Small business owners often don’t take cybersecurity on priority. Many companies don’t think of cybersecurity beyond compliance, and as a result, the consequences of a cyberattack are often complicated for them to manage. One of the common ways in which cybercriminals hack or attack systems is through a backdoor. In simple words, a backdoor is created by hackers to bypass existing security measures, to gain access to devices, networks, and IT environments. In most cases, backdoor attacks are associated with malware. Once the hacker has remote control of the device or network, they continue to cause digital harm, either through data theft, by gaining access of other networks, or often simply by spying.
The fact is backdoor attacks can be prevented, and for businesses, it is all about having a proactive approach. In this post, we are discussing some of the basic aspects that are worth knowing about preventing backdoor attacks.
Steps for preventing backdoor attacks
- First and foremost, keep an eye on malware. There are varied kinds of malware threats, such as ransomware, worms, viruses, trojan horse, adware, and spyware, and each one works in a specific way. Identifying the threats will help in taking necessary preventive steps.
- Next, install antimalware, antispyware, and antivirus software products. Note that every device, including IP cameras, that are connected to a network work like computers, and therefore, there is a chance of these devices getting hacked.
- Place all devices behind firewalls, and consider the option of network segmentation. Also called firebreak, network segmentation is basically a technique, which splits the network into subnetworks. In case a breach happens, or there is malware infection, that particular subnetwork can be isolated.
- Train your employees. Many employees often don’t know much about hacking, backdoor attacks and the possible threats related to cybersecurity. Get people to train your employees, so that they practice safe browsing and have a fair idea of when to avoid certain websites, files or attachments that may contain malware.
- Focus on password protection. Hackers often cause backdoor attacks by bypassing passwords. Weak passwords must be avoided, and all default passwords must be changed immediately. If your employees don’t know how to manage passwords, recommend a tool that can be trusted.
The fact is backdoor attacks are very common, and it’s important to be a step ahead of hackers. Don’t shy away from seeking help from the security community, to strengthen your network perimeters.