The retail industry is no stranger to cyberattacks, being one of the top targets for bad actors. In recent years, attackers have turned to Rogue Devices – bad USB devices that act with malicious intent, for example – to conduct hardware attacks. Due to their discreet nature, allowing the attack to go undetected for long periods of time.
Entry Points
Hardware attacks, however, require the attacker to gain physical access to the organization and point-of-sale (PoS) systems are often the target. This allows attackers to store and capture credit and debit card information used by the customer, including the PIN. Other times, the PoS is simply the entry point since the systems are often connected to the same network as non-PoS systems. Therefore, any vulnerabilities on the network that the PoS resides on will leave it open to attack. And will allow the malicious actor to gain further unauthorized access to the organization’s confidential information.
The supply chain is another entry point for a bad actor attempting to conduct a hardware attack. Attackers might infiltrate a component of the retailer’s supply chain by manipulating devices in the production line. The Rogue Device can either target one of the suppliers, since they might have access to some of the retailer’s data. Or the attackers could intend for the Rogue Device to be passed onto the end user to target the retailer directly.
Cyberattack
Using Rogue Devices, like bad USBs, bad actors can conduct a variety of attacks, including a data breach. As mentioned, by targeting the PoS, bad actors can have access to customers’ private data. Which can be sold on the black market for a significant amount. Or it can be used to commit credit card fraud. Additionally, by accessing the organization’s network, an attacker can obtain confidential data on the organization with the intention to sabotage the retailer.
Additionally, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are common for the retail industry. As it allows attackers to overwhelm an e-commerce site, shutting down the company’s website and causing a loss of sales in addition to frustrated customers. The retail industry is also a frequent victim of ransomware attacks whereby the enterprise’s systems and files will be encrypted, and a ransomware payment will be demanded in exchange for a decryption key.
Consequences
When a retailer is attacked and a data breach occurs, millions of individuals are potential victims to the perpetrator. Since their information could be sold on the dark web and used by other malicious actors. Importantly, the financial consequences – direct and indirect – can be in the region of millions of dollars being composed of fines, lawsuits, loss of business, clean-up costs and more. Business credibility is also impacted as consumers will have the impression that the organization is not sufficiently protected. And, as such, neither is their information. This reputational damage can sometimes be impossible to recover from and therefore wants to be avoided.
Insiders
Insiders, are a very common threat to the retail industry due to the high employee turnover and the multiple points of vulnerabilities. Notably, there is little cybersecurity training. Which is not helped by the fact that there are many people handing aspects of the company’s business process. Insiders often act unwittingly because they are not aware of the risks that their actions pose to the company’s cybersecurity. Although unintentional, insiders can cause significant damage to the organization. A comprehensive cybersecurity training is a must in the retail industry
Further Action
Education, despite adding some improvements to an enterprise’s cybersecurity posture, is not enough to ensure full protection. Rogue Devices cannot be detected by existing software solutions let alone the human eye. So, even with knowledge regarding the various risks, employees can still allow a bad actor to carry out a successful attack. As such, a Rogue Device Mitigation solution is essential.
Sepio’s platform detects and blocks Rogue Devices before they can conduct a successful attack. Thus protecting the organization from serious consequences. Cybersecurity must be a top priority for all industries, and the retail industry is no exception.
Zero Trust Hardware Access
Sepio’s solution provides the Layer 1 visibility required for zero trust hardware access. The HAC-1 solution calculates a digital fingerprint of all hardware assets (IT/OT/IoT), meaning every device gets detected for what it truly is, not just what it claims to be. Such visibility allows for the effective enforcement of the zero trust security protocols, thereby enhancing the overall zero trust approach. Additionally, the comprehensive policy enforcement mechanism of the HAC-1 solution, combined with its Rogue Device Mitigation capability, means that any unapproved or rogue hardware is blocked instantly, preventing any hardware attacks from occurring.
With HAC-1, retailers are protected on Layer 1, and existing cybersecurity investments are put to better use thanks to greater visibility.
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