Many incident responses are conducted with traditional digital forensics approaches. While there’s a time and a place for those processes, the reality is often these should be after-action tasks, not first responses. Of far more value is what we’ll call the “attacking your incident response” approach. Attacking Your Incident [...]
In the digital age, the concept of cybersecurity extends beyond the confines of individual devices or corporate networks. It encompasses the safety and security of families, who can unwittingly become conduits for cyber attacks. It’s increasingly crucial to understand the vulnerabilities families may present and strategies to fortify defenses against potential threats.
The Family as an Attack Vector
The notion that family members could serve as an attack vector for cybercriminals is a relatively new and concerning development. Attackers often target individuals who are emotionally connected to employees of an organization, exploiting these relationships to extract sensitive information or gain unauthorized access. This method of attack leverages the natural instinct to protect and help loved ones, turning it into a vulnerability.
The Challenge of Separation
Many individuals strive to keep their professional lives separate from their emotional connections to family. However, attackers do not respect such boundaries and will exploit any opportunity to their advantage. This blurring of lines between personal and professional spheres poses a significant challenge in maintaining cybersecurity.
Emotional Exploitation
Cybercriminals employ various tactics to elicit emotional responses from their targets. For instance, they might impersonate a company’s main number and fabricate an emergency involving a family member to extract confidential information. The urgency and emotional turmoil created by such scenarios make it challenging for individuals to recognize the deception and respond appropriately.
The Tech Support Scam Threat
Tech support scams represent a billion-dollar industry, with call centers dedicated to deceiving individuals into granting remote access to their computers. If a family member’s computer contains cached credentials for corporate accounts, it becomes a prime target for attackers. These credentials can be extracted and sold on the dark web, leading to significant security breaches.
The Home-Work Computer Conundrum
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the risks associated with using organizational computers for personal use and vice versa. Home computers are generally less secure than their organizational counterparts, lacking enterprise-grade firewalls and endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems. This mix of personal and professional use creates a murky environment ripe for exploitation by cybercriminals.
Technical Measures and Awareness
To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to use organizationally maintained and secured computers exclusively for work purposes. When working from home, employees should connect through a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure the security of their work ecosystem. Additionally, raising awareness among family members about the potential cyber threats and how to respond to them is crucial.
Educating the Family on Cyber Risks
Awareness and education are critical in safeguarding families against cyber threats. While employees may receive regular security training, their family members often do not have the same level of knowledge or awareness.
Security Awareness Training for Spouses
Organizations should consider extending security awareness training to the families of employees. This training could cover the basics of recognizing phishing attempts, understanding the value of strong passwords, and the importance of not sharing sensitive information without verification.
Communication is Key
Discussing cybersecurity with family members may not be a typical dinner table conversation, but it is becoming increasingly necessary. Sharing stories and examples of cyber threats can help loved ones understand the risks and the importance of being vigilant. By fostering open communication and providing education on cybersecurity, families can become allies in the fight against cybercrime, rather than vulnerabilities to be exploited.
Interested in learning more? Listen to our podcast on this topic: https://youtu.be/yGcxS0T0A8M.
It’s almost summer, and you know what that means! Teacher appreciation weeks, Final exams, graduations, recitals, and burnout. But you know who works all year round and can’t afford to get burnout? Your school IT Team! While the rest of [...]
