Many enterprises face significant endpoint security risks and threats. Businesses are reporting threats ranging from phishing to ransomware. These attacks result in the loss of consumer data, which severely harms the business’s structure, finances, and reputation.
More and more personnel today operate from remote locations thanks to technology. Employees must communicate with their coworkers via phone calls, email, and meetings with video conferencing capabilities, regardless of whether their employers utilize independent contractors, permit work-from-home days, or permit people to work while traveling. However, a lot of employees require a connection to the company network in order to access shared files and data. Thanks to endpoint devices, employees can connect to their networks and communicate remotely.
Endpoint protection becomes more challenging as more people work remotely and connect their own devices to the corporate network. The fact that not all traffic on a user’s device will pass through corporate security controls must be accepted by an organization. In many cases, an organization may not have device control to impose a particular endpoint security solution to defend against endpoint security threats.
Also Read: The Rising Need for Security Vendor Consolidation
Here are a few endpoint security challenges that companies nowadays must address.
Cryptojacking
A new cyber threat called crypto-jacking involves the covert mining of cryptocurrencies while using a device’s processing power without authorization. All sorts of devices, including PCs, smartphones, laptops, network servers, and more, can be compromised.
Phishing emails are frequently used to carry it out, deceiving users into clicking on dangerous links or downloading files that can install crypto mining software on the target machine. Websites or online advertisements may occasionally contain JavaScript code that automatically runs when they are loaded in the victim’s browser.
Due to the fact that the majority of crypto-jacking software is created to remain undercover from the victim’s devices, these attacks don’t garner as much media attention as others. Crypto-mining malware is also less disruptive and doesn’t harm user data than other types of malware.
Malvertising
Malvertising infects the websites that companies control with malware that could compromise individuals who visit those websites by infecting them with malicious software or even rerouting them to other websites where additional attacks are waiting.
Malvertising decreases business productivity once endpoint security has been compromised.
The frequent redirection and distracting items that crop up on employees’ screens while they are at work will have an impact on their productivity. Malvertising may increase infections and eventually disrupt the company, resulting in enormous financial losses if it is not stopped.
Scripted and macro attacks
A virus created in macro language, a programming language used by word processors and spreadsheet programs, is utilized in a macro attack. This endpoint security issue is made even more pernicious by the way it is presented; whereas most users would be wary of opening an.exe file, a.doc or.xls attachment is less likely to raise the alarm, especially if it resembles an office document or sales invoice.
On the other hand, a script attack originates from compromised websites or browser-based applications. Such a website or application runs a destructive command in the browser without the user’s knowledge when they visit it.
Also Read: Three Strategies to Ensure Business Continuity After a Ransomware Attack
Ransomware
Malware, known as ransomware, locks system screens or files so that victims cannot access them. Cybercriminals extort corporations for the restoration of their own assets by stealing valuable data, encrypting it, and holding it hostage at a ransom.
Cybercriminals employ a variety of ransomware, such as lockers, RaaS, scareware, doxware, and crypto-malware. These attacks cause financial losses to recover systems and files, the temporary or permanent loss of sensitive or private information, and potential reputational damage to the firm.
Attacks by ransomware can have a significant negative impact on endpoints, systems, or entire organizations, incurring astronomical expenses for downtime and recovery. According to a Cybereason report titled “Ransomware: The true cost to business 2022”, from 2022, 67% of companies that experienced ransomware attacks lost between $1 and $10 million in total, with another 4% estimating losses between $25 and $50 million.
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