A network intrusion is any sort of unauthorized or forced action on a digital network. These actions are usually carried out to violate the security of the network and steal or impair the data. Enterprises and online brands are the main focal point of these cyber-attacks; however, residential users are equally at risk of intrusions. To be able to properly deal with this, residential users as well as business users should have meticulous cybersecurity in place.
In the case of business users, a cybersecurity team should be hired as per the size of the business’s digital footprint. This team’s exclusive purpose is to apprehend how these intrusions are directed and then formulate detection and prevention systems because of that. Once an infallible security system is set up, the online activity needs to be observed 24/7 to safeguard the smooth running of everything. Though, in case of a breach which is inevitable, the team should have the expertise and equipment to handle such a situation and develop a strategy to avert it in the future.
If you are a personal user subscribed to an internet service included with Spectrum packages or some other residential internet service provider that covers your area then of course you cannot pay for a security team. However, you can and should keep your network and data security. A few methods to ensure your online security could include limiting the access to your Wi-Fi network by using a unique username and password, installing antivirus protection on all your internet connectible devices, and using a VPN software to encrypt all the data transmitted over the internet.
We will focus on the threats faced by businesses and how they can handle them, in this article. To start with, we will go through some of the most common types of attack techniques to impeach network security and access private data. Then we will go on to discuss the ways to expose and prevent such attacks.
Network Intrusion Attacks
1. Worms
The deadliest and yet the simplest kind of network intrusion system is known as worms. A computer virus that proliferates through instant messaging or email attachments. This virus can use copious amounts of network resources and can hamper authorized activity as well. Some worms can aggressively go after certain types of private information, for example, social security, bank details, passwords, or any sort of personal data that could be used to gain undue advantage.
2. Traffic Flooding
For a hacker to conduct this attack, he or she would send so much traffic towards the network that the network is unable to handle it. The congestion causes the network to lag and lose the ability to examine information diligently. This gives the hacker enough time to break into the network without being noticed.
3. Trojan Horse Malware
Just like the name suggests, Trojan horses may seem harmless on the outside and are not like viruses or worms in nature. However, they can bring down your network just as the Greeks brought down Troy. They create a network backdoor that hackers can use to obtain unrestricted access to the network and subsequently all your confidential data. Beware of files coming from even the sources you trust because Trojan horses can be present in anything.
4. Multi-Routing
Another name for asymmetric routing, multi-routing is essentially an intrusion technique that involves using more than one route to access a network. Hackers use this technique to evade detection by the intrusion sensors. They send in data packets through different units of the network. Networks that are not configured for multi-routing are not affected by this attack.
5. Protocol Specific Attacks
After years of using machines, we all know that every device uses a certain set of directions to function. These rules or protocols that consist of ARP, ICMP, or IP, etc. However, like any other rulebook on the planet, these protocols also come with loopholes allowing hackers to take benefit from it. Impersonating these protocols to acquire access to the network and therefore personal data is commonly known as spoofing. This technique is not only used to steal data but also to cause a system to crash.
6. Buffer Overflow Attacks
This involves overwriting normal data in selected parts of a computer’s internal memory with a string of commands that can later be used to aid an attack. If you have set up boundary checking logic then it may become a bit difficult for hackers to accomplish this since malicious strings cannot be saved to the buffer.
7. Furtive Common Gateway Interface Scripts
Every interaction over the World Wide Web between clients and servers transpires through the Common Gateway Interface (CGI). This permits hackers to access secured networks and data that would be out of reach otherwise. Wherever verification or scanning is not required to back-track activity, hackers can add a directory label (“..”) or a pipe label (“│”) to the pathname of any file through the use of convert CGI.
Intrusion Detection Methods
There are typically two methods of spotting intrusion in your network, and these are discussed below.
1. Anomaly Based Method
Originally introduced to spot unheard of malware attacks due to the speedy development of malware. The idea was to invent an activity model that the machine can rely upon and use to gauge unknown activity. Any activity that does not tally to the model is acknowledged as malicious. Even though the model can be guided it is still vulnerable to false alarms about harmless activity and tends to allow the previously undiscovered malicious activity.
2. Signature Based Method
This detection method uses predefined standards to reveal malicious activity. These standards are based upon preceding traffic and acknowledged malware attack patterns, that are commonly known as signatures. Even though this method is great for spotting recognized attack signatures, unheard-of patterns can go unnoticed and can cause much damage.
Intrusion Prevention Systems
The below-mentioned systems can be used to avert the malicious activity mentioned above, from causing any sort of damage to your network and data.
1. Network-Based Intrusion Prevention
Conducting a thorough protocol analysis to deeply inspect the entire network for any unfamiliar traffic is known as network-based intrusion prevention.
2. Host-Based Intrusion Prevention
Installed to keep an eye on a single host for any suspicious activity, this software package examines and analyzes the host’s activity.
3. Wireless Intrusion Prevention
Scanning your wireless network protocols for any distrustful activity is known as wireless intrusion prevention.
Conclusion
Now that you understand how intruders can exploit the security of your network and how you can spot it, use the above prevention techniques to keep your network intrusion-free.
