Recently, hacking attacks on the National Data Center (PDN) have raised awareness of the importance of cybersecurity in Indonesia. These attacks show that hacking is not limited to individual computer applications or systems but can also target data centers and servers.
So, what exactly is hacking? What techniques do hackers use, what types of hacking should be watched for, and what methods can be implemented to prevent hacking attacks? Let’s explore further.
What Are the Most Common Hacking Techniques Used by Hackers?
Here are the five most used hacking techniques:
1. Phishing
Phishing is the most common hacking technique where hackers try to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by pretending to be a trusted entity in electronic communications.
2. Malware
Malware is malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Malware can be viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, and adware. Hackers use malware for various purposes, such as stealing personal data, spying on user activities, or locking victims’ files and demanding ransom to unlock them.
3. SQL Injection
SQL Injection is a technique where hackers insert malicious SQL code into input forms on websites to access or manipulate the underlying database. This attack can allow hackers to access sensitive information, alter or delete data, and even gain full control of the database server.
4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)
MitM is an attack where hackers intercept communication between two parties to steal or manipulate exchanged data. This attack often occurs on public or unsecured networks, where hackers can eavesdrop on network traffic and gain access to sensitive information like logins and passwords.
5. Brute Force Attack
Brute Force Attack is a technique where hackers try every possible password combination until they find the correct one. This method is time-consuming but effective, especially if users have weak passwords or use the same password across multiple services.
What Devices Are Vulnerable to Attacks by Hackers?
Which devices are easy targets for attackers or hackers? Here are some:
Smartphones
Smartphones, especially Android, are prime targets for hackers due to their more open system compared to Apple. Many Internet of Things (IoT) devices are also targeted.
Webcams
Computer webcams are often hacked using Remote Access Trojans (RAT), allowing hackers to spy on users, read messages, monitor browsing activities, and control the webcam.
Routers
Hacked routers give hackers access to transmitted and received data and connected networks. Hackers can also conduct DDoS attacks, DNS spoofing, or cryptomining.
Emails are often targeted for spreading malware, ransomware, and phishing through malicious attachments or links.
Jailbroken Phones
Jailbroken phones, which remove operating system restrictions to install unofficial apps, are vulnerable to hacker attacks. This allows data theft and attacks on related networks.
Examples of Hacking and Its Impact on Businesses
Anyone can be a victim of hacking, including some well-known companies and government institutions. Let’s look back at some hacking cases in Indonesia:
Social Security Administrator Website Hacking
In May 2021, the website of a social security administrator was allegedly hacked, causing data from 279 million Indonesian citizens to be leaked and sold on the online forum Raid Forums by an account named “Kotz.”
Insurance Data Breach
In July 2021, a data breach occurred at an insurance company, with around 2 million customer records allegedly leaked and sold online for US$7000, or about Rp101.6 million. This incident was first revealed by the Twitter account @UnderTheBreach, claiming that hackers had taken 250 GB of data, including data on 2 million customers in PDF format and 463,000 other documents.
Government Website Attack
Initially, a government website was hacked and became inaccessible. The website’s appearance was changed to a black screen with a photo of protesters holding the Indonesian flag and the message “Padang Blackhat ll Anon Illusion Team Pwned By Zyy Ft Luthfifake.” Police investigations revealed the hack was due to system security weaknesses and operator negligence.
How Do Hackers or Attackers Work?
