This parallels the now widespread use of tools like those released by The Shadow Brokers in 2016. The exploit EternalBlue, developed by the NSA in the name of national security and leaked by The Shadow Brokers, was used in the infamous worldwide WannaCry attack that affected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries. Similar to the defense measures that many SMBs implement, Westeros has indeed taken steps to protect itself from the murderous throngs of ice zombies to their north. The most notable example of this would be The Wall. 300 miles long, 700 feet tall and fortified with ancient magic, this rock-solid ice wall could most easily (and ironically) be compared to a Firewall. It’s the first line of defense against intruders, and it takes a Night’s Watch of IT Administrators to maintain it, guard it and analyze for vulnerabilities. As any cybersecurity professional knows, a firewall is a significant defense but can be bypassed by a savvy hacker who knows how to exploit human error, compromised credentials and unpatched applications (or in GoT, by a savvy zombie sociopath with a seemingly unstoppable ice dragon). How to fight back So what can be done to keep your digital kingdom safe? First, you want to make sure your organization’s leadership isn’t like Cersei Lannister – Queen of the Seven Kingdoms who is unwilling to address the existential threat from the North. Much like the wise Maesters of the Citadel, you’ll need to educate decision-makers about the consequences of inaction. For example, 60% of SMBs go bankrupt within the first 6 months following a major cyber incident. Because the vast majority of data breaches are due to human vulnerability and compromised credentials, you’ll want to focus on cybersecurity best practices; these practices are your weapons forged from dragon-glass and Valyrian steel – the only ones proven to be effective against White Walkers. Just as Arya Stark is lethally trained by the Faceless Men, make sure your employees are trained to recognize phishing attempts that may contain malicious files or requests. You’ll also want your very own Three-Eyed Raven. That’s to say, you will want to implement a Dark Web Monitoring service to detect when your users’ credentials are compromised on the Dark Web. Leveraging visibility of your business’s weak spots will give you a *Stark* advantage against hackers (pun very much intended). Be sure to implement strong password phrases and modify them on a regular basis. Lastly, enlist the help of a dragon of your own. Managed Service Providers are a powerful resource for SMBs, armed with knowledge and experience in fighting off cybercriminals. A reputable MSP who focuses on the above techniques like Security Awareness Training and Dark Web Monitoring will be a fiery champion for your digital realm. ID Agent provides a robust suite of services to address the risks faced by MSPs and that of their SMB clients. BullPhish ID™ delivers security awareness training and phishing simulations created specifically to help employees recognize and avoid phishing traps. Dark Web ID™ monitors the dark web for employee and supply chain credential exposure, which most often results from using those credentials on third-party websites. SpotLight ID™ provides comprehensive personal identity protection and restoration services for employees and customers, mitigating risk and providing peace of mind. Send us a raven to schedule a demo today!

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