Bad bots: Snagging the spotlight, security’s challenge!

December 21, 2023
2 mins read

Key Points:

  • Cyber attacks rose by 38% last year, and the deployment of bad bots has become even more accessible with the use of generative AI.
  • Scraping is a popular type of threat facing businesses, and it can lead to data privacy violations.
  • Credential stuffing is a type of cyber attack where hackers attempt to access user accounts using stolen or leaked username and password pairs.
  • Account takeover fraud has financial gain as its main motivation, and it can result in significant financial losses for businesses.
  • Channel partners play a pivotal role in helping their customers navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape and safeguard against evolving threats.
  • Having the right protection in place is critical to mitigating threats from sophisticated bots.

Earlier this year, 23andMe was attacked by malicious actors who obtained and leaked millions of users’ personal and genetic data through a credential stuffing attack. This is just one example of the growing trend of cyber attacks using bad bots. Check Point reported a 38% increase in cyber attacks last year, and this number is expected to rise even further with the accessibility of generative AI, which allows criminals to deploy bad bots without writing code.

Scraping is a popular type of threat that businesses face, and it often serves as a gateway to more sinister attacks. For example, scalper bots used scraping to buy up tickets for Taylor Swift’s tour and resell them at inflated prices. Scraping can also lead to data privacy violations if sensitive information is extracted without consent. To protect against scraping, businesses can employ anti-scraping techniques such as fingerprinting and behavioral analysis to identify and block scalper bots.

Credential stuffing is another type of cyber attack where hackers attempt to access user accounts using stolen or leaked username and password pairs. Traditional security solutions that rely on IP reputation are no longer effective at identifying and stopping these types of attacks. Advanced bot detection capabilities are needed to efficiently protect against credential stuffing. This can be achieved through analysis of both technical and behavioral data.

Account takeover fraud is motivated by financial gain, as cyber criminals can use compromised accounts to make unauthorized purchases or transfer funds. This type of fraud is common in industries with a large number of user accounts, such as gaming, retail, and telecommunications. Businesses can reduce the risk of account takeover fraud by implementing monitoring and threat intelligence tools that analyze user activity data to identify unusual patterns and flag suspicious activity.

Channel partners play a crucial role in helping their customers navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape and protect against evolving threats. By staying informed about threat trends and advising on the best tools and techniques for protection, channel partners can empower their customers to defend against bot-driven attacks. Additionally, organizations that align with partners promoting cutting-edge security solutions can enhance their security posture and reap benefits such as increased conversion rates and expedited sales cycles.

In summary, the rise of bad bots and the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks pose significant security challenges for businesses. Channel partners have a vital role to play in proactively addressing these challenges and helping their customers implement effective protection measures.

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