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A Complete Guide to Attack Surface

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Zeroblack

Are you concerned about mobile security? If yes, you have come to the right place! The increasing rate of offensive cyber attacks is alarming. The number of data breaches and cyberattacks in 2021 was about 15.1% more compared to that of the previous year. That is why individuals and organizations are continuously looking for ways to secure the mobile devices and networks.

 

When it comes to mobile security, Android and iOS security researchers recommend you to have an idea about the attack surface. So, what exactly is an attack surface? In this article, you will know everything about the attack surface.

 

What is an Attack Surface?

An attack surface refers to the potential entry points that allow unauthorized access to the systems. In simple terms, it includes all the areas that serve as a gateway for security attacks. It can be the area of the system or the organization susceptible to attack. Hackers may leverage the attack surface enumeration techniques to gain access to sensitive company information. Analyzing and reducing your attack surface is the key to minimizing cyber attacks in your organization.

 

Types of Attack Surface

There are basically two types of attack surfaces. It includes the physical attack surface and the digital attack surface. Let's take a quick look at both the attack surface types.

 

  • Physical Attack Surface

The physical attack surface refers to the physical environment of an organization, including assets like a data center, server room, and branch offices. Examples of physical attacks include the installation of malware on mobile devices, infiltrating workstations, accessing confidential data, and much more. Such attacks are mainly launched by the employees or internal members of the organizations.

 

  • Digital Attack Surface

Digital attack surface includes the digital element that allows unauthorized access to the network of the organization. It covers the applications, websites, code, servers, ports, and system access points. Insecure coding, weak passwords, and poorly maintained software are some of the main reasons for the increase in digital attacks.

 

Top Ways to Reduce Attack Surface

Are you looking for strategies to ensure optimum security against issues like memory corruption or reverse engineering? One of the best ways is to reduce your attack surface. Here are some great ideas that can help you reduce the attack surface. Let's take a look!

 

  • Analyze the SSL Certificate

When your organization uses SSL, it is common to think that your website is completely secure. However, the SSL certificates do become outdated, thereby making your websites vulnerable to attacks. Therefore, you must analyze the SSL certificate and ensure it is up-to-date.


  • Run Less Code

Reducing your codes can be an excellent way to lower the potential entry points for attackers. Wherever possible, try to remove or disable unnecessary features to simplify codes.

 

  • Leverage Vulnerability Management

Vulnerability management is all about identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, addressing, and reporting security vulnerabilities. Managing the vulnerabilities effectively can minimize the scope of attacks for hackers.

 

Conclusion

By now, you must have gained a complete idea of the attack surface and ways to reduce it. Leverage effective strategies and reduce the potential points of entry for the attackers. Still, if you find it tough, collaborating with the experts can be an ideal option.

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