If a company employee completes work outside of company premises and uses public internet, there’s a potential risk of data breaches, especially if the company doesn’t implement robust security measures. Therefore, companies must have additional safeguards in place to keep sensitive company information secure, wherever they are.
This public internet is indeed very risky for companies, there are many things that hackers can do if the public internet is not secure. Here are some of them:
1. Identity Theft
Public internet users’ information is highly vulnerable to public exposure if additional security layers aren’t implemented. Hackers can access personal data, employment information, recently visited locations, account numbers, and more. Using this information, hackers can then plan more targeted attacks, such as phishing emails.
2. Theft of Critical Credentials
The second danger is account hacking, which is extremely dangerous because hackers gain immediate access. This makes it easy for hackers to compromise company data. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, when using public internet, avoid logging into accounts related to your business or company.
3. Malware Attacked
Using public internet access provides hackers with an avenue to deliver malware. One method is the Evil Twin method, where attackers use fake Wi-Fi to trick their targets. When the target device connects to the fake Wi-Fi, it is redirected to a phishing website.
This is where the attacker inserts malware. If malware is already in place, it’s highly likely to damage the system, or, even worse, the company could lose critical data.
4. Ransomware Attack
At the end of 2023, the National Cyber and Cybersecurity Agency (BSSN) reported that ransomware dominated cyberattacks in Indonesia, accounting for over 80%. While it’s unknown how many ransomware attacks were caused by the public internet, it’s highly likely.
5. DNS Hijacking
This attack involves hackers exploiting the target’s DNS requests to malicious websites. Hackers do this using malware or exploiting vulnerabilities in public internet routers. The goal of DNS hijacking is generally phishing, but certain parties may also aim to collect statistics.
6. Loss of Full Control of Device
This is the most serious danger, as company employees could lose control of their devices if they use the public internet. Several types of malware can do this, such as Pegasus spyware, which attacks mobile devices. This type of malware typically hides in advertisements or infected websites.
