5 Common Hacking Techniques Your Company Needs to Protect Against

computer hacked

14 million American businesses are currently at risk of being taken advantage of by hackers.

Cybercriminals can steal your clients’ financial information, make sensitive company data public, and even hold your emails for ransom. Take a look at some of these recent hacking incidents to get a better understanding of what these people are truly capable of.

We know that they can be alarming — and that this information likely inspires you to do everything possible to protect your business, your customers, and yourself.

In this post, we’ll teach you about some of the most common hacking techniques. We’ll introduce you to several different types of hacking, and let you know the steps you can take to ensure you’re not a victim.

Even if you already have a strong privacy policy in place, it’s essential that you make sure you’ve accounted for new types of hacks.

Read on to get started!

1. Phishing Attacks

Let’s start by talking about one of the most common types of hacking: phishing attacks.

In a nutshell, this is when hacking attacks occur in the form of an email from a professional, trusted company, or person.

For example, an email might look like it’s from a popular non-profit. It might even look like it’s coming from someone in your contacts list.

When a hacker engages in what’s called “spoofing,” they actually imitate the address of someone you know, such as a business partner or another branch office. When a hacker is able to imitate a legitimate website or company, it’s called cloning.

Since you think you know the sender — or at least that it’s not a dangerous sender — you then open the email.

They may want you to download an attachment in the email, or click on a link that they’ve embedded into it. Most people do.

Then, the hacker has you right where they want you.

From here, they can download malware onto your hard drive and gain access to your passwords, documents, email — you name it, they now have it.

So, what can you do to stop phishing attacks?

First of all, tell your employees never to click on links or open personal emails while at work. Additionally, you can try hovering over the links without actually clicking on them.

Then, you’ll be able to see if the link the hacker is trying to convince you to click on is actually legitimate or not.

2. A DoS/DDoS Attack

Another one the more common hacking techniques out there today?

It’s what’s known as a denial-of-service attack, or a DoS attack for short. DDoS attacks fall roughly under the same umbrella.

A DoS attack is able to completely flood your server so that it can’t respond to any new requests. In the event of a DDoS attack, a hacker works with tons of host systems that use harmful software to infiltrate and attack your system.

In either case, the result is that your server just can’t make any kind of response.

Usually, the hacker won’t really be able to get into your files this way. Their goal here is to get your site and servers offline, or to render them completely useless.

This strategy is often used by those who are trying to knock out a competitor.

In other cases, a DoS attack is a way to lay the groundwork for a much larger attack that’s to come. Once your system goes offline, it’s much easier for them to attack you in other ways.

What can you do to stop these kinds of attacks?

Working with a Computer IT Support specialist is a great first step. Companies like At Your Service Canada can install firewall protection, ensure that proper patches to guard against these attacks are installed, and use different types of filtering on your website.

3. SQL Attacks

This type of hacking attacks websites that use databases to organize and store their files. It’s commonly known as an SQL injection attack.

Basically, the hacker will try to make a query into your database from the point of the input data.

This will allow the hackers to get a hold of the information in your database. It also means they’ll be able to modify in it any way they wish.

They can delete rows of data, change the information you have listed, and even shut the entire database down. If you have files that are able to be recovered, a hacker can access them too. In some cases, they may even be able to control your entire OS by using the SQL database.

So how can you prevent this from happening? Imagine how much harm this type of attack could cause! Your documents could end up in the wrong hands, leading to data breaches and other problems.

Make sure that you put “least0privilege” when it comes to the model of permissions. Exclude dynamic SQL from your stored procedures whenever possible.

You might even want to work with a professional security company to ensure that your current code is strong enough to stand up to potential SQL attacks.

4. A Malware Attack

Now, let’s talk about one of the types of hacks that pretty much any type of business, website, or server could find itself on the other end of – a malware attack.

Essentially, malware is a kind of software that someone downloads and installs on your system without your knowledge or permission. It might be obvious, in some cases, that is has been installed.

