INVESICS Cyber Security and Forensics Services

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How do you integrate security testing into your software development life cycle?

Let us first understand why It is important to integrate security testing in your SDLC.

The recent cybercrime statistics reveal an alarming picture for those businesses which deal with sensitive data. Eventually, it becomes important for businesses to take appropriate actions to prevent such hacks and data breaches. It is very crucial to take security measures of software tools, especially for those businesses which deal with development and also use custom software for various tasks. Preventive measures taken at each stage of the development cycle will definitely offer greater assurance of Security to your software. Check ‘Importance of secure development’ for more details.

Lest understand security integration in SDLC with the following chart.

1.Requirements and Analysis

In this phase of SDLC, the architect analyzes project requirements and decides technology, framework and languages used for the same. For secure coding here is a guide to help you to choose a programming language.

Security Integration → Requirement Analysis

At this stage, security experts analyze possible vulnerabilities to the chosen development tools in order to make the appropriate security choices throughout the development.

2.Design

In this phase project architecture and leads, developers to create a final design plan for a software product.

Security Integration → Threat modeling and design Review

At this stage security experts, perform a structured process named Threat modeling where they

optimize network security by identifying objectives and vulnerabilities and then define criticality and prioritize remediation methods. check here to more about Secure development languages.

3.Development

In this phase, the actual programming of the software begins.

Security Integration → Static Analysis

In this phase code analysis is performed using static analysis tools to find vulnerabilities.

Flow and Pattern are 2 primary analyses performed in order to identify security issues.

Flow analysis tools analyzed data flow from the source code. And in Pattern analysis analyzed code syntax patterns, which helps developers to use a safer subset of development language to maintain a given security context.

4.Testing

In this phase, application testing is performed as per the project requirements.

Security Integration → Security testing and Code Review

In this phase complete code review is performed from a security point of view.

5.Release

In this phase, the application is released i.e. made available to its users.

Security Integration → Security assessments and Secure Configuration

At this stage, experts test the whole application before its release and decide which components need further deep security checks. In end, it reaches a secure configuration phase where finishing touches are added to the software to ensure its security after release.

6.Maintenance

This is the operational and maintenance phase of the application.

Security Integration → Maintenance

In this phase, security is also maintained by testing real-time security issues.

In this way, we can integrate security testing into your SDLC.

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The catapulting number of cyber-attacks has made a deep impact on cyberspace and this has led to devastating losses for small, medium, and large businesses around the world.

In light of the same, here are the 10 most influential cyber-attacks of all time in our opinion.

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What is digital forensic?

Let's break the term Digital Forensic, word Forensic is used in relation to ‘court law’ and more likely relates to the investigation of crime. And Digital forensic altogether in simple words we can say process investigation of cyber crimes[Crimes performed through Digital platform.

In this process, the Digital forensic team focuses on recovery and investigation of evidence found in digital devices related to Cybercrime.

Let us understand steps performed in Digital Forensics in short

Identification: Here Digital Forensic Analyst performs the process of identifying what evidence needs to be collected and which devices need to be analyzed.

Preservation: In this process, data is isolated and preserved from the affected networks or systems.

Analysis: Here each piece of data is reconstructed and analyzed step by step in order to understand what happened at the time of cybercrime.

Documentation: In this step all evidence is created and recorded in the form of reports, graphs, pictures to represent the Crime scene.

Presentation: This stage delivers the conclusion and summary of cybercrime.

So, in the conclusion, we can say this is an important step after any Cyberattack.

As we all know, precaution is better than cure. In this digital era, we must take care of our digital platforms properly, especially businesses having an online presence. Cybersecurity assessment is one great option to start with as a precautionary measure.

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 Firewall configuration audit helps in various sectors  to maintain compliance requirements such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST CSF etc, Improve the efficiency of firewall policies, Helps in determining the best industry standard for your system, and Helps to detect vulnerabilities from your network.

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What are the security flaws in IoT devices?

IoT i.e. Internet of Things is a network of physical objects ‘things’ that are connected globally to exchange data over the internet. These devices can be anything i.e. from kitchen appliances to child’s toys which are connected over the internet.

Why is IoT security important?

