This article will discuss cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT) as well as man-in-the-middle attacks and DDoS. You should know what these threats are and how you can combat them. After reading this article, you will be able to protect your business from these cyber threats. The Internet of Things is becoming a more important part of our lives. It’s vital for our businesses to stay secure and protected from cyberattacks.
Security
Telecom organizations are prime targets for cyber-criminals, because of the information they store about their customers, such as credit card information. The impact of these attacks is tremendous, and even a false claim can lead to the company shutting down critical services. To protect this information, telecom companies must be highly available, protected, and globally secure. However, this is not an easy task. To ensure global cyber resilience, telecom companies need to adopt a number of techniques.
Hackers are increasingly targeting telecommunication providers through their leased infrastructure equipment. Compromised equipment is used to steal information, launch anonymous attacks, store exfiltrated data, or even access expensive services. Some of these attacks may not be detected until the attackers have already compromised a weak link in the supply chain. In some cases, the entire supply chain can be compromised. And many successful breaches of telecom infrastructure don’t necessarily result in the detection of the attacker.
Internet of Things (IoT)
When you consider the potential impact of cyberattacks on telecommunications systems, it’s easy to see how this sector would be particularly vulnerable to a breach. While bad publicity, brand damage, and regulatory fines are likely to result, cyberattacks can have longer-term, more profound effects. Below, we explore three ways that IoT-connected devices can be exploited.
IoT-enabled devices allow hackers to gain access to data and exploit security vulnerabilities. In many cases, an attacker will use an Internet of Things device as an entry point, downloading malicious code to expand their attack surface. Among the many compromise vectors, these include weak credentials, vulnerabilities, and exploit kits. IoT devices can be tampered with directly by cybercriminals, implanting malicious software or hardware. Once infected, this malware can cause system failures and spread malware.
DDoS attacks
DDoS attacks affect telecommunication services in a variety of ways, from slowing down critical resources to reducing the bandwidth of your entire network. The first step in addressing a DDoS attack is identifying where the problem originated. Once you’ve identified the source, you can work on developing protocols to block future attacks. While killing off botnets is an option, it can pose a logistical issue and have legal repercussions.
Most DDoS attacks use one of two methods to attack targets. One is to find a protocol that the attackers can manipulate, such as the transmission control protocol handshake or the memory cache daemon. These two techniques are often used together, and are called botnet attacks. Botnets, which are malicious networks that gather information, use these methods to target specific targets. The results are devastating for the target and the network.
Man in the middle attacks
The term “Man in the Middle” is a common acronym for such attacks. The attackers intercept the communications between two devices and then change the content of the messages. It is very similar to the game of telephone in which the words are passed from person to person, but the middle participant acts to intercept the communication to gain access to confidential information or to cause damage. Some of the common abbreviations for MITM attacks are MITM, MiM, or MIM.
While most attacks happen through Wi-Fi and wired networks, a newly discovered flaw allows attackers to break the RSA key exchange used by many of the IoT devices. Man in the middle attacks may become increasingly common, especially with the increasing use of IoT devices and a lack of security measures for many of these gadgets. But while these attacks are not new, they have become more advanced. So, what can you do to protect yourself from them?
Internal threats
A recent report by Kaspersky points to internal cyber threats posed to telecom companies. It points out that telecom employees are vulnerable to cybercrime because of the high volume of EDR alerts they receive. Additionally, employees who are not trained in cyber security risks becoming a potential backdoor for hackers. Cybercriminals often use insiders to leak information to their target companies. Hackers use underground channels to recruit disgruntled employees and blackmail them with open-source information. These attacks follow the Trojan horse approach, with insiders providing the means to exploit telecom infrastructure. Ultimately, cybercriminals use telecoms as a convenient target for their attacks, and their success rates are often undetectable.
Since telecom organizations store customer information and financial details on customers, they have become an attractive target for cyber-criminals. Moreover, because telecom employees often serve as the first line of customer service, they expose their companies to the risk of losing sensitive information in various ways. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat these risks. TTIS 2021 serves as a forum for advancing best practice and threat intelligence sharing between telecoms.