Smart Approaches To Prevent Account Takeover Attacks

By Author: appsian
Total Articles: 115
Comment this article

1. Doing Away With Passwords
The best way to take over an account is by hacking a victim's password using phishing, malware, or social engineering techniques. Many apps also allow you to quickly access the user's account with only one password. As part of simple Multi Factor Authentication, some might use one-time codes sent via SMS or email. However, attackers have shown that SMS and email one-time passcodes can be easily intercepted using SIM swaps or man-in-the-middle attacks. Also, social engineering attackers were able to convince victims to forward an OTP code in the correct circumstances. Getting rid of passwords is possible with a variety of readily available solutions and passwordless technology that work together to register, authenticate, and serve users across various types of devices.
2. Enforcing Agile Policies
Typically, in your IT infrastructure, attackers aim for the weakest points. They will review all your programs and then carefully check them for any vulnerabilities. Registration, authentication, and authorization ...
... processes are usually simple goals, considering the patchwork of solutions implemented in most organizations. If even the smallest entry points are found, attackers can automate on-scale attacks with off-the-shelf or specialized tools. If this happens, you need systems that can quickly fix critical gaps in the processes instead of staying vulnerable until the development team issues a patch.
3. Tracking of Devices
One of the first things intruders attempt to do is log from a new device into a victim's account if they are able to get hold of the credentials of a user. A new device, like a mobile phone or a laptop, is something that the actual person hasn't seen before. For any login attempts from new devices, the account takeover indicators need to be closely monitored. You need to track all devices and be able to do this at the user level and be able to flag unrecognized ones. New device registration should adopt strict authentication and validation controls using a mix of detailed device characteristics and strong user authentication until any device is bound to a user and trusted.
4. Leveraging Mobile
Mobile phones are easy-to-use, readily-available devices that many people now prefer to use to access their online accounts instead of a conventional desktop or laptop. Mobile devices can provide enhanced security and use the latest technologies in authentication, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, closing many of the vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. However, conventional web-based apps don't go away, and there are many apps that need bigger screens, keyboards, and mice. In addition, many businesses do not completely migrate applications, offering only partial or minimal functionality on mobile devices. In such situations, alongside the web application, the smartphone can be used for security and authentication using mechanisms such as push notifications, Bluetooth, and near-field communication (NFC). Mobile devices can also be used to provide almost instantaneous verification when a user calls the contact center.
5. Detecting Anomalies In User Behavior
Most users follow typical behavioral patterns across their profiles. This includes the operations they perform, the times they log in, the way they navigate, and more. Through keeping track of these habits, you will identify events and irregularities that may require stronger controls and stronger authentication. Behavioral threat monitoring and management is also very important as users register new devices because attackers will attempt to quickly take anomalous actions such as resetting email addresses and mobile phone numbers once they access the account.

Appsian One of the leading ERP data security,compliance,implementation solutions provider that gives organizations to complete control and visibility over their ERP data.