Do You Know What Hackers Do?

There is no doubt that the digital age has made our lives easier than ever, but it has also made it easier for hackers to take advantage of our online weaknesses. Hackers are getting smarter and using more creative ways to get into people's personal and business accounts. It's easy to think of weak passwords and phishing emails as the biggest threats, but hackers also use a lot of other, less well-known methods to get into accounts. This post will talk about seven surprising ways hackers can get into your accounts and how you can keep yourself safe.

What is the most common hacking technique?

While phishing remains the most common tactic, it has plenty of company. Hacking methods have changed a lot over the years, taking advantage of advances in technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tricks people are good at. Hackers still use brute force attacks and other old-fashioned methods to get around security measures, but they are becoming more sophisticated.

Social engineering is a common method, in which hackers trick people into giving up private information. Another type is credential stuffing, which is when you use stolen login information from past data breaches to get into multiple accounts. There are also attacks that are powered by AI, which lets hackers make convincing fake campaigns or even change security systems.

Understanding these hacking tactics is crucial because they are the building blocks of more complex and surprising hacking techniques. We'll talk more about these less common methods and how they can affect your digital safety in the parts that follow.

What are known and unknown vulnerabilities?

Weaknesses are often not obvious, relying on overlooked aspects of digital cybersecurity. There are 3 main types of vulnerabilities:

1: The known knowns: Vulnerabilities that have been explicitly discovered through scanning and testing. 2: The known unknowns: New software that has yet to undergo any application security testing.
3: The unknown unknowns: Systems that the defender does not know about.

Cookies can Be Hijacked

For anyone out there who still doesn’t: Cookies are small files stored on your device that save login sessions for websites and speed up your access. While convenient for users, they can be a goldmine for hackers. By intercepting or stealing cookies through malicious links or unsecured networks, hackers can impersonate you and gain access to your accounts without even needing your password. Regularly clear your cookie cache.

The Great Sim Swap

Smartphone numbers are often used as a second layer of authentication for online accounts, in access controls like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). SIM swapping is a method Hackers use by convincing your mobile provider to transfer your number to a new SIM card they control. Once they have access to your phone number, they can intercept 2FA codes and reset account passwords.

Deepfakes

We’ve all been hearing about deepfake technology, and it has advanced rapidly, allowing hackers to create realistic audio or video impersonations. This method is increasingly used in social engineering attacks, where a hacker might pose as a trusted colleague or family member to gain access to sensitive information.

Third-Party App Exploitation

It’s common for users to link their accounts with third-party applications for convenience. However, these apps often have weaker cybersecurity protocols. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in this weak link of the chain to gain access to linked accounts.

Port-Out Fraud

Port-out fraud is similar to sim-swapping, in that it involves transferring your phone number to another provider without your consent. With access to your number, hackers can intercept calls and messages meant for you, including sensitive account recovery codes.

Keylogger Malware

Keylogging malware is a malicious program that records every keystroke you make. Once installed on your device, they can capture login credentials and other sensitive information without your knowledge.

Phishing Enhanced by AI

The days are rapidly disappearing when phishing emails were easy to spot due to poor grammar or suspicious links. Incorporating AI into phishing campaigns means using machine learning to craft highly convincing emails tailored specifically for their targets. These emails mimic legitimate communications so well that even tech-savvy individuals can fall victim, and often involve the use of deepfakes.

In the following section, we’ll discuss how you can protect yourself against these unexpected threats.

What is the best strategy to protect against cyber attacks?

Here are a few prevention strategies you can use for the best protection:

Stronger Authentication

Creating strong, unique passwords and enabling 2FA or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are essential, common-sense first steps. However, consider going beyond SMS-based 2FA or MFA by using app-based authenticators or hardware security keys for added protection.

Regular Account Monitoring

You can’t just set up accounts and forget about keeping an eye on them. Check your account activity for any unauthorized logins or changes. Many platforms offer notifications for suspicious activity—make sure these are enabled.

DO NOT USE Public Wi-Fi Networks

Get away from the ‘free is good’ mentality. Public Wi-Fi networks are breeding grounds for cyberattacks like cookie hijacking. The safest way to access these networks is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), because it encrypts your communications.

Be Wary of Third-Party Apps

Before you even think of linking any third-party app to your main accounts, verify its credibility and review its permissions. Revoke access from apps you no longer use.

Ongoing Security Awareness Training

Among the benefits of Security Awareness Training is that it teaches you how to identify various scams and tactics like phishing attempts. It educates you on how to effectively scrutinize email addresses and avoiding clicking on suspicious, unfamiliar links and attachments. When in doubt, contact the sender through a verified channel before responding.

What are different cyber security safeguards?

Adopting a proactive cybersecurity mindset is essential in battling today’s threat landscape. This goes well beyond protecting against specific hacking techniques we have highlighted here.

Update Software Regular

Do NOT let your software become outdated – that’s one of the first weaknesses hackers look for. Ensure all devices and applications are updated regularly with the latest security patches.

Establish Regular Data Backups

This is the #1 strategy that can save your business. Regularly back up important data using the 3-2-1 rule: keep three copies of your data on two different storage media with one copy stored offsite, most often in the cloud. This ensures you can recover quickly in case of ransomware attacks or data loss.

Communication Needs Encryption

By now, we should all be used to encrypting everything, especially sensitive communications. Use encrypted messaging platforms that protect data from interception by unauthorized parties.

Adopt These Strategies as Ongoing Protections

It doesn’t matter if you use your devices for personal use or for business - ongoing education about emerging threats is invaluable. Understanding how hackers operate helps you identify potential risks before they escalate.

If you implement these measures alongside specific protections against unexpected hacking methods, you’ll significantly reduce your vulnerability to cyberattacks. In the next section, we’ll wrap up with actionable steps you can take today.