Today, cyber security has become increasingly important. Businesses, organizations and individuals are facing cybercrime and cyberattacks. As cybercriminals are constantly improving their tactics and becoming more dangerous, it is crucial for businesses to increase their security measures and be prepared.
Major Social Engineering Attacks of Recent Years
One of the most effective and common methods used by cyber attackers is social engineering attacks. These attacks aim to gain access to sensitive information by gaining people’s trust. Social engineering techniques have been at the forefront of major attacks in recent years. Let’s take a look at some of the major social engineering attacks in recent years.
Equifax
Company: Equifax
Date: 2017
Conclusion: Equifax, a company known as a credit report provider, was subjected to a social engineering attack. The attackers sent a fake email to one of the company’s employees and gained access to confidential data. As a result of this attack, the personal information (credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.) of 147 million customers was stolen. Equifax suffered serious financial and moral losses due to this attack.
Equifax suffered a serious reputational damage due to its failure to ensure the security of its customers’ personal information. Customer confidence was shaken and the company’s reputation was severely damaged. Following the attack, Equifax faced numerous lawsuits from customers and consumer groups. People affected by the attack have sought to hold the company legally responsible and have sought compensation.
Company: Twitter
Date: 2020
Conclusion: Twitter suffered a major attack on the social media platform. Attackers targeted an internal employee, compromised accounts through a social engineering attack, and carried out Bitcoin fraud through the accounts of public figures. This attack severely damaged Twitter’s credibility and reputation.
Attackers posted fake messages from well-known accounts, undermining users’ trust and undermining the platform’s credibility. This prompted Twitter to temporarily halt operations and increase security measures.
SolarWinds
Company: SolarWinds
Date: 2020
Conclusion: SolarWinds, a well-known provider of network monitoring software, suffered a major attack. Attackers infiltrated SolarWinds’ update process, spreading malware and gaining access to the networks of many large organizations. This attack resulted in the theft of important information and affected many organizations, including governments.
Attackers can use the stolen information to exploit or sell it. The attack affected the operations of many organizations. Organizations using SolarWinds software experienced difficulties in responding to their networks compromised by the malware. This negatively impacted business continuity and productivity. In the aftermath of the attack, SolarWinds had to make significant efforts to regain customer trust.
Colonial Pipeline
Company: Colonial Pipeline
Date: 2021
Conclusion: Colonial Pipeline, which owns one of the largest fuel pipelines in the US, suffered a cyberattack. Attackers targeted an employee of the company with a social engineering attack, locking down its systems with ransomware and shutting down operations. The attack resulted in a disruption of fuel supply and severe economic impacts.
As a result of the attack, Colonial Pipeline’s operations were halted and fuel supplies were cut off. This caused fuel shortages in many areas and affected the daily lives of the population. There were long queues at fuel stations and fuel prices increased.
Penetration Testing Against Cyber Attacks
Cyber security attacks can have irreversible consequences. Companies have to assure themselves in advance that their systems are not vulnerable. One of the surest ways to do this is penetration testing. This test looks at the system from the outside, thinking like a cybercriminal, and in this way detects weaknesses that cannot be noticed from the inside. In this way, it helps them take precautions against attacks.
PlusClouds Penetration Testing Services
At PlusClouds, we help businesses strengthen their cybersecurity strategy by offering our customers a comprehensive penetration testing service. Our specialized security team is made up of experienced cybersecurity experts and tests our clients’ systems against attacks using the latest techniques and methods. In our penetration testing process, we work rigorously to identify our clients’ security vulnerabilities, identify potential risks and recommend appropriate corrective measures. Our goal is to provide our customers with the highest level of security and offer solutions to protect their businesses against cyber threats.
If you want to have a penetration test, you can start by filling out the Penetration Test Request Form on our website.
