Latest cyber technologies are rapidly growing and evolving which has led to various cyber threats. After, the last pandemic more companies and organisations are steadily adopting various measures to safeguard the sensitive pieces of information that are stored in the cloud. Cyber threats like viruses, worms, malware, trojan horse, etc alter and sabotage important data.
Apart from all the foreign cyber threats, companies also have to deal with internal threats that have the potential to breach cyber security. Social engineering is another reason why the cyber security of a company is hampered.
Therefore, companies are now hiring cybersecurity and information security specialists to safeguard their sensitive data. A career in cybersecurity is in high demand as there are plenty of opportunities with alluring remunerations. Let's dive into this article to comprehend more about this.
What is Social Engineering?
Social Engineering is a potential trajectory through which cyber hackers can easily attack a computer system. This method involves human interaction, hackers often manipulate the employees of the company and illegally extract the company’s data by breaking into the computer networks or systems. Such cyber attacks can easily trace the location of various sensitive data of a company and use them for monetary gain.
Various Social Engineering methods are used by these cyber threads or hackers to disguise their true intention as well as motive. Therefore, they easily gain the trust of various companies. Subsequently, these attackers begin to collect sensitive data and try to gain access to the entire computer system or network. At times Social Engineering techniques are used to manipulate or deceive the employees to gain the access to other networks as well.
Exploiting or manipulating the human mind is easy therefore hackers these days are widely using Social Engineering techniques to extract sensitive data or to track any loophole in the networking system of the company. These techniques can also install malware inside a computer system or network to steal data.
Different kinds of Social Engineering methods
Different types of Social Engineering methods can easily breach the security of a company. These methods have been stated down:
Phishing
Phishing is a method when a mala fide user sends a malicious email distinguished as a trustworthy or legitimate email. These malicious emails may contain links that can install malware in a system. It may also trick the employees and they might end up sharing sensitive information about the company.
Baiting
Baiting is such a method where the leaves an infected device that can be easily connected to a computer system. This device is left at such a place or position from where it is easily visible. Once the deceive gets connected to a computer system it installs malware.
Watering hole
In the watering hole process, the attacker targets a group of employees and tracks the sites they frequently visit. The attackers infect those sites with viruses or malware and successfully gain system access.
Vishing
Vishing is another name for voice phishing. In this Social Engineering technique, the attacker collects all the sensitive data and financial information over the phone from the targeted employee of a company.
What is the Internal Threat of an organisation?
The cyber security threat that comes from the core members of a company is generally referred to as an Internal Threat. It takes place when a current or a former employee or partner of a company who has the access to the system of the company with a mala fide intention uses it. There are instances when an employee may unintentionally hamper or leak the confidential data of the company which eventually affects the company adversely.
According to various reports and surveys, most data breaches are the outcome of Internal Threats. While developing a cyber security system, experts often concentrate on external threats and completely sideline internal ones. This is often done because it is difficult to identify the people who are adversely operating against the company.
Internal Threats often have extra advantages over external threats as they are already familiar with or have access to the system and networks of the company. They are well aware of the vulnerabilities of their organisation. Therefore, a company should safeguard itself from Internal Threats as well.
What are the various kinds of Internal Threats?
Several types of Internal threats may adversely affect a company. All these threats have been vividly discussed below:
Lone Wolf
A lone wolf is a well-known Internal Threat that does not work with a third party. Therefore, no third party can influence their action. A lone wolf is quite dangerous as they have access to important systems like the database administrator.
Collaborator
Unlike a lone wolf, a collaborator works with third parties to adversely harm the targeted company. The outcome of a collaborator's action can spread sensitive data about a company or can cause turmoil in the company's business.
Pawn
Social Engineering techniques can appoint specific employees who act maliciously against their will. This is usually done through spear phishing. These unwilling employees can end up leaking information to an attacker or can even install malware inside the company’s system.
How can organisations safeguard themselves against various Insider and Social Engineering attacks?
There are various methods through which companies can easily combat Social Engineering techniques and Internal Threats. Here are the ways how a company can keep itself secure from Social Engineering methods:
- A company should conduct daily penetration testing with the assistance of the IT department. This will allow them to comprehend properly which employee needs more training and which malicious user can breach the cyber security.
- Companies must organise training programmes that will aware employees of various Social Engineering techniques. This will assist the employees to safeguard themselves from such attacks.
- A company should regularly update its antivirus software to detect phishing emails and prevent them from installing malware.
Here are some of the methods to safeguard a company from Internal threats:
- Protection of important assets: A company should make a list of its most important assets according to their hierarchy. It may include a computer system, customer data, bank information, etc. Therefore, the asset with the most priority should receive the best security.
- Enhancement of visibility: Companies should install software that will track and find out the malicious insiders. It will also continuously track their activities.
- Implementation of strong policies: A company should establish a strong policy so that no employee or partner will try to leak any information to any malicious person.
Conclusion
So interested individuals who are willing to commence a career in cybersecurity or information security can enrol themselves in an excellent cybersecurity course. To make your search easier Imarticus Learning has brought their new IIT cybersecurity course. The course will be led by the experienced faculty of IIT Roorkee which will assist pupils to bag lucrative job opportunities.
