Information and communications technologies have become increasingly vital to the way business functions—driving both innovation and specialization. But this deeply interconnected relationship is not without risk. Vulnerabilities in cybersecurity have allowed malicious zero-day attacks to disable systems, crash websites, and compromise sensitive data, resulting in millions (sometimes billions) of dollars in damage. With stakes that high, it’s essential to protect yourself and your business.
A zero-day attack is a particularly devastating type of cyberattack that:
Zero-day exploits usually target vulnerabilities in software, spotting weaknesses that allow the attacker to infect your system with malicious code. Targets are often unprotected business networks, large corporations, government agencies, or individuals with access to sensitive data.
Some examples of notable zero-day attacks include:
Memory corruption issues account for about 75% of zero-day attacks, followed by logic or design flow problems (14%), information leaks (10%), and user-after-free vulnerabilities (6%)
A total of 108 zero-day attacks occurred during the 5-year period between July 2014 and June 2019, or approximately 20 attacks annually. Of course, these figures represent only attacks that were detected and reported—the actual figure remains unknown. Perhaps the most alarming statistic is that, of these 108 zero-day attacks, a malicious actor was identified in only 44 cases, illustrating the difficulty in actually catching the cybercriminals responsible.
Protecting Yourself from a Zero-Day Attack
Like a disease, zero-day cyber attacks are less expensive to prevent than to cure, but detecting a zero-day attack is particularly difficult, especially if you (and your cybersecurity software) aren’t sure what trouble signs to look for. Most zero-day cyber attacks target vulnerabilities in signature-based systems and are sophisticated enough to evade traditional means of detection.
Fortunately, there are some defensive tactics you can employ…
And for your personal computing…
At Waterdog Computer Works, we understand how devastating a zero-day attack can be to your business. That’s why we offer the latest tools and technologies available to keep your network secure. Want to learn more about boosting cybersecurity for your business or personal computing needs? Contact us today!
Located in Wayne, Pa, Waterdog Computer Works is a complete IT solutions and cybersecurity provider serving businesses throughout Main Line Philadelphia. Focused and responsive, Waterdog Computer Works offers a two-hour emergency response time guarantee, no-risk contracts and a team of technicians with over 75 years of combined experience. Call us at 484.580.8568 to speak to a member of our team.