The rising cybersecurity threats and frequent attacks have resulted in many businesses losing their financial muscle. Penalties imposed are usually punitive, with some companies facing solvency following cyberattacks. Individual threats remain ever high, so staying vigilant whenever you browse is paramount. Fortunately, there are a few ways to protect yourself against becoming another statistic in the cybercrime war. One of them is through proxies, and in this article, we will teach you everything you need to know about them.
Most Common Vulnerabilities
The cost of cybercrime increases annually at a rate of 15%, and by 2025, it is expected to reach $10.5 trillion annually. These figures alone are enough to let you know why hackers are losing sleep in devising ways to defraud online users.
The common risks in this field include ransomware, malware, and phishing. Have you ever wondered what allows hackers to get into your system? Well, there are several vulnerabilities, some of which we detail below.
Lack of Proper Access Control
You might have recruited a new employee and given them login credentials to all the areas you felt they could need, according to their job position. Alternatively, your system might have crashed, and you gave unlimited access to that IT expert you called for assistance. The more people accessing your systems, the more vulnerable you are to cyber-attacks both from within and externally.
Flaws
When setting up a very complex system, flaws could appear due to poor design or errors during implementation. Such mistakes can remain undetected for a long time, thus giving hackers a field day to exploit these weaknesses. On the other hand, the fault could not be on the IT guys designing the system but rather on the users. Some users have very poor password hygiene, which renders the system easy prey for cybercriminals. Once login credentials are compromised, the network remains vulnerable to unauthorized access.
Outdated Software
You must have encountered your computer requesting that you update it at some point. This is usually for a very good reason — with every update, your system’s defenses receive an upgrade that patches any out-of-date security issues. Every time you ignore an update, you are exposing your network to cybercriminals eager to steal your data or install malware.
How Do Proxies Strengthen Cybersecurity
The risks to cyber security continue to grow every day. However, you can set up several measures to prevent attacks. Besides limiting access to only a few people in your company and ensuring that your system is constantly updated, you can use proxies to protect your network against cyberattacks.
Preventing Brand Theft
A brand is an investment in intellectual property, and it can take months of hard work to build it to a worthy reputation. Yet, it takes seconds to bring it down if you are not careful. Cybercriminals seek popular brands and repackage fake products using trademarks of such renowned companies. These criminals often pass off counterfeits as real deals on e-commerce sites or even in physical outlets, which results in major losses as the sale of genuine products is adversely affected.
Luckily, companies that invest in proxies can monitor products and track the online presence of customers as well as competitors. A sudden spike in negative reviews regarding your products should warn you that maybe you have an impersonator using your trademark.
Eliminate Data Breach
They say information is power, so why not limit who accesses your data online by using proxies? With a proxy, you can become an anonymous browser, as your IP address will remain hidden from the destination website. It even enables you to bypass geographical censorship and restrictions. This can be useful when you need to open multiple accounts, such as when buying raffles for shoes. It will increase your chances of winning because it will appear as if there are various people from different countries trying their luck.
Additionally, through caching, you can reduce the amount of traffic passing through your network, which not only makes it easier to detect anyone trying to gain unauthorized access but also improves internet speed in general. Moreover, you can block inappropriate content, thereby preventing employees from clicking on malicious sites.
Parting Shot
Gone are the days when proxies were viewed as an option. With cybercriminals coming up with strategies to outsmart the system, they are now a necessity to protect our networks. Although proxies are not 100% guaranteed to eliminate cybersecurity threats, utilizing them alongside other measures highly reduces your network’s vulnerabilities. Ensure that you get a trustworthy proxy service provider and follow the best practices to enjoy maximum protection.