Even as a home-based business, you are under threat of a cyber attack. According to a recent report, over 60% of SMEs are the target of cyber attacks every year, with a lack of resources to invest in more robust cybersecurity solutions being the main reason they’re targeted.
When it comes to the type of cyber attack they’re subject to, one of the most common would be bot attacks. Bots – automated programs designed to perform repetitive tasks at high speed – are often used by cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities in small and home-based business systems, and they do so in a number of different ways.
DDoS Attacks
One of the most disruptive forms of cyberattacks are DDoS attacks, whereby hackers use networks of compromised computers and devices to overwhelm targeted systems with unwanted bot traffic – even systems protected with cybersecurity defences.
This starts by assembling a ‘botnet’, and then sending a massive volume of requests to a website or server. Because the network cannot process the sheer volume of requests, it quickly becomes overwhelmed, which then causes the server to drop connections or even crash, making the website inaccessible to legitimate users.
Most security defences, of course, have limited processing power and bandwidth, which makes them a prime target for botnets sending overwhelming amounts of traffic. Firewalls, for instance, are designed to protect against specific types of threats – like unauthorised access – but will struggle to process and filter the immense volume of requests from a DDoS attack, inevitably leading to bottlenecks or failure.
Advanced DDoS attacks can also use bot traffic that mimics legitimate traffic patterns, making it difficult for Intrusion Detection Systems – IDS – to differentiate between real users and attackers. This is why it’s so important for a business to learn how to detect bots in real-time and apply an effective management solution.
Other Ways that Bots Compromise Cybersecurity Defences
DDoS has been the most common issue in recent years, but there are many other ways that bots are being used to compromise cybersecurity defences. Credential stuffing, for instance, is the process of entering stolen usernames and passwords into login forms on multiple sites, allowing hackers to hijack sensitive data and even make fraudulent purchases.
Brute-force attacks are also common. This occurs when bots systematically guess passwords, using algorithms to try a large number of combinations in quick succession. When successful, these bots can then gain unauthorised access to various systems, leading to data theft, identity theft, service disruptions, or even further infiltration into the network itself.
In recent times, web scraping has also become a common attack that businesses have to look out for. This happens when bots are used to ‘scrape’ web pages, collecting a wide variety of data including pricing information, proprietary content, or even customer data that has been protected through CAPTCHAs or IP blocks – advanced bots now use ML algorithms to recognise images or text patterns in CAPTCHAs, as well as VPNs to mask their IP addresses and make it appear as though they’re coming from legitimate sources.
Apart from this, businesses also need to look out for:
- Automated Phishing
Whereby bots generate and send personalised phishing and spoofing emails or messages to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
- Vulnerability Scanning
Where bots are used to scan networks for known vulnerabilities, such as outdated software or open ports.
- Malware Spreading
Where bots are used to distribute vast amounts of malware, delivering malicious links or attachments via email, social media, or infected websites.
- Human Mimicking
Where sophisticated bots mimic human behaviour to avoid detection, including randomised clicks, mouse movements, and response times when scanning a website.
- Manipulating Viewpoints
Where bots are used to flood online review platforms, forums, or polls to spread misinformation about a brand or product.
The Way Forward for Companies
All of this will, of course, sound bleak, especially for companies who have cybersecurity measures in place that can be bypassed by bots. But the important thing is recognising the damage bots can do and putting in the necessary procedures to stop them specifically.
We mentioned before, for instance, that cyberattackers are utilising ML technology to scrape web pages, but this is the same technology that is currently being used to provide multi-layered, AI-powered protection. You have the ability, for instance, to utilise solutions that analyse every request into your server, run it through an AI-powered detection engine, and then reply to it in real-time, ensuring your system is consistently – and effectively – guarded.
It’s also important to note that more people and businesses are becoming aware of various bot techniques. As the number of attacks rises, more and more organisations will be looking for effective solutions, and this will lead to more investment in the cybersecurity – and, specifically, bot identification – space. With more investment, bot detection technology can evolve, and all of our systems will become safer as a result.