But most times, it’s hidden in applications you use frequently or snuck into your code. It can even spread across the Internet itself.

For example, a malware attack can get into a program like Microsoft Word (this is called a “macro virus”). Once it’s in Word, it then copies itself and links to other code and applications throughout your entire computer.

It can get into those specific files and code so that whenever you open a file, the virus is activated on your computer.

Another example of a malware attack is known as a Trojan attack (think of the infamous Trojan horse). In this case, the malware is put inside of a program you use every day — but it’s designed to disrupt and corrupt your system.

It will not only create lots of data breaches and other attacks, but it may also act as a kind of “portal” for other hackers to break into your system.

The best way to guard against these attacks is to refrain from downloading pretty much any unfamiliar or personal files at work.

You’ll also need to run frequent backups of your data, and rely on professional IT support services to help keep you safe.

5. A Password Attack

The last entry on our list of the different hacking techniques is also one of the easiest.

In some cases, in order to execute this sort of attack, you don’t even need to be a professional hacker. You just have to be a good guesser — or to know personal information about the person whose data you’re trying to get.

In other cases, hackers may even guess if you have a password that’s among the most commonly used ones out there. This is what’s known as a “dictionary attack.”

Of course, hackers can also break into your system and override encryptions to find out your passwords.

If you want to stop this from happening to you, the very best thing you can do is to create a great company-wide password policy.

You may need to change your password once every few weeks or even every few days, especially if you work for a governmental or financial agency.

Doing this may even be a common regulatory requirement.

Always password-protect your sensitive data, enable encryption, and never use the same password for more than one account if you want to stay safe.

Be Aware of These Common Hacking Techniques

We hope that this information regarding popular hacking techniques has you feeling empowered to do more to protect yourself and your employees.

We don’t tell you this information to frighten you.

We tell you about it so that you can do what you need to do to fight against it.

One of the best solutions is to work with a professional IT and security company that can help mitigate your risk.

Looking for more security advice and other helpful tips?

Be sure to keep on coming back to us for access to all the best ways to keep hackers at bay!

Cybercriminals can steal your clients’ financial information, make sensitive company data public, and even hold your emails for ransom. Take a look at some of these recent hacking incidents to get a better understanding of what these people are truly capable of.

We know that they can be alarming — and that this information likely inspires you to do everything possible to protect your business, your customers, and yourself.

In this post, we’ll teach you about some of the most common hacking techniques. We’ll introduce you to several different types of hacking, and let you know the steps you can take to ensure you’re not a victim.

Even if you already have a strong privacy policy in place, it’s essential that you make sure you’ve accounted for new types of hacks.

Read on to get started!

1. Phishing Attacks

Let’s start by talking about one of the most common types of hacking: phishing attacks.

In a nutshell, this is when hacking attacks occur in the form of an email from a professional, trusted company, or person.

For example, an email might look like it’s from a popular non-profit. It might even look like it’s coming from someone in your contacts list.

When a hacker engages in what’s called “spoofing,” they actually imitate the address of someone you know, such as a business partner or another branch office. When a hacker is able to imitate a legitimate website or company, it’s called cloning.

Since you think you know the sender — or at least that it’s not a dangerous sender — you then open the email.

They may want you to download an attachment in the email, or click on a link that they’ve embedded into it. Most people do.

Then, the hacker has you right where they want you.

From here, they can download malware onto your hard drive and gain access to your passwords, documents, email — you name it, they now have it.

So, what can you do to stop phishing attacks?

First of all, tell your employees never to click on links or open personal emails while at work. Additionally, you can try hovering over the links without actually clicking on them.

Then, you’ll be able to see if the link the hacker is trying to convince you to click on is actually legitimate or not.

2. A DoS/DDoS Attack

Another one the more common hacking techniques out there today?

It’s what’s known as a denial-of-service attack, or a DoS attack for short. DDoS attacks fall roughly under the same umbrella.

