The biggest social media cyber security risks businesses face and how to avoid them

Businesses tend to gloss over social media cyber security, thinking that it’s more of an issue in their employees’ personal lives than a threat to workplace cyber security. However, one in eight enterprises have suffered a security breach that was traced back to a cyber attack on social media.

Here are the top social media cyber security threats to organizations and how to avoid them.

Social Media Cyber Security Threats to Enterprises

Human Error & Other Insider Threats

Company insiders are arguably the biggest social media cyber security threat, representing everything from posting inappropriate content (accidentally or purposefully) to sharing passwords to clicking on a phishing link posted by a follower or “friend.”

Unattended Accounts

It’s a good idea to reserve your brand’s name on all major social media channels, even if you don’t plan to use all of them, so that competitors and detractors do not get their hands on them. It’s not a good idea to leave these accounts completely unattended. Hackers often look to break into “zombie” corporate accounts that no one is monitoring, then use them to spread malware, launch social engineering schemes, or even post defamatory information about the company.

Uncontrolled User Access

Some organizations hand out their social media credentials like they’re candy, not only to multiple employees but also interns, temps, and third-party social media vendors.

Imposter Accounts

This is when hackers set up phony social accounts with handles that closely match your organization’s name, sometimes even using your graphics and copying your recent posts to make the account look genuine.  Although imposter accounts are sometimes seen as a reputation management problem, not a social media security issue, these accounts then follow/friend your customers or even your employees and engage in social engineering, sending them messages requesting login credentials and other sensitive information.

Vulnerabilities in Connected Apps

Many companies connect their social accounts with third-party apps, such as analytics apps. While these apps are useful or even necessary, they are not without cyber security risks. In 2017, hackers got into the Twitter accounts of numerous prominent organizations, including Forbes and Amnesty International, using a flaw in the popular Twitter Counter app.

Social Media Cyber Security Best Practices for Enterprises

There are numerous proactive steps your company can take to protect against social media cyber security threats:

• Establish a social media policy that includes social media cyber security protocols. Perform periodic audits of your policy to ensure it keeps up with the latest changes and threats.
• Strictly limit social media access. Avoid giving access to interns and other temporary staff. Don’t allow any employee to access your social media until they have been trained on social media cyber security.
• Use social media management platforms, such as Hootsuite or Buffer, that allow you to grant employees posting access without handing over actual account login credentials. These programs also allow you to set up a system of approvals for social media posts.
• Immediately suspend the login credentials of any staff members who leave the company or any vendors you are no longer using.
• Prohibit employees or vendors from connecting your social media accounts to any third-party apps until they have been vetted by your security and governance team.
• Monitor all of your company’s social media accounts, including placeholder accounts that you are not using.
• Engage in “social listening” and monitor social media networks for imposter accounts, negative content about your brand, and other actionable items.
• Be careful about who your company accounts “follow back.” Following everyone who follows you may seem harmless, but once you follow an account back, it can start sending you private messages, which may contain phishing links.

The cyber security experts at Continuum GRC have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting your organization from security breaches. Continuum GRC offers full-service and in-house risk assessment and risk management subscriptions, and we help companies all around the world sustain proactive cyber security programs.

Continuum GRC is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-6207 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization protect its systems and ensure compliance.

How to Protect Yourself on Public WiFi Networks

Once a luxury item, free public WiFi has morphed into a standard service that consumers expect when patronizing everything from restaurants and retail stores to airports and hotels. Free WiFi users aren’t just checking Facebook or posting vacation photos to Instagram, either; all of us have sat down on a train or in a coffee shop and seen business people tapping away on their laptops, taking advantage of public WiFi to work on the go.

However, public WiFi networks open users up to numerous cyber attacks, especially if the network is unsecured. These include:

• Phony rogue networks set up specifically by cyber criminals. These networks often have innocent-sounding names such as “Customer Public WiFi” and are unsecured.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks where hackers commandeer a public WiFi network and redirect users, often to a phony login site where their credentials are stolen.
• Wireless sniffer tools that locate unsecured public WiFi networks, analyze their packets, and steal data, monitor network activity, or gather intel for use in a future attack against the enterprise’s network.
• Having your device infected by a worm on another user’s device that travels through the public WiFi network.

Hacking public WiFi networks is so easy and lucrative that cyber criminals step up their game during major events where they know large crowds will gather and connect to public networks. In February, US-CERT issued a press release warning travelers about expected cyber attacks at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

Staying Safe on Public WiFi

The best way to prevent an attack on a public WiFi network is to never connect to one in the first place, even if it is “secured.” The WPA/WPA2 WiFi standard currently in use has multiple security flaws, and the new, far more secure WPA3 won’t start rolling out until later this year, when devices supporting it are scheduled to be released. Instead of using a public WiFi network, tether your laptop to your mobile phone or use one of your mobile carrier’s hotspots. If you travel a lot, it may be worth investing in an unlimited mobile data plan.

