There are weaknesses everywhere, and they are frequently used against us. For instance, according to research in 2014, employee email addresses and passwords were made public in hacker forums during the first half of the year at over half of all Fortune 500 companies.
Every system and organization is vulnerable to hacking known as the “attack surface.” The attack surface consists of all the points of entry that an outsider could utilize to access the system. Once on your network, that user might manipulate or download data to harm your system. When your attack surface is smaller, it becomes simpler to defend your organization. In this article, let’s explore what you need to know about the attack surface.
Types of Attack Surface
Attack surfaces consist of physical and digital surfaces:
Digital Surfaces
Applications, ports, codes, servers, websites, and illegal system access points are all examples of digital attack surfaces. The digital attack surface includes flaws left by subpar programming, weak passwords, exposed application programming interfaces, default operating system settings, and poorly maintained software.
Physical Surfaces
All physical endpoints, including desktop computers, laptops, mobile devices, and USB ports, have physical attack surfaces. In addition, improperly discarded hardware, physical break-ins, and passwords written down on paper are included. To secure surfaces from unauthorized public access, attack surfaces should be kept secure both physically and digitally.
Attack Surface Vs. Attack Vector
Attack vector and attack surface are two distinct but connected concepts. The technique a cybercriminal employs to obtain unauthorized access to or compromise a company’s accounts or systems is known as an attack vector. The area where cybercriminal attacks or compromises are known as the attack surface. Typical types of attack vectors include:
- Malware: These are harmful software, such as viruses, Trojan horses, and ransomware. It gives hackers the ability to take over a device, get unapproved access to networks, or corrupt systems and data. If the attack surface grows, so does the chance of malware.
- Phishing: This attack method is delivering a message that looks to come from a reliable source to trick the recipient into divulging sensitive information. Phishing emails frequently include a harmful attachment or link that allows the attacker to steal users’ data or credentials.
- Compromised passwords: A most frequent attack vector that is compromised is passwords, which occur when users of online accounts utilize weak or frequently used passwords. Users who fall prey to phishing scams may potentially have their passwords exposed.
- Issues with encryption: By turning communication into code, encryption is intended to conceal the message’s meaning and keep outsiders from checking it. However, using weak encryption or inadequate encryption can cause sensitive data to be transferred in plaintext, making it possible for anybody to view the original communication if it is intercepted.
- Unpatched software: Cybercriminals aggressively look for software, server, and operating system flaws that have not yet been identified or fixed by enterprises. They have access to resources and networks within organizations because of this.
How to Secure an Attack Surface
Information security professionals can manage and analyze threat surfaces for organizations. Some suggestions for lowering the attack surface include:
Access Management
Access to sensitive information and resources should be restricted by organizations both internally and externally. Locking, access cards, biometric systems, and multifactor authentication are examples of physical security methods that can be implemented.
Removing Complexity
Unwanted or unnecessary software can lead to policy errors that allow malicious actors to use these endpoints for their purposes. Regular evaluation and maintenance are required for all system functionality.
Routine Scanning
It’s important to constantly monitor data centers and digital assets for vulnerabilities. Performing a routine scan will help identify attack surface points.
Network Division
The network can be segmented into smaller parts using techniques like micro-segmentation and tools like firewalls. This helps lower attack surface points in the network.
