The Essential Guide to Brand Protection: 5 Real-World Cases You Need to Know

In today’s digital landscape, businesses must be vigilant to safeguard their assets from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. These dangers aren’t just from hackers but also from attacks on your brand’s online presence. SOCRadar’s Brand Protection module, available for free, is designed to monitor and alert customers to potential risks. Here, we’ll explore five critical areas where your brand can be compromised and provide real-world examples to underscore the importance of comprehensive brand protection.

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Threat actors commonly use impersonating domains to deceive users. These fake domains closely resemble legitimate ones, often with minor, easily overlooked differences. The objective is to trick customers into believing they are interacting with a reputable business, leading to phishing scams, financial losses, and data breaches.

How Do Impersonating Domains Impact Your Brand?

For instance, a large financial company might discover several domains mimicking its primary website. These domains use subtle changes, like adding a hyphen or replacing an “l” with a “1”. Visitors may unknowingly provide their login credentials, which threat actors then steal.

A notable case occurred in 2013 when hackers deceived an employee at Fazio Mechanical, a vendor for Target, via a phishing email. The compromised credentials allowed the attackers to infiltrate Target’s network, leading to the theft of 40 million credit and debit card details and 70 million personal records. The breach happened despite Target’s security measures because the attackers exploited a trusted third party.

Are you confident in your supply chain’s security posture? SOCRadar’s Supply Chain Intelligence module helps identify and mitigate risks from your business partners, preventing breaches through trusted entities.

SOCRadar’s Brand Protection Module

What Are the Risks of Rogue Mobile Applications?

Rogue mobile applications significantly threaten brand reputation and user security. These malicious apps often pose as legitimate ones, tricking users into downloading them. Once installed, they can commit fraud, deploy malware, and steal sensitive information.

In 2017, a fake WhatsApp application was discovered on Reddit. Though it appeared identical to the official app, it was filled with ads and attempted to download a hidden .apk file. This fake app managed to deceive many users, generating revenue through ads.

SOCRadar’s Integrated Takedown module detects and removes fake applications imitating your brand. With our extensive scanning capabilities, you’ll be notified immediately when a threat actor tries to impersonate your brand, and we’ll take down the fraudulent application for you.

How Do Impersonating Accounts on Social Media Platforms Affect Your Brand?

Social media is a vital channel for customer communication but also exposes brands to risks such as fake reviews, negative mentions, or leaked credentials. Monitoring social media channels and the clear web for these threats helps companies quickly identify and address risks, preserving their image and protecting their systems.

For example, changes to Twitter’s verification process led to several companies being impersonated. A fake account tweeted that insulin was free, forcing Eli Lilly & Co. to apologize and causing a drop in their stock market value.

Keeping track of every online reference to your brand can be exhausting. Practical tools are necessary to maintain a healthy online presence and protect against malicious activity. SOCRadar can help you monitor and mitigate these risks, ensuring your brand’s integrity.

Why Is a Bad Reputation Detrimental to Your Brand?

A negative reputation can severely impact a brand’s credibility and customer trust. This issue arises when a brand’s email addresses, domain names, or IP addresses are blacklisted or reported as spam due to malicious activities or inadequate security protocols.

In June 2024, Cloudflare mistakenly flagged the vx-underground website, a group focused on malware and cybersecurity, as a phishing site. Users faced difficulties accessing the site, highlighting the importance of maintaining a spotless digital reputation.

SOCRadar Labs offers free tools, including an IP Reputation Service, to check if your IP or IP block is blacklisted. This service helps you maintain continuous communication with your customers and avoid negative impacts on your brand.

SOCRadar provides its customers with an advanced Identity and Access Intelligence tool.

How Do Compromised Credentials Pose a Risk?

Compromised credentials are a significant threat, as they essentially hand over control of your account or company to threat actors. Developers’ repositories on platforms like GitHub are prime targets for attackers seeking credentials or API keys.

Uber experienced data breaches in 2014 and 2016 involving keys found in GitHub repositories. In 2014, an attacker accessed user data in an Amazon S3 bucket using an access key found in a public repository. In 2016, hackers used a script to log into GitHub, found an AWS key, and accessed the sensitive data of 57 million users.

SOCRadar XTI scans various dark web and transparent net sources to detect leaked credentials. Our advanced Identity and Access Intelligence tool helps you identify if your employees’ information is exposed, ensuring your company’s security.

Published initially on SOCRadar, August 1, 2024

https://socradar.io/why-brand-protection-matters-5-cases-every-business-should-know/

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