Types of Cyberattacks: Part 9 - Insider Threats
An insider threat is a cyberattack that is carried out by someone who has authorized access to a system or network. Insider threats can be very difficult to detect and prevent, as the attacker is already inside the organization and has a good understanding of its systems and security procedures.
There are many different reasons why someone might become an insider threat. Some common reasons include:
Financial gain: Insider threats may be motivated by financial gain, such as stealing sensitive information or trade secrets to sell to competitors.
Revenge: Insider threats may be motivated by revenge, such as if they were recently fired or disciplined by the organization.
Espionage: Insider threats may be motivated by espionage, such as if they are working for a foreign government or intelligence agency.
Curiosity: Insider threats may be motivated by curiosity, such as if they want to see what kind of data the organization has access to.
How to protect yourself from insider threats:
There are a number of things that organizations can do to protect themselves from insider threats, including:
Implement strong security policies and procedures. This includes policies on password management, access control, and data protection.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. This will help to identify and fix any vulnerabilities in your systems and security procedures.
Monitor employee activity. This can include monitoring network traffic, email traffic, and file access logs.
Educate employees about insider threats and how to report them.
Examples of insider threats:
Some notable examples of insider threats include:
Edward Snowden: Snowden was a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA) who leaked classified information to the press. Snowden was motivated by a desire to expose the NSA's mass surveillance programs.
Chelsea Manning: Manning was a soldier in the US Army who leaked classified information to the website WikiLeaks. Manning was motivated by a desire to expose the US military's war crimes in Iraq.
Harold Martin: Martin was a contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton who was arrested for stealing classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA). Martin was motivated by financial gain and was planning to sell the information to a foreign government.
Insider threats are a serious threat to organizations of all sizes. By taking steps to protect yourself, you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim.
Additional tips for protecting yourself from insider threats:
Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all of your work accounts.
Be careful about what information you share with your co-workers. Only share information on a need-to-know basis.
Be suspicious of any unusual activity on your work computer or network. If you notice something strange, report it to your IT department immediately.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself and your organization from insider threats.
