According to BleepingComputer, Google fixed the fifth Chrome zero-day bug just yesterday. And this exploit is not limited to Chrome. In addition, BleepingComputer also has an article that iPhones, iPads, and Macs were affected. Protect yourself against the new zero-day vulnerabilities.
What is a zero-day vulnerability?
Hackers quickly take advantage of zero-day cyber-attack weaknesses to compromise systems. The zero-day vulnerability is a computer security vulnerability unknown to the software vendor and users. The term “zero-day” refers to the fact that there is no “warning” or “notice” of the vulnerability.
Hackers exploit these weaknesses to gain access to a system or network, install malware, extract sensitive data, or take over user accounts. It is more challenging to keep their methods secret for a significant time than to use known vulnerabilities that have been disclosed to the vendor and received media coverage.
Zero-day Exploit
A zero-day exploit is an unpatched software vulnerability that an attacker can exploit to gain access to a system or network. Zero-day exploits aren’t known to the software vendor or Internet users and may exist for years before they’re detected and fixed.
Let’s say an attacker wants to steal information from users using a particular software application. There are many ways that the attacker can do that. But the most accessible approach is finding a way to get the software application to do something it’s not supposed to do.
If the application has a security flaw that allows the attacker to do this, then the attacker has discovered a zero-day exploit. The discovery of a zero-day exploit is rare, as most software vendors are aware of the common types of vulnerabilities and take steps to prevent them. But, it only takes one unpatched software vulnerability to allow an attacker access to your systems. The best way to protect against zero-day exploits is to implement a security solution that can detect malicious files, such as a network security appliance.
Why are zero-day vulnerabilities so dangerous?
Zero-day vulnerabilities are extremely dangerous; you won’t have any indication of an attack. They are often used in targeted attacks designed to steal sensitive data from high-profile organizations such as government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and other businesses. They are also difficult to detect and very costly to remediate.
Zero-day exposures can lead to data theft and account takeover, leading to reputational damage, financial loss, and disruption to regular business operations. Zero-day vulnerabilities are also dangerous because malware can be installed that enables an attacker to steal sensitive data from both network and endpoint hosts.
How to detect zero-day vulnerabilities and protect your data
There are three ways you can detect zero-day vulnerabilities and protect your data. They are network monitoring and behavioral analytics software, 2-factor authentication, and patch management.
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1. Network monitoring and behavioral analytics software
Network monitoring and behavioral analytics software can detect zero-day exposure by monitoring suspicious network traffic in real-time. This software can see files trying to exploit vulnerabilities on your network and systems. It can also identify abnormal behavioral patterns on your networks, such as using suspicious devices or communications in sensitive areas of your network.
2. 2-factor authentication
A robust authentication process, such as 2-factor authentication, can help to protect against account takeover. Account takeover can happen when an attacker logs into a user’s account using stolen credentials. 2-factor authentication requires users to enter a password and a code generated by an authentication app or sent via text to the user’s phone. Users get an extra layer of security that makes it more difficult for attackers to log into their accounts. Additionally, it is a best practice for organizations to require 2-factor authentication for employees logging in from a remote location.
3. Patch Management
Thirdly, you can use a vulnerability management solution to detect and remediate zero-day exposures. The benefits of doing so are three-fold. First, scanning networks and endpoint hosts for unpatched vulnerabilities. In addition, the other two are automating the patching process, identifying systems that require patches, and scheduling patch installation.
Conclusion
You always need to be on guard because zero-day vulnerabilities are very dangerous. Your data is vulnerable to stolen sensitive data from networks and endpoint hosts. Sadly, this can happen with Windows or Apple. You can detect zero-day vulnerabilities in three ways: network monitoring behavioral analytics software, 2-factor authentication, and patch management.
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