A watering hole attack is one of the lesser-known cybersecurity threats. Nonetheless, they’re dangerous and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Just like phishing emails and other cybersecurity threats, watering hole attacks can seriously impact your business and its operations.
Don’t fall for these attacks. The best way to protect your business is to be informed. Continue to learn more about how cybercriminals use watering hole attacks and what you can do to protect your business.
What is a Watering Hole Attack?
A watering hole attack is a term that comes from the wild. Instead of wasting energy hunting down prey, predators wait by a watering hole and attack when their prey arrives to drink. These attacks are effective because they catch their prey off guard.
In cybersecurity, the concept is similar. Cybercriminals create or modify websites that companies are familiar with and use regularly. They host malware or other malicious content at these locations, and then drive traffic there through a range of methods intended to feel “normal” to users.
These attacks are often more nuanced than traditional cyber scams. Criminals might pose as thought leaders, posting malware-infected links to a message board. More sophisticated watering hole attacks can compromise websites directly and use their access to infiltrate your business when users are looking for an article or other resource.
Watering hole attacks require careful planning and execution. They often target business partners, discussion boards, open forums, or common interest websites. In some instances, if a cybercriminal can breach an external website, they can send malware emails directly to your business. The goal for these criminals is to exploit lesser secure platforms to breach more sophisticated networks.
How Businesses Can Protect Themselves from Watering Hole Attacks
Although watering hole attacks are less common than traditional social engineering tactics, their danger shouldn’t be underestimated. The first thing businesses should do to protect themselves is to educate their employees on ways to ensure they are only accessing valid, secure websites.
There’s an easy way to know if communications with a website are secure. All you have to do is look at the URL of the webpage. If it begins with an “HTTPS,” that means the connection is using encryption. However, if the URL begins with “HTTP,” then communications are not secure.
It’s important to note that just because a connection is determined to be “secure” doesn’t mean it’s safe. Adding encryption to websites is easier than ever, so it is also critically important to verify the website domain (address) to be sure that you are connecting to the intended site. Criminals have been known to create virtually identical copies of familiar sites and host them at domains that look legitimate without close inspection. For example, “g00g1e.com” instead of “google.com.”
With that being said, employees should always be cautious when browsing discussion boards or open forums on websites. Even if the website appears safe, user should be encouraged not to click links or download content without careful vetting. Cybercriminals can use these pages to post malicious links that infect company computers and steal information.
Trust the Cyber Security Experts to Help Keep Your Business Protected
Whether it’s a direct or indirect cyber attack, your business needs to be alert and prepared for all scenarios. Partnering with a cybersecurity expert ensures you’re better prepared in case an attack occurs. If you would like to learn more about what Vector Security Networks can bring to the table for your business and its network security, contact us today.
