The Internet has become our world. That is not a good or bad thing; it is a fact. We work, communicate, develop, share, shop, have fun and do it online. In our modern, virtual world, we have incorporated almost everything we know and own. Millions of our most delicate information continuously circulate the network. We feel exposed and threatened, and the feeling is justified. But what do we know about the dangers lurking online?
Data attracts a lot of attention and opportunists. In the sea of digital valuables, you can always find someone with bad intentions.
Who are the Hackers?
Cybercrime is continually evolving with technology development. The more we rely on new technological advances, the more challenging and cost-effective the catch is for hackers.
They are not modern ‘Robin Hoods’ or superheroes. These individuals or groups are getting engage in illegal activities due to several reasons. Some do it for fun, the so-called “gray hats.” To them, breaking through your protection is simply challenging.
Others are “black hat hackers.” Their attacks generally end in total collapse and unimaginable financial damage. The reasons are financial gain or ideological persuasion, vengeance, terrorism.
How Much Damage Do Cyber Attacks Cause?
Every successfully done digital breach causes some damage, from a bad reputation, a loss of user trust, to substantial financial breakdowns. Frighteningly, when this nasty act happens, the web owner has all the responsibility.
Data breaches happen every day. Internet applications represent the main target of hackers, due to inadequate protection – 40% of all attacks in the past (data taken from the Verizon 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report).
Another statistic from the Penemon Institute shows that one data breach case $ 4 million costs, while the estimated total damage to date caused by hacking attacks is about $ 360 billion.
Ethical Hacker – Think Like One of Them
To test the security of your network, you need to try to attack it yourself. Using the so-called “ethical hacker” will most effectively evaluate your protection. Think of this as a hacker. Identify the weakest points of your applications and strike there.
- The criminal attack is possible when your desktop computer is infected by malware. It can expose an administrator or FTP credentials.
- More, server OS should not have lacks due to which attackers have access to the data that make up the site.
- Applications that power websites are a perfect opportunity for attackers to abuse a site and connect to the website’s database.
- DoS attacks can cause software interruptions and even their malfunction.
How to Beat Hackers?
To protect yourself from attacks, you need to be a step ahead. Let’s explain in a few steps how to be wiser and build an app that isn’t easy prey.
- Applications are the most affected by poor security. Set priorities, continually monitor. Make dynamic assessments and analytical data on potential risks.
- AppSec must be an integral part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
- An ethical hacker may be your best weapon against attackers because it literally outwits them — these ‘simulated attacks’ can point out the failures and security of the application.
- Apply a closed-loop process to solve penetration problems proactively.
- AppSec should play a role in preventing defects that may arise in application design, development, deployment, upgrade, or maintenance. It needs to be positioned so that it can take action over the code lifecycle.
Finally, only the best technology can allow us to continually scan the application code, evaluate and detect possible attacks. Work on preventing attacks without skipping a single significant step. This way you can win a severe battle with digital bandits who are using more and more opportunities to profit on your damage.
