Preventing backdoor attacks: Learning the basics!

Businesses are constantly grappling with new cybersecurity concerns, amidst the rising need to adopt new technologies. Digital transformation is the new reality for sure, but there is no denying that cyber threats are increasing consistently.  Many hackers and cybercriminals use backdoors to launch attacks on businesses, and it can have a devastating impact on both operations and finances, especially in case of data theft. What exactly is backdoor exploit? Is your business prepped to avoid such attacks? In this post, we are discussing some of the basic aspects that worth knowing. 

What is a backdoor attack?

In case of a backdoor attack, hackers bypass the standard security measures to gain unauthorized access into a device, network or system. They may use the backdoor for spying, stealing data, to launch malware attacks, and to encrypt data to get a ransom. Backdoor attacks can be really hard to find, because often the user has no clue that someone has been using their systems, unless of course, the hacker demands a ransom or causes a massive breach. 

How to prevent such backdoor attacks?

There are some basic preventive and precautionary steps that can prevent backdoor attacks –

  • First and foremost, your business needs to understand the ways in which backdoor attacks are caused. A good example of that would malware. There are so many different types of malware, and each one can be used in different ways. In short, just find a way to enlist and evaluate the cyber concerns. 
  • The next step is to train your employees. Executives and managers are on the forefront of ensuring security and keeping devices and networks safe, and they need to know the ways in which backdoors are created, and how they can be targeted. Conduct workshops and training programs to let your employees know of these concerns. 
  • The third step is to enhance security. There are varied ways to do that. For instance, all firmware and software products must be updated to the latest version. It is also important to remove all kinds of old and used software programs from devices. Passwords must be secured and complex, and where needed, employees must be encouraged to use a password manager. Other steps like using lockout feature or multifactor authentication also comes in handy for preventing backdoor attacks. 

Your business needs to find ways to reduce backdoor attacks, and it can only happen when the entire organization works together.