Security breaches for businesses which run on a network can lead to devastating consequences. Once a business network is infiltrated, hackers can very easily bring business operations to a halt by starving it off resources provided by the network infrastructure. Understanding what exactly the threats which hackers pose are, can help businesses in Ottawa to realize the importance of having a good network support system. A good network support system ensures your business’s data is secure and IT resources are only used by those intended. Here are a few things which hackers can do once they gain access to a network.
Malware distribution
Malware distribution is the process of using vulnerabilities within a network to introduce unwanted malicious software. The agenda of this software is to corrupt or retrieve data from the systems. Malware distribution is usually as a result of negligence within a network, where a user’s action or failure to act leads to the introduction of the software into the system. Without adequate network support, businesses in Ottawa can be vulnerable to their systems being used for malware distribution.
Resource Abuse
Sometimes the objective of a hacker is to gain access to a certain resource which they cannot acquire via legitimate means. For instance, if a user has been blocked from accessing certain services within a website, they might decide to hack the systems running the website and, once successful, utilize these resources for their own personal gain. Businesses which run services on networks in Ottawa must ensure that they employ competent IT consulting companies to protect their network resources against abuse by hackers.
Defacement
Defacement is the deliberate attempt to change the appearance of a website from its original state to a less desirable one. Defacement can impact businesses significantly by causing them to lose clients or render their services inaccessible.
Search Engine Poisoning
Search engine poisoning is the malicious act of injecting misleading code, usually URLs to malicious websites which then finds its way into the search results of the website. These links are usually masked as innocent web page titles, relating to the information which a user is looking for. In company websites, this code is usually injected into links to services within the websites. One way IT consulting companies in Ottawa offer their services to businesses is by offering comprehensive tech support which checks for signs of search engine poisoning.
Phishing Lures
Phishing is a malicious act where users use a company’s name to masquerade themselves and attempt to lure their customers into downloading or even purchasing fraudulent material. It can lead to dire consequences for a business such as defamation and loss of customer base.
Spam Email
Spam emailing is the act of flooding users with unwanted email addresses in the attempt to lure them into opening them and thereby infecting with malware. It can compromise network reliability and lead to loss of customer bases.
Distributed Denial of Service
Distributed denial of service is an attack that is launched on several network components in a bid to prevent users from utilizing the services offered by the network. It can limit business transactions and lead to a network shutdown.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a kind of attack which threatens to compromise a business unless the hacker is compensated. Threats are usually made to a business based on private business data such as user details and business transactions, which the threat actor has gained possession.