We are in the era of smart and automated technology where we can connect our everyday objects for different purposes over the internet. So, obviously, it is very important to secure them from the threats. Hackers prey on such easily targeted devices. Why I am saying they are easily targeted devices? Let’s see issues related to IoT device

IoT is for fast, smooth, and productive processes of our daily tasks. Surely they are very useful, but the technology used in it is not fully grown yet, there are some security challenges that need to be addressed. They mainly arise due to the following factors:Lack of user knowledge and awareness

Inappropriate manufacturing standards

Poor update and maintenance management

IoT Security Issues

1.IoT malware and Ransomware

IoT devices that are vulnerable or have weak security measures can be easily targeted by a ransomware attacks, where they lock the user's sensitive data and ask for ransom. Apart from this they also focus on limiting and disabling device functionality.

2.Poor testing and lack of updates

This is one of the most critical issues which needs to be focused more. When it comes to IoT device manufacturing companies, it is observed their careless attitude towards security checks and testing.Also many IoT devices don’t get timely security updates.

3.Social engineering attack through IoT

Since IoT is a new technology, people are still learning about it. Lack of awareness and ignorance about IoT devices' security part gives birth to a big threat. Social engineering attacks can be performed through IoT, where instead of targeting devices hackers target humans.

4.Home Invasion

The concept of smart and automated homes comes with the big threat of exposed IP addresses. Devices with a poor defense mechanism can broadcast IP addresses of devices that help to track residential addresses. Hackers share this sensitive information to other criminals.

Ways to protect your IoT Devices

User strong passwords and change them regularly

Update your IoT devices regularly

Use IoT Security Analytics

Test IoT Hardware

IoT device manufacturers should consider the latest IoT security threats and breaches.

Above all ,it is always better to take expert solutions from Professional Cyber Security firms.

Cybersecurity firms like INVESICS keep a thorough check on your systems and assure that your information is well secured.

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What is the biggest cybersecurity threat to your business?

As time & technology changes, attackers always find new & alternative ways to get unauthorized access. We can take the current example, in the COVID pandemic. Hackers got new opportunities in terms of Coronavirus Phishing, so we cannot say there is only one common threat to any business. The threat changes industry to industry and as per contemporary internet trends.

As per recent cybercrime surveys, we can say top threats to businesses are as follows:

Phishing attack

Phishing is mostly an email or a fake ad that is used in an attempt to steal personal information from the receiver, information such as passwords and usernames, credit card details, account numbers, and so on.

Example: Getting an email that says that your email password is about to expire and with a link to change it. Only that the link will lead to a malicious website.

Ransomware attack

Ransomware is a variety of malware that encrypts the files of its victims. The attacker then demands a ransom from the victim in exchange for returning access to the data.

A recent victim of a ransomware attack is Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) reported on March 21.In this ransomware attack, the malware had infected some desktop personal computers across different office locations of MIDC. The attackers had attached a ransom note giving details of the attack and the steps to approach them for decryption of data.

For these types of attacks, cybercriminals define their own workflow and have different roles/responsibilities at each level. The concept of Ransomware Economy covers how the distribution of work and profit gain from ransom is done. Know more about Ransomware Economy here.

Data breaches

This issue results in the theft of confidential, protected or sensitive information, which leads to the financial loss of breached organizations. In the year 2020, the security gap between home and office networks offers a great platform for data breaches. Get more information on how to tackle security challenges in work from home environment?

Spyware : They are a type of malware that has been around for a long time, but Pegasus spyware has recently caught everyone's attention. Learn everything there is to know about Pegasus spyware, including what it is, how it works, what a zero-click attack is, and so on.. Here

So, these are cybersecurity threats for various businesses. Depending upon the business industry, cyber criminals plan beneficiary threats against the organizations. 

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These days, technological progress is so rapid that OLD must be quickly replaced by NEW. NEW systems have several great features, while OLD has to deal with the hassle of disposition. In the information world, where cybercrime reigns supreme, safety and security are key assets. Another method of data security is to delete data from a device while ensuring security.

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These days, application security can make or break entire businesses. So, how can you improve the security of your product?

The answer to this question is more important now than it has ever been. When a company disregards security issues, it puts itself at risk. Business applications store massive amounts of sensitive data, which could be stolen at any time. Businesses that underfunding in security risk incurring financial losses as well as a tarnished reputation.

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What is web application penetration testing?

Web application penetration testing is also known as web app pen-testing. It is a process of ethical hacking, in which security experts check the security level of your web application for both internal and external attacks.

This process involves series of steps as follows

Information gathering

Perform Tool based VAPT

Perform manual VAPT

Review and analysis

Report and suggestions

To know more about these steps in-depth Check this article.

