{"id":21559,"date":"2021-03-29T14:31:40","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T08:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mydailypapers.com\/?p=1412"},"modified":"2021-03-29T14:31:40","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T08:31:40","slug":"best-guide-to-safeguard-against-zero-day-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bizbuzzmag.org\/best-guide-to-safeguard-against-zero-day-attacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Guide to Safeguard Against Zero-Day Attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Zero-Day attacks happen quite unpredictably and are not easy to protect against as it occurs by exploiting the unknown vulnerabilities. To explain it a bit better; let\u2019s suppose, you left your house for a vacation. And while you are away, a thief plans to visit your house. Even though you made sure to lock your house properly, the burglar discovers that the back door lock is broken. The bad guy took this opportunity to enter your home and then he proceeded to steal your valuables. Now, think of your home as software, and the broken lock as a vulnerability. This is how zero-day exploits are performed!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people think zero-day exploits are tools that are created by cybercriminals. You will be a bit surprised to know that different government agencies are also eager in getting them to either conduct their own cyberattacks or to use them in surveillance. All this may make one wonder about what a zero-day attack really is. Why is it dangerous and how it is used? This article will discuss just that!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zero-Day Attack: What Is It<\/b><\/h2>\n

As stated earlier, a zero-day attack happens when hackers discover a vulnerability in the software which is unknown to the vendor. And since they are unaware of it, there will be a minimum defense to block the attack which increases the chances of a hacker to succeed. However, once the vulnerability is known then it depends on how quickly the vendor develops a patch to stop the assault from happening. Some of the most famous attack vectors are programs that are frequently used such as common file types like PDF, Excel, and Word.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Difference Between Zero-Day Vulnerabilities, Exploits, & Attacks<\/b><\/h2>\n

People sometimes get confused with these terms and use them interchangeably which is not correct. So, let\u2019s get to know each one of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Zero-Day Vulnerability<\/b><\/h3>\n

It refers to the security weakness in firmware, software, or hardware that is not yet known to the vendors. So, there are no patches to fix them. These vulnerabilities are only discovered when an attack takes place.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Zero-Day Exploits\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

It is a code or a method that hackers use to take advantage of unknown vulnerabilities. They can use these codes to perform an attack. Cybercriminals are usually smart. They sometimes create zero-day exploits and wait for the right time to strike. This helps the hackers to do more damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Zero-Day Attacks\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This happens when cyber criminals make use of the zero-day exploits. When the attack happens, this is when the vulnerability is discovered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Are Zero-Day Attacks\/Exploits So Dangerous?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Zero-day exploits got their name due to the fact that they have been known by vendors for zero days. Although it is true that patches can fix vulnerabilities but since vendors have been unaware of them, there is nothing that they can do. Plus, these patches cannot be created instantaneously. In fact, it may take several days or maybe weeks to create them. This will give enough time for the hackers to carry out their attacks without any issues. This also means that users would have no choice but to use the compromised system which will expose their personal data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who Are the Targets of Zero-Day Attacks?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Hackers who do zero-day attacks usually go for bigger targets that can give them something of value. These targets can be the following\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n