What if using mobile tethering or hotspot is not an option, your work just won’t wait, and public WiFi is the only realistic option? Protect yourself using these best practices:

Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPNs allow users to connect to servers through secure connections. While many free or ultra-low-cost VPN services are available, they may not be trustworthy; it’s better to pay for the peace of mind. Employers should provide their employees with VPN access to protect their company’s data when their employees are working in the field.

Use Secure Connections

Configure your browser to default to the “always use HTTPS” option on websites you use frequently, especially those that require login credentials.

Don’t Access Anything Sensitive

Do not check your bank account or credit cards, go shopping, or access any other sites that would expose sensitive personal information.

Turn Off Automatic Connectivity

Change the settings on your devices so that they do not automatically connect when they sense an open WiFi network; you could end up connected to a phony rogue network.

Even if you’re not stuck using a public WiFi network, never leave your electronic devices unattended while in a public place, and make sure to turn off Bluetooth and file sharing capabilities. It is highly unlikely you’ll need to use them; all they’ll do is open you up to an attack.

The cyber security experts at Continuum GRC have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting your organization from security breaches. Continuum GRC offers full-service and in-house risk assessment and risk management subscriptions, and we help companies all around the world sustain proactive cyber security programs.

Continuum GRC is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-6207 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization protect its systems and ensure compliance.

Passwords are no longer enough; your business needs multi-factor authentication

 Organizations can no longer depend on passwords alone to protect their systems and data, especially since 25% of employees admit to using the same password for all of their accounts, at home and at work, and stolen account credentials are hackers’ preferred way to break into enterprise systems. Passwords, even strong ones, are no longer enough to ensure enterprise cyber security. This is why cyber security experts urge both enterprises and individuals to employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible.

Despite the growing consensus as to the importance of multi-factor authentication, 61% of small and medium-sized businesses think that MFA is only for large businesses. SMBs often cite the affordability of MFA as a major stumbling block. Yet with the average cost of a data breach at $3.86 million and rising, no business, large or small, can afford not to use multi-factor authentication.

What Is Multi-Factor Authentication?

Multi-factor authentication is a security protocol that requires users to use more than one authentication mechanism (known as “authentication factors”) to verify their identity at login. The three basic authentication factors used in MFA are:

• Something the user knows, such as a password, pass phrase, or PIN.
• Something the user has; this can be a physical or logical security token, including a one-time password (OTP) token, a key fob, an employee access card, or a phone’s SIM card.
• Something the user is; this refers to biometric identification such as retina scans, fingerprints, or voice authentication.

A multi-factor authentication protocol includes at least two of these factors. For example, ATMs employ MFA because users must swipe their ATM card, then enter a PIN. The user’s location and the time of the login are sometimes included in the authentication process, but these are used in addition to, not in place of, at least two of the knows/has/is factors.

It is important that multi-factor authentication factors be independent of each other. Access to one factor should not be a gateway to any other, and the compromise of one factor should not compromise the integrity or security of any other. Using our ATM example, if your ATM card goes missing, it is useless without your PIN; conversely, a PIN number is worthless without an ATM card.

Additionally, multi-factor authentication factors themselves must be protected. Passwords, PINs, pass phrases, etc. should be difficult to guess, and users should not share them. Physical security tokens and other “have” data should not be shared and should be protected against duplication or theft. Even biometrics must be protected against replication. All factors must be protected against misuse by negligent or malicious insiders.

Benefits of Multi-Factor Authentication

Some organizations are hesitant to use multi-factor authentication because they fear it will complicate the login process, confusing their employees and slowing down workflow. However, because MFA hardens cyber security, it enables enterprises to safely use advanced login options such as single sign-on.

Depending on what compliance standards your organization is subject to, you may not have a choice but to use multi-factor authentication. PCI DSS, DFARS, NIST 800-171, and other compliance standards mandate the use of MFA. Even when a standard does not specifically require it, MFA is still a good idea. Compliance standards are continually evolving as technology and the threat environment evolve, and with the tide turning against passwords and towards multi-factor authentication, it is likely that more standards will ultimately require it. Additionally, compliance should be about ensuring the security and integrity of your systems and data, not just doing the minimum to get by.

The cyber security experts at Continuum GRC have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting your organization from security breaches. Continuum GRC offers full-service and in-house risk assessment and risk management subscriptions, and we help companies all around the world sustain proactive cyber security programs.

Continuum GRC is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-6207 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization protect its systems and ensure compliance.