How to prevent backdoor attacks? Try these steps!

August 7, 2020
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Donny Raw
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A backdoor is a means, through which cybercriminals again unauthorized access to a computer, network, or any networked device. Sample this situation – A burglar tries to get into a house. He finds out that there is an alarm system and advanced security on the front. However, he gets lucky and manages to get entry, through a backdoor that was unlocked. If the burglar is smart, he won’t try to steal all at once. Instead, he can come back again, and cause a second attack. Backdoors in context of computer work in a similar way.

Knowing the facts

Backdoors are often malicious, but there could be exceptions. Companies often need to have genuine backdoors to ensure that employees & customers can access their accounts, devices, or networks, in case they lose credentials. However, for hackers, backdoors are created through malware, mainly through trojans. Trojans come off as genuine software, so users are tricked into installing the same, and once they grant access, hackers continue to do the damage. Backdoors can be used for stealing data, for causing further malware attacks, to spy on user activities, or to launch DDoS and ransomware attacks.

Taking the right steps

First things first, ensure that all networked devices, including IP cameras, are placed behind firewalls.
Secondly, test and scan networks on a regular basis. Ensure that there are scheduled scans. There is nothing like network monitoring.
Install antimalware software, and make sure that networked devices are scanned regularly.
Use network segmentation, where possible. It basically means dividing a network into subnetworks, so that compromise on one, doesn’t impact all.
Train your people on malware prevention. Ask them to keep an eye on suspicious links, popups, attachments and ads.
Consider checking for an access management tool. You want to be sure that only required people have access to a particular resource.

Creating an incident response plan

If a backdoor attack is detected, the first step is to align the device or network entirely. Ask your employees to shut down systems and disconnect from the network/computer. Inform your IT team, and depending on the kind of compromise, your business may have to inform authorities. Nevertheless, it is critical to have an incident response plan, so that employees and managers know what steps to take, in case a backdoor is detected.

Backdoor attacks are preventable, as long your company chooses to be proactive, rather than just being reactive.