Learn about the critical threats that can affect your organization and the criminals behind them from Cybersixgill’s threat experts. Each story sheds light on the underground activity, the threat actors and why you should care, and what you can do to reduce your risk.
In today’s cyber threat landscape, protecting personal and corporate identity has become vital. Once in the hands of cybercriminals, compromised credentials and accounts provide unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information and an entry point to launch costly ransomware and other malware attacks.
To properly mitigate the threats posed by compromised credentials and accounts, organizations need identity data. Understanding the importance of identity information and the benefits it provides is fundamental to maintaining a secure posture and minimizing risk.
There is a perception that security teams and threat analysts are already overwhelmed with too much data. With these measures, another flood of cyber threat information will only further complicate their workflows and overwhelm their ability to take meaningful action.
However, when threat information is contextual and relevant to a specific organization and its attack surface, the problem of data overload is alleviated. When identity information is added to the mix, security services can easily detect compromised credentials among cybercriminals and take preventative measures before damage is done. Here’s how.
Why you need ID intelligence
Organizations are made up of people, each of whom can be a potential target for identity-related threats. Compromised credentials are one of the most common and effective ways for threat actors to achieve their goals, with millions of credentials leaked and sold on underground markets every year.
The ways in which cybercriminals obtain credentials vary. Phishing schemes are deceptive emails designed to trick recipients into revealing their credentials – in one way or another. Another method that is gaining popularity is Stealer Malware. Hijackers are a category of malware that collect credentials such as usernames, passwords, cookies, and other data from infected systems.
Want to learn more? See ours webinar on demand Unlocking the Power of Identity Intelligence. Or download our e-book on Credential leak detection.
Other tactics include brute-force attacks, where threat actors use tools to automatically generate passwords and then try them one by one to gain access to a user’s account, and social engineering tactics, in which threat actors manipulate users into giving confidential information. By some estimates, after trying one million random email address and password combinations, attackers could potentially compromise between 10,000 and 30,000 accounts.
Research shows that in 2022, the average cost of a data breach resulting from a credential theft or breach will be $4.5 million, and that number continues to rise. Can your organization afford such a significant risk?
Strong security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), consistent, rigorous employee training, and enforcement of data protection policies can help make companies less vulnerable to these types of threats. However, miscalculations happen. And when they do, security teams must be alerted immediately if any compromised access is detected on dark web markets. This is where identity intelligence comes in.
The role of identity intelligence in countering identity threats
With rich threat intelligence derived from millions of data points in underground sources on the open, deep and dark web, organizations can access rich intelligence and information about compromised credentials and accounts and take preventative action. As discussed, this credential leak provides attackers with a convenient entry point into an organization, affecting businesses, their employees, and customers – individuals whose personal information can be compromised and sold clandestinely.
Cybersixgill’s identity intelligence is unique in that it is enhanced by machine learning and artificial intelligence. It alerts organizations when credentials are exposed as leaked or up for sale, providing detailed context and information to help mitigate threats. Essentially, we provide security services with an optimized view of their organizations’ risks by exposing identity theft, leakage of credentials including usernames and passwords, and printing activity.
Using our threat intelligence, security services can help determine the likely cause of a data breach and intercept the sale of stolen credentials and credit cards to protect employees and customers. Users can set up customizable alerts to notify them of leaked credentials to the deep dark web from sources such as instant messengers, IRC chats, and restricted dark web forums and marketplaces.
Conclusion
Protecting personal and corporate identities is paramount in today’s cyber threat landscape, where compromised credentials can lead to serious security breaches and financial losses. Identity intelligence is a critical tool that offers contextual and up-to-date threat data that helps organizations effectively detect and respond to compromised credentials.
With Cybersixgill’s machine learning and AI-enhanced identification, security teams can proactively identify and mitigate risk, ensuring robust protection for both employees and customers. Ultimately, the strategic implementation of identity information strengthens an organization’s defenses and promotes a proactive approach to cybersecurity, minimizing potential damage from identity-related threats.