A DoS attack is able to completely flood your server so that it can’t respond to any new requests. In the event of a DDoS attack, a hacker works with tons of host systems that use harmful software to infiltrate and attack your system.

In either case, the result is that your server just can’t make any kind of response.

Usually, the hacker won’t really be able to get into your files this way. Their goal here is to get your site and servers offline, or to render them completely useless.

This strategy is often used by those who are trying to knock out a competitor.

In other cases, a DoS attack is a way to lay the groundwork for a much larger attack that’s to come. Once your system goes offline, it’s much easier for them to attack you in other ways.

What can you do to stop these kinds of attacks?

Working with a Computer IT Support specialist is a great first step. Companies like At Your Service Canada can install firewall protection, ensure that proper patches to guard against these attacks are installed, and use different types of filtering on your website.

3. SQL Attacks

This type of hacking attacks websites that use databases to organize and store their files. It’s commonly known as an SQL injection attack.

Basically, the hacker will try to make a query into your database from the point of the input data.

This will allow the hackers to get a hold of the information in your database. It also means they’ll be able to modify in it any way they wish.

They can delete rows of data, change the information you have listed, and even shut the entire database down. If you have files that are able to be recovered, a hacker can access them too. In some cases, they may even be able to control your entire OS by using the SQL database.

So how can you prevent this from happening? Imagine how much harm this type of attack could cause! Your documents could end up in the wrong hands, leading to data breaches and other problems.

Make sure that you put “least0privilege” when it comes to the model of permissions. Exclude dynamic SQL from your stored procedures whenever possible.

You might even want to work with a professional security company to ensure that your current code is strong enough to stand up to potential SQL attacks.

4. A Malware Attack

Now, let’s talk about one of the types of hacks that pretty much any type of business, website, or server could find itself on the other end of – a malware attack.

Essentially, malware is a kind of software that someone downloads and installs on your system without your knowledge or permission. It might be obvious, in some cases, that is has been installed.

But most times, it’s hidden in applications you use frequently or snuck into your code. It can even spread across the Internet itself.

For example, a malware attack can get into a program like Microsoft Word (this is called a “macro virus”). Once it’s in Word, it then copies itself and links to other code and applications throughout your entire computer.

It can get into those specific files and code so that whenever you open a file, the virus is activated on your computer.

Another example of a malware attack is known as a Trojan attack (think of the infamous Trojan horse). In this case, the malware is put inside of a program you use every day — but it’s designed to disrupt and corrupt your system.

It will not only create lots of data breaches and other attacks, but it may also act as a kind of “portal” for other hackers to break into your system.

The best way to guard against these attacks is to refrain from downloading pretty much any unfamiliar or personal files at work.

You’ll also need to run frequent backups of your data, and rely on professional IT support services to help keep you safe.

5. A Password Attack

The last entry on our list of the different hacking techniques is also one of the easiest.

In some cases, in order to execute this sort of attack, you don’t even need to be a professional hacker. You just have to be a good guesser — or to know personal information about the person whose data you’re trying to get.

In other cases, hackers may even guess if you have a password that’s among the most commonly used ones out there. This is what’s known as a “dictionary attack.”

Of course, hackers can also break into your system and override encryptions to find out your passwords.

If you want to stop this from happening to you, the very best thing you can do is to create a great company-wide password policy.

You may need to change your password once every few weeks or even every few days, especially if you work for a governmental or financial agency.

Doing this may even be a common regulatory requirement.

Always password-protect your sensitive data, enable encryption, and never use the same password for more than one account if you want to stay safe.

Be Aware of These Common Hacking Techniques

We hope that this information regarding popular hacking techniques has you feeling empowered to do more to protect yourself and your employees.

We don’t tell you this information to frighten you.

We tell you about it so that you can do what you need to do to fight against it.

One of the best solutions is to work with a professional IT and security company that can help mitigate your risk.

Looking for more security advice and other helpful tips?

Be sure to keep on coming back to us for access to all the best ways to keep hackers at bay!