The way hackers or attackers carry out their attacks can vary depending on their goals and the methods used. Here are some common stages often followed by hackers during an attack:
1. Reconnaissance
This is the initial stage where hackers gather as much information as possible about their target. They look for weaknesses or gaps that can be exploited. Methods used can include:
- Footprinting: Identifying domains and IP addresses related to the target
- Scanning: Using tools to map the target network and look for open ports
- Social Engineering: Using psychological manipulation techniques to obtain sensitive information from individuals
2. Scanning and Enumeration
After gathering initial information, hackers perform more in-depth scanning to identify services, ports, and operating systems running on the target. Tools used can include:
- Nmap: For network mapping and port scanning
- Nessus: For vulnerability scanning
- Wireshark: For network traffic analysis
3. Gaining Access
At this stage, hackers try to exploit identified vulnerabilities to gain access to the target system. Methods used can include:
- Exploits: Using software or scripts to exploit specific vulnerabilities
- Password Attacks: Such as brute force or credential stuffing
- Phishing: Tricking users into providing their login credentials
4. Maintaining Access
After gaining access, hackers strive to maintain their access for as long as possible without being detected. They might install backdoors or rootkits to allow future access. Techniques used can include:
- Creating User Accounts: Creating new user accounts with high privileges
- Rootkits: Software that hides hacker activities from security detection tools
- Persistence Mechanisms: Such as cron jobs or scheduled tasks that load malware every time the system is booted
5. Covering Tracks
Hackers will try to erase or hide their tracks to avoid detection. This can involve:
- Log Cleaning: Deleting or modifying system activity logs
- Disabling Security Software: Turning off security software like antivirus or firewalls
- Encryption: Encrypting stolen data to avoid detection during transmission
6. Exfiltration
If the attack’s goal is to steal data, hackers will extract the data from the target system and send it to a secure location. This can be done through:
- Network Channels: Using protocols like FTP, HTTP, or HTTPS to transfer data
- Steganography: Hiding data within other files to avoid detection
XDR Solutions Can Prevent Hacker Attacks Faster
XDR is a cybersecurity solution that integrates various security products to provide more comprehensive threat detection, deeper analysis, and faster incident response.
XDR combines data from multiple sources, including endpoints, networks, servers, cloud, applications, and more, to provide broader visibility and more contextual analysis of security threats.
So, what are the benefits of implementing XDR, and why is it important for businesses? Although its function is similar to antivirus, XDR can collect telemetry data from various sources and analyze it to detect and respond to cyber threats faster.
Are you now familiar with what XDR is and how it works? How can it be implemented? You can use solutions like Trend Micro XDR to implement XDR. Using a Machine Learning (ML) approach, this solution can help detect, prevent, and respond to threats in real-time on endpoints such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
Read More: Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Safeguarding Data in the Digital Landscape
Trend Micro XDR Detection & Response: An Effective Solution to Prevent Hacking
Trend Micro XDR is designed to detect complex and layered attacks quickly and accurately. With Machine Learning (ML) technology, Trend Micro XDR can identify anomalous behavior that indicates threats, ensuring accurate and swift detection.
Trend Micro XDR offers superior native telemetry and response, enabling more effective threat disclosure compared to traditional SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems. With native integration, Trend Micro XDR provides broader visibility and deeper analysis.
Features of Trend Micro XDR for Detection and Response Against Hacking
Trend Micro XDR provides comprehensive detection and response across various security layers, including:
24/7 Security
Offering continuous XDR management and incident response services, allowing security teams to focus on strategic tasks without worrying about undetected threats.
Comprehensive Integration
Providing greater visibility and faster detection and response by breaking down information silos across various security layers.
Holistic Visibility
Covering email, endpoints, servers, cloud, and network, ensuring more effective threat detection and response.
Enhanced Threat Detection
Identifying sophisticated threats by correlating data from various security layers, improving detection accuracy.
Rapid Response
Automated workflows and priority alerts enable quick response to threats, minimizing the impact on the organization.
Reduced False Positives
Reducing noise from false positives by correlating events across multiple vectors, focusing on the most critical incidents.
Security Tool Integration
Integrating with existing security tools and platforms, enhancing security posture without requiring a complete system overhaul.
Virtus as an Authorized Distributor of Trend Micro XDR
It’s time to create an integrated cybersecurity system to detect, prevent, and respond to security threats in real-time across various endpoints, networks, and clouds with Trend Micro XDR solutions from Virtus Technology Indonesia (VTI).
As an advanced authorized partner of Trend Micro, Virtus will assist you from consultation, and deployment, to after-sales support to avoid trial and error. For more information on Trend Micro, contact us by clicking the following link.
Author: Ary Adianto
Content Writer CTI Group
