Account Takeover

Account Takeover (ATO) in cybersecurity is an attack where an unauthorized individual gains access to someone else's account.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• How it Happens: Attackers obtain login credentials (usernames and passwords) through various methods, including:

• Phishing: Deceptive emails or websites trick users into revealing their credentials.

• Malware: Infostealer malware steals credentials from infected devices.

• Data breaches: Stolen credentials are obtained from data breaches.

• Credential stuffing: Attackers use lists of stolen credentials to try to gain access to accounts on other platforms.

• Brute-force attacks: Attackers repeatedly try different password combinations until they guess correctly.

• Consequences: Once an attacker gains access to an account, they can:

• Steal sensitive information

• Make unauthorized purchases

• Spread malware or spam

• Damage the victim's reputation

• Use the account for other malicious activities

• Accounts Targeted: ATO can target various types of accounts, including:

• Email accounts

• Social media accounts

• Bank accounts

• E-commerce accounts

• Cloud service accounts

How ThreatNG Helps Prevent Account Takeover

ThreatNG offers several features that directly address the risks and methods associated with account takeover:

• External Discovery:

• ThreatNG's external discovery helps identify potential attack vectors that could be used for ATO. Mapping an organization's external attack surface reveals potential entry points that attackers might exploit to access accounts.

• For example, discovering mobile apps and exposed APIs can highlight potential targets for ATO attacks.

• External Assessment:

• ThreatNG's assessments provide valuable insights into an organization's susceptibility to ATO:

• Dark Web Presence: ThreatNG monitors the dark web for compromised credentials. This is crucial for ATO prevention, as attackers often use stolen credentials from the dark web to carry out ATO attacks.

• BEC & Phishing Susceptibility: ThreatNG assesses susceptibility to phishing, a standard method used to obtain credentials for ATO. ThreatNG helps organizations understand their vulnerability to phishing attacks by analyzing factors like domain and email intelligence.

• Code Secret Exposure: ThreatNG discovers exposed credentials within code repositories. These exposed credentials can be used to gain unauthorized access to accounts.

• Reporting:

• ThreatNG provides reports highlighting potential ATO risks, such as exposed credentials and phishing susceptibility. These reports enable organizations to take action to prevent ATO.

• Continuous Monitoring:

• ThreatNG's continuous monitoring helps organizations stay ahead of ATO threats. By continuously monitoring for compromised credentials and changes in the external attack surface, ThreatNG enables organizations to detect and respond to potential ATO risks promptly.

• Investigation Modules:

• ThreatNG's investigation modules provide detailed information relevant to ATO prevention:

• Domain Intelligence: Provides insights into potential phishing attacks, a key vector for ATO.

• Sensitive Code Exposure: Helps discover exposed credentials that could be used for ATO.

• Intelligence Repositories:

• ThreatNG uses intelligence repositories, including dark web data and compromised credentials, essential for detecting and preventing ATO.

• Working with Complementary Solutions:

• ThreatNG's capabilities can complement other security solutions to provide a more comprehensive defense against ATO:

• SIEM Systems: ThreatNG can provide data on compromised credentials and other ATO-related findings to SIEM systems for centralized analysis and alerting.

• Identity and Access Management (IAM) Systems: ThreatNG's detection of exposed credentials can trigger actions in IAM systems, such as password resets or multi-factor authentication enforcement, to prevent ATO.