Advances in technology have, unfortunately, led to increased opportunities for cyberattacks. Cybercriminals capitalize on the weak security of many new technologies, and corporate computers and devices are under attack more than ever before. Every 39 seconds, a hacker attacks a computer connected to the internet—that’s roughly 2,244 times a day.

With smarter hackers, and more dangerous attacks, it’s crucial to protect your organization’s high-value data, assets, and intellectual property by finding the right solution.

Hackers Are Getting Smarter

Basic malware and virus attacks are worries of the past. Today’s hackers are finding newer and more sophisticated ways to attack corporate devices and computers. And cybercriminals are continually learning new ways to obscure their actions within the ever-growing activity of your organization.

Blocking known malware is a given. File-less attacks and malicious software such as Ransomware—a software that gains access to files and systems then holds them for ransom in exchange for access—are growing increasingly advanced. Able to spread, evade detection, and take advantage of users, these programs corrupt and wreak havoc for individuals and corporations around the world.

Endpoint Attacks Could Be Worst Of All

Attack surfaces continue to grow, and intruders are finding it easier to bypass security measures. Internet-capable computer hardware devices on TCP/IP networks can be left exposed with legacy approaches to prevention.

These endpoint attacks, including malware and non-malware attacks, have become the main entrance to data theft, destruction of infrastructure, and financial damage. 

Endpoint attacks can take many forms, including:

• Phishing –Email attachments, often appearing to come from a trusted source, lure victims to suspicious sites or launch software working in the background to penetrate systems extracting security, sensitive material, and login information.

• Unpatched vulnerabilities –Ignored antivirus software update pop-ups meant to protect against new threats leave “holes” in security that can be exploited by hacker attacks.

• Malvertising –Legitimate online advertising can include corrupted or malicious code that can infect through auto-run malware or redirection to a malicious website without even needing to click on the ad. 

• Drive-by-downloads – After being sent a link to click, users download a virus, spyware, or malware, which is then installed in the background without notice. This attack can infect the network and remain undetected while hackers gather information or even hold your programs for ransom.

• Data loss and theft – Access to endpoints can give hackers a way into high-value networks and private or sensitive data. They can then copy in large dumps of information. 

An advanced endpoint protection platform must centrally analyze behavior across millions of endpoints to spot minor fluctuations in normal activity and reveal suspicious attacks. Click here to learn what is endpoint security.

What Can I Do Against Endpoint Attacks?

It is crucial to take steps to protect endpoints with security that is predictive in prevention, detection, and response.

• Manage devices –Any device in your network is susceptible to attack—including printers and cameras. Consider providing secure devices for employee work or regulate employee usage with a clear policy for personal devices connected to the network. 

• Encrypt data – Important data should be encrypted, whether stored in the cloud, on servers, or in transit. 

• Secure connections – Use a security management system to detect suspicious behavior within your network. This behavior is then correlated with known malicious behavior to evaluate the threat level. 

Put a Stop to Endpoint Attacks

Most organizations use multiple security products, including traditional antivirus solutions. However, with the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, these conventional approaches are unable to prevent security breaches on the endpoint. Advanced endpoint protection replaces traditional antivirus with a multi-method approach for real prevention. Protect your business by making endpoint security a key priority.