Cybercriminals continue to find new, sneaky ways of attacking users. Why? Because it’s lucrative. The more successful attacks they can execute, the more money they can make.
One of the more flexible and effective ways of hacking into a system is with a URL redirection attack.
You may have come across an attack like this before. After all, they are frequently used. But here’s one example so you can understand what an attack looks like.
A hacker sends out what is called a “phishing email”. This is an email designed to look like it comes from a trusted company, like eBay, for example. It tells the recipient that there is a problem with their account and they need to log in and confirm payment information.
Because it appears to be legitimate, a user might have no problem clicking on the link – it’s an eBay link, after all! But what they don’t realize is that it is not an eBay link. The URL takes them to a malicious website with forms that will record the personal information requested.
A user thinks they are interacting with an established company that already has this information, so they provide it again. What they don’t realize is they have just unlocked their money to a hacker, who will empty out their accounts.
Even if you are smart enough to tell the difference between a legitimate email from a company and a phishing attack, others might use your business identity to attack your past customers.
Your website’s health and security are paramount to the health of your business. You need to be proactive in preventing URL redirection attacks and stopping them in their tracks if they are detected.
You might be tempted to think that this type of sophisticated attack is impossible to stop. And while stopping cybercriminals can be tricky as both sides try to stay ahead of the other, it also doesn’t need to be a difficult or time-consuming activity for you.
Here are three ways you can protect your site from being used in a URL attack:
or in this case, your website’s server. A web application firewall, such as Secitgo Web Firewall – would be your first line of defense: the wall with the moat around your castle. Most common attacks would be stopped by the firewall, and they can provide detailed security reports as well. These reports can alert you to any suspicious activity.
The landscape of cybercrime is changing every single day. Keeping up on your own can be a challenge, even for the experienced site owner. By setting up Sectigo Web, you can partner up with a sophisticated cybersecurity company that will make your safety and security its top priority – so that cybercriminals can’t take advantage of you or your customers.