Big Data

95% Of Servers Are Vulnerable To Eavesdropping Attacks

An eavesdropping attack is similar to a snooping or sniffing attack. An eavesdropping attack happens when a hacker deletes, intercepts or changes the information that is accessible to be transmitted between two connected devices. 

According to a study, 95% of servers are vulnerable to eavesdropping attacks. 

This attack can easily take advantage of unsecured network communications to immediately access information as it is being delivered/received by its users.  Have you ever heard the term “eavesdropping attack” before? If not, don’t worry — we’re going to define it and explain how it can be used and why hackers are employing this technique so you can protect yourself from having your data stolen.

What is an eavesdropping attack?

Eavesdropping attacks are common nowadays as the IT industry is growing rapidly, and such crimes are also taking part in many ways. For an eavesdropping attack, attackers take a piece of software to directly insert into a device through a connected (another) device. 

These attacks can happen very easily (by professionals) when a connection between two sides, say a customer and server, is not secure or too weak. Also, eavesdropping attacks are likely most prominent with wireless communication.

When do eavesdropping attacks work?

Using insecure or unencrypted traffic to spy on confidential and valuable information is the goal of eavesdropping attacks. Hackers have many easy-to-find ways to steal information and other personal data for different demands. 

Suppose attackers have successfully made an eavesdropping attack. In that case, they may gain access to anything from credit card information to employee passwords, personally identifiable information (PII), or intellectual property. 

These attacks can happen to anyone, but they’re especially dangerous for two groups:

  1. People who use public Wi-Fi networks, such as coffee shops, hotels, and airports.
  2. People who use Bluetooth connections to transmit sensitive data from their phones or laptops to other devices.

Eavesdropping attacks and their various methods

There are various methods hackers can employ when conducting an eavesdropping attack. Hackers have grown up now, and they know the rising IT industry. Eavesdropping attacks occur when a network connection isn’t secured enough, whereas hackers can quickly transfer data or other personal information through different eavesdropping attack techniques. 

Here are some popular eavesdropping attacks methods & techniques to keep an eye on.

Weak passwords

Weak passwords are the easiest method for hackers to steal your data. Attackers can easily access user accounts when your network has an invalid password. And when the attackers have access, they can make things complex in your corporate systems and networks. Hackers can modify confidential communication channels or change any activity in the network.

Listening posts

The listening posts technique takes place where the hackers point to secure areas where the network signals can be recorded, monitored, or retransmitted. Any activities at the listening post will be eavesdropped on and recorded using voice-activated equipment.

Open networks

In this method, hackers attack such users who are using an open network and don’t require any password or encryption to transmit information. Attackers love dealing with this situation where data transfer becomes easier.

Transmission link

In the transmission link method, attackers pursue another level of hacking in the unique form of a radio frequency transmission. However, this may also include active or inactive telephone lines, underground electrical conduits, or electrical wires.

Pickup device

Attackers use devices that can pick up images or sounds, like video cameras and microphones. They then convert them into an electrical format to attack the targets. Moreover, attackers ideally like to use an electrical device that contains power sources in the room that is being targeted. 

How to prevent eavesdropping attacks?

  • Protect your network through (VPN) virtual private network.
  • Consider applying a higher level of encryption for wireless networks.
  • Use HTTPS for all your web-based communications. 
  • According to the 2021 data, companies that avoided using multi-factor authorization or authentication have more chances of becoming eavesdropping attack victims. 
  • Enable MTA-STS on your domain to enforce TLS encryption of messages in transit.
  • Enable TLS-RPT on your domain to receive reports on email deliverability issues.

How to protect my network?

Here’s how you can protect yourself:

  • Authorize your network: Make sure you have a strong security team who are using an advanced form of authentication server for incoming network packets. Using standards and cryptographic protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security), S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions), OpenPGP, or IPsec (Internet Protocol Security).
  • Network monitoring: It is crucial to monitor your networks during these situations. Be on the lookout for any abnormal activities in your network or traffic. You can also take help from free tools by PowerDMARC to save your domains and other network activities.  
  • Learn more about Cyber Security: Many eavesdropping attacks happen mistakenly when an employee clicks on a link found in an email, using various types of social engineering techniques, just like phishing. That link allows the malware to immediately install into your network and run according to the hackers. Educate your employees about cyber security and hackers’ new tricks like phishing.

How can a security plan help?

Many security plans are available to assist you if you are unaware of how to protect your network from eavesdropping attacks. With the help of complete web protection, you can secure your networks from big cyber attacks like eavesdropping. 

Complete protection can be helpful in many ways to secure a website. It can have many benefits, such as using encryption on the network, protecting a company, or improving your business growth. Security plans are vital for protecting companies from cyber attacks like eavesdropping. 

A security plan can save your company’s data from being stolen or used for bad purposes. There’s no need to compromise your data or employees’ personal information. Security plans have been designed specifically to provide tailor-made solutions for your business. A professional team can quickly discover a network’s security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

Summing up

An eavesdropping attack targets weak networks, especially small organizations, because they think they don’t need such a high level of security as a start-up. But we understand that hackers can attack anyone, from small businesses to completely established ones. 

That’s why a complete security solution is necessary to protect your company’s data, identity, employees’ information, and other statistics. Hackers won’t wait for you to make your systems secure. You need to take a step right now to protect your brand from attackers that could sometimes result in a massive ransom in demand for recovery.

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