These steps help to determine the possibility of unauthorized access or malicious activity in the entire web application and its components which include source code, database. The process also focuses security of relevant web hosting sites, servers and email servers. After identification of security breaches from the web application, security experts generate a report in which they list all vulnerabilities as per threat level and potential loss and then recommend solutions for the same. While choosing the security service provider just keep in mind a few things, such as - Do the cybersecurity company provide after-sales services? Or whether they can become your End-to-End cybersecurity solutions partner.

Know more about how to choose the best cybersecurity company for your application here in detail.

Here are some benefits of Web VAPT

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The uproar caused by “Ransomware 2.0” in the IT industry in the world, as well as the questions it raised about IT security. This perplexing situation compels us to consider, “How badly is this growing trend of ransomware attacks affecting the IT industry and  led to a significant concept of ransomware economy.”

Ransomware business is plain simple entrepreneurship, one who knows how to market it makes the money. More good someone at marketing greater is the reward. 

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What are the types of vulnerability assessments?

First, let’s understand what is vulnerability assessment? It is a process of finding loopholes or security leaks in your system. For any company is a vital process nowadays. Depending on various tools and different parts of the system vulnerability assessments have 4 main types, which are as follows:

1. Network-based and wireless assessments: It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities from wired, wireless networks and network-accessible resources.

2. Application assessments: Application assessments help to spot security vulnerabilities and inappropriate configuration in web & mobile applications.

3. Database assessments: This type of assessment examines the big data system and database for misconfigurations. Also discover rouge databases and sort sensitive data across the organization.

4. Host assessments: In this type, a vulnerability scan is run on servers, workstations and network hosts.

Know more about What is cybersecurity assessment? Also, you can check case studies for cybersecurity assessment.

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A global cyber espionage campaign has led to a breach in the networks of several companies around the globe, as attackers managed to invade Texas’ systems from SolarWinds, a provider of IT management and monitoring solutions. The cost to businesses may be trillions to remediate the effects of the significant breaches of SolarWind’s network management software – which impacted up to 18,000 organizations.

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Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) comprises of a progression of exercises where both manual and software/tool-based automated programs are performed. Let’s understand both Tool and Manual VAPT processes and their difference.

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What is a network vulnerability assessment?

In simple words, it is a part of the network which can be easily attacked by cybercriminals. So these are the security leaks on the network, using which unauthorized people can get easy access to your protected data.

The second question arises, how do I come to know about such vulnerability on my network?

So, this is the main purpose for conducting the network vulnerability assessment process. It helps network administrators to find out any vulnerabilities that can be a threat to the system security, privacy and operations on the network.

Steps in network vulnerability assessment

The process for network vulnerability assessment may vary from industry to industry. But generally, this process includes following tasks

1.Identify and prioritizing network security threats

2.Router/Wi-fi password analysis for vulnerabilities

3.Device security analysis for computers, routers and switches

4.Reviewing organization network strength against common network-based attacks such as

--->Man-in-the-middle attack (MITM)

--->Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)

--->Network Intrusion

Know more about the top attacks and top 10 OWASP vulnerabilities.

Network vulnerability assessment is performed using automated network vulnerability scanning tools under the guidance of network security experts. After completion of the assessment, experts recommend the plan of action in order to minimize the identified vulnerabilities.

To understand in-depth cybersecurity assessment check this link:https://invesics.com/blog/what-is-cybersecurity-assessment/

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While Cyber Security remains the number one concern for organizations and government bodies worldwide, hackers and cyber criminals continue to exploit the vulnerable through means that continuously evolve.

The panic brought on by the pandemic also acted as a catalyst and the raging numbers of phishing attacks increased phenomenally.

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Online threat have ascended by 6 times of their standard levels in the course of recent weeks  between March and April, as the COVID-19 pandemic gives rise to digital cyber-attacks by 86% according to a recent Reuters report. Cybercrime in India has flooded in the midst of the nation’s phenomenal coronavirus lockdown.

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Uncertainty caused by the pandemic, coupled with the slow economy and lockdown, is global. In such times, misleading messages, fake news and #always result in additional stress. Such things also always tend to spread quickly, thanks to the internet and widely used social media apps. This has given way to a new kind of trouble that is known as Coronavirus Phishing. 

Here we try to understand what Coronavirus Phishing is, also take a look at how we can identify it and what are preventive measures.