Due to the coronavirus pandemic, businesses have been forced to do a significant shift and engage in more online activities. Working online is convenient, especially since it makes it easy for companies to adhere to COVID-19 rules. But online businesses face the risk of cyberattacks.
Cyberattacks are caused by a botnet that is introduced to the computer or the system by a hacker. Hackers can use the botnet for many security threats like data theft like cybersecurity, account takeover, web content scraping, and other malicious activities. For that reason, companies need to learn how they can keep the cybersecurity threat out of their businesses.
What Is A Botnet?
Businesses need to understand what botnets are and how they work. By understanding them, they will manage to develop a plan to keep the botnet out of their business. A bot is an automated software program that is designed to perform specific tasks over the internet. An example of a botnet is a content scraping bot designed to save content from various web pages. That being said, to bolster their defenses, businesses can undertake comprehensive gap assessments. Wondering What is a Gap Assessment? These evaluations can provide insights into the organization’s readiness to fend off botnet attacks by identifying existing vulnerabilities and strengths in their security framework. Armed with this knowledge, businesses can develop targeted strategies to mitigate the risks posed by botnets effectively.
What Is A Botnet Attack?
A botnet attack is a malicious activity that attempts to be used by a cybercriminal by using a botnet. Here are some attacks by botnet you should watch out for.
- DDoS
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is one of the common forms of a bot attack. This is where the hacker botnet sends a massive amount of requests and traffic to the website. They end up overwhelming the web server, and that prevents it from surviving its real use.
- Spam Attacks
When a web server with SMTP or POP3 is turned into a part of the bot, it can end spam and fraudulent emails. Doing this will lead to an attempt to fraud the recipient, which could lead to the system being infected by malware.
- Cryptocurrency Mining
This is another type of cybersecurity used to mine cryptocurrency for the attacker’s financial gain.
- Fraud traffic
This is a bot used to generate fake web traffic or fraud by clicking ads to drive revenue
With the many botnets circulating on the internet today, you need to ensure that your business gets protection. But, doing this is not easy as the bots continuously mutate and thrive on taking advantage of vulnerabilities and security flaws. If that is the case, each botnet can be different from the others. Yet, that does not imply that it is not possible to stop the botnet attack. In case you are looking for ways to prevent botnet attacks, here are some ways you can ensure your site is secure.
Have A VPN with A Kill Switch
One way you can use to keep your business safe from botnet attacks is by having a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN will protect you by allowing access to private data through the public network. When you choose a VPN provider, ensure they have a kill switch that will help stop data transfer from the VPN to an unsecured connection.
Keep the Software Updated
New malware and viruses are created each day, and for that reason, it is paramount for you to ensure that you keep your system updated. When you keep your system updated, you will not have to worry about dealing with potential vulnerabilities. You should note most malware attacks are designed to exploit vulnerabilities in both the apps and the software. Most have been fixed in the form of updates or patches. For that reason, one needs to ensure that they have made it a habit to update their OS regularly. By doing this, then your business will not get threats of malware.
Have a Dedicated System to Block Fraudulent Emails
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a common form of a cyber attack. The system is used to target organizations that rely on wired transactions with global supplies. But, it is not easy for you to defend the BEC, so organizations need to have defensive gateway web tools to help out the system. This will help you deal with issues that might be brought when you use fraudulent emails.
Monitor Failed Login Attempts
One way you can tell if you are under attack is when you notice many failed login attempts. This happens since botnets are used to test large volumes of stolen data and password combinations. When you see many failed login attempts, it might be a sign that bots are trying to get into your account. Thus, this is why you need to have an account takeover prevention system that will protect your business. You can take action before the botnets get into your account.
Get Protection That Works At A DNS Level
Another way you can use to protect your system is by using a DNS protection system. With the proper protection system for your company, the level and block request will not pass the HTTP or HTTPS. Thus, it will not be possible for criminals to hack into your account.
Train Your Employees
According to research, one of the reasons that companies are getting hacked is due to the carelessness caused by the employees. For that reason, take the time to educate your staff on cybersecurity crimes and how to dictate any attack. It is also vital to ensure that they do not leave your company vulnerable to attacks.
Conclusion
With the high rate of cybersecurity attacks, the best way to handle this is by having preventive measures put in place. It does not matter your business’s size; if you do not protect it, you will likely get hackers getting into your account. That is the reason you need to ensure that you have found the best security measure for your business. By doing this, you can be assured that you will get the best outcome. Discussed are some of the ways that you can use to protect your company. Find the one that is suitable for you and use it. If you are not sure, it is best to hire a team of experts to assist you with understanding the vulnerabilities your company faces and the best way to ensure your business is protected.
