A data leak happens when unauthorized parties access sensitive and confidential data. The information can include personal or corporate information. While data leaks and breaches are often mentioned alongside cyberattacks, not every cyberattack results in a data breach. One of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to sensitive data is through account takeover. Let’s explore how account takeover (ATO) leads to data leaks. We’ll also cover how to recover from identity theft and prevent it from happening.
The Connection Between Data Leaks And Account Takeover
A data leak is a key resource for cybercriminals carrying out account takeovers (ATOs). They use stolen credentials from leaked databases to break into accounts without permission. Simply put, a data leak gives hackers the ammo they need for an ATO attack.
Common Triggers for Account Takeover Fraud
Now, let’s take a look into some common factors that lead to account takeovers:
Stolen Login Credentials from Data Leaks
Billions of documents carrying personal data are stolen through data breaches every year. Cybercriminals generally require credentials to take over an account. Despite repeated warnings, many users still reuse the same usernames and passwords across multiple platforms. Consequently, it becomes easier for cybercriminals to access different online services using the leaked credentials.
Credential Stuffing
Credential stuffing is an attack where hackers use stolen username and password pairs from breached databases to access accounts. For instance, hackers steal a list of usernames and passwords from the database of a major department store. They can use the same credentials to log in to a national bank platform.
Brute Force Credential Cracking
Cybercriminals try to access personal information by trying various password combinations. They often use bots to check many password combinations to speed up the process. With such tools, hackers can easily crack 8-character passwords in an hour or even less.
Phishing For Login Information
Cybercriminals can also trick people into giving them their login details. This is called a phishing scam. They send fake messages through text, email, scam websites, chats, fake apps, or even phone calls. The goal is to make you share your personal information without realizing it.
Data Theft Via Viruses And Malware
Viruses and malware can cause serious harm. Certain entities can steal information from your device. They can record everything you type, from passwords to bank account details, all in the guise of checking what you do online. The best way to protect yourself? Use reliable antivirus software.
Man In The Middle (MitM) Attacks
Your data passes through multiple servers before reaching a website. If it’s not properly protected, hackers can intercept it, exposing your online activity, usernames, and passwords. These attacks, also called MitM, tend to take place on public Wi-Fi or home networks. It is advisable to use a reliable VPN that conceals your data and any online activities to ensure safety.
Account Takeover Protection
Here are some ways to protect against ATO and secure data leaks:
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is to use something in addition to the password:
For instance, a security question like mother’s maiden name, pet’s name, etc. It can also be something they possess, such as a token or a physical object. Face IDs and fingerprints also provide strong multi-factor authentication.
Account Tracking System
If an account is hacked, you need a way to stop more attacks. By sandboxing a suspicious account, you can check its activity safely. If you find anything wrong, you can suspend the account to
protect it.
Ai-Based Detection
AI can help detect and stop sophisticated hacking attempts, where criminals use advanced bots that mimic real users, making them harder to catch. This technology can identify such attacks and monitor for suspicious activity on websites.
For example, AI-driven tools can enhance identity theft recovery and data protection by detecting phishing scams and blocking harmful websites.
Web Application Firewall
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) filters HTTP traffic by identifying and blocking malicious requests. WAFs can help mitigate ATO attacks through several methods:
- Blocking requests from attackers
- Detecting harmful bots used in attacks
- Identifying credential stuffing attempts on login pages
- Blocking brute force attacks by recognizing sessions with excessive login attempts
- Enforcing multi-factor authentication
Final Thoughts
Understanding how cybercriminals steal login credentials through methods like phishing, malware, and brute force is crucial. Protect your accounts with multi-factor authentication, AI-driven detection, and web application firewalls. With the right security in place, you can stay ahead of threats and recover stolen data.
