Brandjacking
Brandjacking, in the context of cybersecurity, occurs when a malicious actor takes control of or impersonates an established brand's online presence. This can be done through various means, such as:
Domain name hijacking: Taking control of a brand's domain name to redirect traffic to a malicious website.
Social media account takeover: Gaining unauthorized access to a brand's social media accounts to spread misinformation or malware.
Website spoofing: Creating a fake website that mimics a brand's official website to trick users into entering sensitive information.
The goals of brandjacking can vary, but often include:
Damage to reputation: Spreading misinformation or negative publicity to harm the brand's image.
Financial gain: Tricking users into making fraudulent purchases or donations.
Malware distribution: Spreading malware to infect users' devices.
Data theft: Stealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial data.
Brandjacking can have serious consequences for both the targeted brand and its customers. It can lead to financial losses, reputation damage, and customer trust erosion.
Here are some examples of brandjacking:
In 2013, a group of hackers hijacked the Twitter account of Burger King and changed the profile picture to the McDonald's logo.
In 2016, hackers created a fake website that looked like the official website of the popular video game Pokémon Go. The website tricked users into downloading malware disguised as a game update.
In 2017, hackers gained access to the Instagram account of the British supermarket chain Tesco and used it to promote a fake cryptocurrency giveaway.
Brandjacking is a serious threat to businesses and individuals alike. It is essential to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect yourself and your brand.
ThreatNG: Combatting Brandjacking
ThreatNG offers a comprehensive suite of solutions to combat brandjacking through its external attack surface management and digital risk protection capabilities. Let's examine how ThreatNG can help:
External Discovery and Assessment
ThreatNG's external discovery module excels at identifying and analyzing various online assets that could be targeted for brandjacking. This includes:
Domain names and subdomains: ThreatNG can discover all domain names and subdomains associated with an organization, including those similar to the legitimate domain but registered by malicious actors.
Social media accounts: ThreatNG can identify official and unofficial social media accounts associated with an organization, helping to detect fake accounts created for brandjacking purposes.
Websites and web applications: ThreatNG can analyze websites and web applications for signs of brandjacking, such as spoofed content or malicious redirects.
ThreatNG's external assessment module further evaluates the risk of brandjacking by analyzing factors such as:
Domain name security: ThreatNG assesses the security of domain names by analyzing DNS records, SSL certificates, and other security configurations.
Social media account security: ThreatNG evaluates the security of social media accounts by analyzing factors such as account settings, password strength, and two-factor authentication.
Website and web application security: ThreatNG assesses the security of websites and web applications by analyzing factors such as vulnerabilities, security headers, and content security policies.
Examples:
ThreatNG can identify a domain name similar to a legitimate brand's domain but registered by a malicious actor.
ThreatNG can discover a fake social media account impersonating a brand and spreading misinformation.
ThreatNG can detect a spoofed website that is designed to steal user credentials.
ThreatNG generates comprehensive reports that provide insights into an organization's brandjacking risk. These reports can be used to:
Identify and prioritize brandjacking threats: ThreatNG's reports highlight potential brandjacking vectors and their associated risks, enabling security teams to prioritize mitigation efforts.
Communicate brandjacking risks to stakeholders: ThreatNG's reports can be shared with stakeholders, such as executives and marketing teams, to raise awareness of brandjacking threats and the importance of protecting the brand's online presence.
Track brandjacking prevention efforts: ThreatNG's reports can be used to track the progress of brandjacking prevention efforts and demonstrate the effectiveness of security controls.
ThreatNG's continuous monitoring capabilities ensure that an organization's online presence is constantly monitored for signs of brandjacking. This includes:
Monitoring for changes in domain name ownership: ThreatNG can detect any unauthorized changes in domain name ownership, which could indicate a domain hijacking attempt.
Monitoring social media for fake accounts: ThreatNG can monitor social media platforms for new accounts impersonating a brand.
Scanning websites and web applications for suspicious activity: ThreatNG can continuously scan websites and web applications for signs of brandjacking, such as changes in content or malicious redirects.
ThreatNG's investigation modules provide in-depth analysis of potential brandjacking threats. These modules include:
Domain Intelligence: This module provides detailed information about a domain name, including its registration details, DNS records, and website content.
Social Media Analysis: This module analyzes social media accounts for signs of brandjacking, such as unusual activity or content.
Website and Web Application Analysis: This module analyzes websites and web applications for signs of brandjacking, such as spoofed content or malicious code.
Examples:
ThreatNG's Domain Intelligence module can identify a domain name recently registered with a spelling similar to a legitimate brand's domain, which could be used for typosquatting.
ThreatNG's Social Media Analysis module can detect a fake social media account using a brand's logo and name to spread misinformation.
ThreatNG's Website and Web Application Analysis module can identify a spoofed website designed to look like a legitimate brand's website but hosted on a different server.
Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG can integrate with complementary security solutions to provide a comprehensive brandjacking prevention solution. These solutions include:
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems: ThreatNG can integrate with SIEM systems to provide real-time visibility into security events related to brandjacking.
Brand monitoring tools: ThreatNG can integrate with brand monitoring tools to track online mentions of a brand and identify potential brandjacking attempts.
Anti-phishing and anti-malware tools: ThreatNG can integrate with anti-phishing and anti-malware tools to block access to malicious websites and prevent malware infections.
Examples:
ThreatNG can send alerts to a SIEM system when it detects a potential brandjacking attempt, enabling security teams to respond quickly.
ThreatNG can use data from brand monitoring tools to identify fake social media accounts or websites impersonating a brand.
ThreatNG can use anti-phishing and anti-malware tools to block access to malicious websites used for brandjacking attacks.
Examples of ThreatNG Helping
ThreatNG can help prevent domain hijacking by monitoring domain name ownership and alerting security teams to any unauthorized changes.
ThreatNG can help prevent social media account takeovers by identifying fake accounts and alerting social media platforms.
ThreatNG can help prevent website spoofing by detecting and blocking access to malicious websites.
Examples of ThreatNG Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG can integrate with a SIEM system to provide real-time visibility into security events related to brandjacking, enabling security teams to respond quickly to potential threats.
ThreatNG can use data from brand monitoring tools to identify fake social media accounts or websites that are impersonating a brand.
ThreatNG can use anti-phishing and anti-malware tools to block access to malicious websites that are used for brandjacking attacks.
By leveraging ThreatNG's capabilities and integrating it with complementary security solutions, organizations can proactively protect their brand's online presence from brandjacking attacks and maintain customer trust.
