Zero-Day and known vulnerabilities: How to protect against them?

Zero-day attacks are increasing every day and are creating problems every day for organizations. The MIT Technology review mentioned that cybercriminals performed 66 zero-day attacks per day in 2021, and 2022 will only see the rise in Zero-day attacks.

A zero-day vulnerability was being exploited back in 2018 against the Windows users in the Middle East Areas.

Can you see the intensity with which zero-day attacks increase and impact the business every day? Attacks due to zero-day vulnerabilities often occur due to a lack of awareness among the company members. But this mistake can cause a hefty amount of loss to the company.

Keep on reading to know everything about zero-day attacks and how you can protect your organization from them.

What is a zero-day vulnerability?

A zero-day vulnerability is a flaw or weakness in firmware, hardware, or software that may have been displayed as disclosed but actually remains unpatched.

When the cybercriminals become successful in attacking the vulnerability and exploit it to perform a cyberattack, it becomes a zero-day attack or exploits.

How are zero-day exploits used in a cyberattack?

Here are some of the ways in which threat actors use zero-day exploits to perform a cyberattack.

1. By compromising the security of the network, server, or systems

Cybercriminals use zero-day exploits to penetrate through dictionary attacks or brute force or via inadvertent exposure through the internet. Attackers use malware to perform a cyberattack through this gateway.

2. Exploit kits

Exploit kits involve attacking in succession and using malvertisements and malicious websites which act as a host for zero-day exploits.

3. Phishing

Phishing and spam emails are specially engineered to lure the customers and click malicious links and URLs, or they can make you land on the compromised websites which act as malware hosts.

Ways to detect zero-day vulnerability

By definition, you must have understood that there is no signature virus that gears up to exploit your system. However, here are a few ways that have proven effective to recognize the previously unknown vulnerabilities.

1. Vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability scanning is one of the effective ways to detect some of the zero-day exploits. Security service providers who offer vulnerability management can stimulate attacks on such codes and attempt to find new vulnerabilities.

2. Input validation

Input validation helps to solve many of the issues that are generally inherent issues in vulnerability issues. Security experts operate it and are flexible to adapt and respond to the threats.

3. Patch management

Another strategy businesses can deploy is to detect the newly discovered vulnerabilities. However, this method cannot help to prevent zero-day attacks, but it can help to see the patches effectively.

How can businesses defend against zero-day attacks?

Here are some of the effective countermeasures that businesses can adopt to overcome zero-day attacks.

1. Adopt an advanced and proactive email security solution

Traditional antivirus software solutions are typically customized to defend against familiar threats but fail to provide protection against zero-day attacks. Knowing the significance of each and every second in zero-day attacks, it is imperative to implement intuitive and proactive security solutions.

2. Consistently update the online infrastructures

While this may look like a standard reactive strategy, applying vulnerability management solutions can lower the number of flaws and factors that attack the organization. Also organizations

3. Practice cybersecurity hygienic practices

Fostering a culture of cybersecurity is very important in every organization. It includes increasing user awareness on cyber-attacks and how security solutions can be deployed to combat them.

4. Secure the internet gateways

Zero-day attacks can penetrate through the organization’s online infrastructure and target the integral parts. It can serve as a host to the parasite and facilitates the deployment of malware.

5. Use a firewall

A firewall plays an essential role in protecting your organization against zero-day threats. A firewall can make sure that your systems are safeguarded with maximum protection.

6. Use IPsec

IPsec is the acronym for Internet Protocol Security and ensures that all the network traffic that enters the gateway is authentic. It isolates genuine traffic from suspicious activities. With such valuable information, companies get a chance to stand out and give a better opportunity to recognize the attack before it creates more damage.

Final Verdict

“Zero-day” is a recent discovery in the security sector and still needs time to get a proper solution. However, by following the tips mentioned above, you can protect your IT system from “zero-day” attacks.