Credential Stuffing: A Sneaky Cyber Attack That Could Gobble Up Your Data

New methods of cyber-attacks against businesses emerge every year. With every new way hackers can steal your data, it might seem overwhelming to keep up. Luckily, you can take steps to fight back against cyber threats. This way, you can protect your business from being low-hanging fruit for attackers.

What is Credential Stuffing?

Credential stuffing is a type of brute force attack that preys upon lazy or non-existent cybersecurity. Attackers use stolen credentials, usernames, passwords, and other personal information from the dark web, mass-inserting them into login portals.

They do this on a large scale to raise the chances of getting into multiple accounts in hopes that they can then steal user information like records or credit card numbers. If they’re successful, they aim to hold this leaked sensitive data over your head and demand a ransom.

Is Credential Stuffing Common?

This form of attack seems like it’s just a way to throw darts and hope something sticks. However, hackers will take advantage of businesses' tiny, silly mistakes to leverage their assets against them. This is more common than you might think, because many businesses don’t have proper safeguards in place to protect themselves. To learn how other businesses have fallen victim to attacks including credential stuffing, check out our blog: Scary Cyber Attack Case Studies & Lessons Learned From Them.  

How Ransomware as a Service Puts You At Risk

Cybercriminals know that many businesses don't require users to create strong and regularly changed passwords. As a result, your customers or staff might reuse passwords from other platforms and services that have already been exposed to cybercriminals.

Stolen personal information can be bought and sold on the dark web like any other marketplace. Cybercriminals buy this data so they can plug it into unsuspecting login portals in hopes of gaining access to accounts.

The business of cybercrime creates a bigger problem with leaked data. Previously, hackers would steal data only to use it for their own personal gain. Now, they can easily sell compromised data to any number of random criminals online. To learn more about the underground market for cybercrime, read our blog: Takeaways from Usherwood Webinar: "The Business of Cybercrime".

If your user login information is leaked online, you need to know about it and get ahead of it before you’re a victim. The best way to combat these threats is through proactive cybersecurity.

Security Measures To Reduce Your Risk of a Credential Stuffing Attack

Being aware of the risks of cyber attacks is the first step. Now, you’ll need to take the necessary steps to protect your business from them. In regards to credential stuffing, here are four things you could do to prepare.

1. Require Strong Passwords

The easiest way to combat credential stuffing is by creating strong passwords. A best practice for password security is to create strict requirements for user passwords. These would include:

• Requiring passwords be between 8 and 12 characters long.
• Passwords must include special characters.
• Exclude passwords used with other outside accounts.
• Require regular password resets with automated tools

Multi factor authentication(MFA) is also recommended to prevent criminals from gaining unauthorized access to user accounts. 

2. Set Up Regular Password Changes

Another essential aspect in your cybersecurity toolkit is regular password resets. This may seem like a tedious ask of your staff and customers. You can remind them that it helps to mitigate potentially devastating data breaches in the case of an attack. Resetting passwords stops attackers in their tracks even if they have access to stolen login info.

3. Implement Zero Trust Principles

Zero Trust is the assumption that you inevitably will face a cyber attack, so it’s best to treat every user and tool as a threat before explicitly verified. Users can only access servers and assets through manual IT permissions. In addition, only IT-approved software can run on business servers.

Using Zero Trust tools can reduce lateral movement by cyber criminals if they successfully take over one user’s account. This means they’ll have a tougher time reaching admin controls because of the layers of security Zero Trust provides. Think of it as locking every door of your home with a different key. Even if the threat actor can breach the front door, they would be out of luck getting into other rooms to steal valuables.

4. Invest In A Quality MSSP

All managed security service providers are not the same. A quality MSP or MSSP should use Zero Trust principles as default practices, as they are considered to be your best defense in today’s cybersecurity landscape. They should also be well-versed in network security consulting, offering a plan of action to keep your business safe. To learn more about questions to ask a managed service provider during a consultation, read our article: 10 Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Managed Services Provider.

How To Tell If Your Information Has Been Hacked

It is very plausible that your users’ login information and other personal data have already been leaked on the dark web. However, there are ways to find this out through different network assessment tools.

If you’re interested in learning more about your cybersecurity posture, click the button below to speak to an expert about your business.