Cyberjacking – Security Alert
Cyberjacking has become a major problem for networks around the world. It is currently one of the top cybersecurity problems existing today. The term cyberjacking means hackers access your servers or workstations like parasites. They use your processing power to mine cryptocurrency. This exploit can be detrimental to your network and production. Because it uses your processing power, it slows down your network. A slow network decreases your productivity.
This hack is difficult to detect and even more difficult to eradicate. It rewrites your server software and deeply embeds itself into your network. The best way to combat this type of malware is to wipe your server clean and restore from your image backups. That takes time and money.
In one instance, I saw this attack come in through an email inside a PDF-looking document. When we investigated, the software was embedded inside a font. When an employee clicked and opened the file, the malware downloaded to the company’s network. Once running inside their system, it used the processor as part of their bitcoin mining operation. Servers keep logs of incoming and outgoing traffic. The cyberjacking malware erased these logs every minute to cover its tracks. It took over 2 ½ days to stop the attack and mitigate the damage.
Protect your business from cyberjacking
It is important to protect your business from these kinds of parasitic attacks.
- Keep your firewall up to date with the latest virus and malware signatures.
- Protect your email with filters either in Microsoft 365 or with another filtering service before it hits your onsite exchange.
- Train your employees not to click on items originating from an unknown source.
- Train them to validate even a trusted source to make sure requests for financial or confidential data transfers are genuine.
Your due diligence is what keeps you safe. Give us a call for a network security checkup. Our service engineers are well versed on keeping your network secure.
This article on achieving PCI Compliance is also about increasing your cybersecurity in general: So You Want To Achieve PCI Compliance? Shields Up!
