Account Takeover
Account takeover (ATO) is a type of cyberattack in which a malicious actor gains unauthorized access to an online account, such as a social media profile or bank account.
Here's a breakdown of what ATO means in cybersecurity:
How ATO happens:
Credential theft: Attackers can obtain your username and password through various means, such as data breaches, phishing scams, or malware.
Credential stuffing: They use stolen credentials from one platform to try and access accounts on other platforms, exploiting the common practice of password reuse.
Social engineering: Attackers manipulate or trick you into giving up your login information.
Vulnerability exploitation: They find and exploit weaknesses in a website or app's security to gain access to user accounts.
What attackers do after taking over an account:
Steal personal information: This could include your address, birthdate, financial details, and other sensitive data.
Make unauthorized transactions: They might transfer money from your bank account, make purchases with your credit card, or use your account to pay for goods and services.
Spread malware: They could use your account to send malicious links or attachments to your contacts.
Damage your reputation: They might post inappropriate content or send offensive messages using your account.
Use your account for further attacks: Your compromised account can be a stepping stone to attack other accounts or systems.
Why ATO is a serious threat:
Financial losses: ATO can lead to significant economic losses for individuals and businesses.
Reputational damage: A compromised account can damage your reputation and erode trust.
Loss of productivity: Dealing with the aftermath of an ATO can be time-consuming and disruptive.
Legal and regulatory issues: Businesses that fail to protect user accounts from ATO may face legal and regulatory consequences.
Protecting yourself from ATO:
Use strong, unique passwords: Don't reuse passwords across different platforms.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification form, like a code sent to your phone.
Be wary of phishing scams: Don't click on links or attachments in emails from unknown senders.
Monitor your accounts regularly: Check for any suspicious activity and report it immediately.
Keep your software updated: Install the latest security updates for your operating system and applications.
Understanding how ATO works and protecting yourself can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim.
ThreatNG is a comprehensive platform with a lot to offer regarding cybersecurity. Here's how its features could help with account takeovers (ATO), how it works with other solutions, and some specific examples using its investigation modules:
How ThreatNG Helps with ATO
Digital Risk Protection: ThreatNG monitors the dark web for compromised credentials associated with your organization. This proactive approach helps identify potential ATO attempts before they happen. By finding leaked credentials, you can force password resets and prevent attackers from using that information.
Phishing Susceptibility Assessment: ThreatNG can assess your organization's vulnerability to phishing attacks, a standard method for obtaining credentials used in ATO. This helps you identify weaknesses in your email security and user awareness training.
Social Media Monitoring: ThreatNG can monitor social media to identify fake accounts impersonating your brand or executives. These accounts are often used to launch phishing attacks or spread misinformation that could lead to ATO.
Sensitive Code Exposure: ThreatNG can identify exposed code repositories containing API keys, access tokens, and other credentials that could be used to compromise accounts.
Cloud and SaaS Exposure: ThreatNG identifies misconfigured cloud services and SaaS applications that might be vulnerable to ATO. This includes identifying unsanctioned services and cloud impersonations that attackers may use.
Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG can integrate with and complement other security solutions, such as:
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): ThreatNG can feed its findings into a SIEM to provide a more comprehensive view of your security posture and enable faster incident response.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): By integrating with IAM solutions, ThreatNG can help enforce strong authentication policies, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), crucial for preventing ATO.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): ThreatNG can provide threat intelligence to EDR solutions, enabling them to better detect and respond to ATO attempts on endpoints.
Examples using ThreatNG's Investigation Modules
Domain Intelligence:
Identify lookalike domains used in phishing attacks designed to steal credentials.
Discover subdomains with misconfigured DNS settings that could be vulnerable to takeover, potentially leading to ATO.
Uncover exposed APIs that attackers might exploit to gain unauthorized access to accounts.
Social Media:
Detect fake social media accounts that impersonate your brand and are used to launch phishing campaigns.
Identify social media posts that contain malicious links or attempt to trick users into revealing their credentials.
Sensitive Code Exposure:
Find exposed code repositories containing hardcoded credentials that could be used to compromise accounts.
Identify API keys and access tokens leaked in public code that grant attackers access to sensitive systems.
Dark Web Presence:
Discover if employee credentials are being traded on the dark web, indicating a potential ATO risk.
Identify mentions of your organization in connection with ransomware attacks, which often involve ATO as an initial attack vector.
Combining these capabilities, ThreatNG provides a powerful toolset for preventing and mitigating account takeover attacks. It allows organizations to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities, monitor for threats, and respond quickly to incidents.
