What is Insider Attack?

Cyber attacks on organizations are increasing both in number and magnitude. Often carried out by attackers with intentions to harm an organization, gain financial benefits, pursue political motives, spread terror, etc., these attacks always cost organizations in one form or another. Cyber security is now being accepted as a necessity, not a mere option, to protect against attackers trying to cause harm. But this harm does not always come from external sources sometimes, an insider can be responsible for these attacks as well.

When an insider means an employee, a former employee, board member, or a business partner is responsible for a cyber attack, it is called an insider attack. This type of attack is often more challenging than an external one, as it can cause a higher amount of loss due to the greater level of access the insider had to the organization's resources. Let us understand Insider attack below in detail:

What is an Insider Attack?

An insider threat is any threat to an organization's security that comes from within. It could be a disgruntled employee, a careless contractor or a third-party partner with too much access. Insiders already have access to sensitive systems and data, which makes them uniquely positioned to cause harm whether intentional or accidental.

Insider Attacks are carried out by people who are familiar with the computer network system and hold authorized access to all the information. 

This form of cyber attack is extremely dangerous as the attack is led by the system employees, which makes the entire process extremely vulnerable. Computer organisations , most likely focus on external cyber attack protection and rarely have their attention focused on internal cyber-attacks. 

Types of Insider

An organization has a large number of human resources, which are still considered the weakest link in the chain of cyber security. Whether intentional or not, insider attacks can cause immense loss to an organization. These insiders can vary in terms of their intention, access to information, and role in the company, such as:

1. Intentional

Someone who intentionally misuses legitimate credentials, usually stealing information for financial or personal benefits. This could be a former employee who is disgruntled against the former company, a current employee but not happy with the organization, steal information for financial gains etc.

2. Unintentional

When someone unknowingly exposes an organization's system to external threats. This is the most common type of internal threat caused by a someone. This could be due to any employee with weak authentication for their device that may lead an attacker to compromise their system's information and use it further to exploit systems.

3. Mole

An attacker who is an outsider but has gained insider access to a network is known as a mole. This is an outsider of the organisation to hide as an employee, business partner or a third-party. Thei intention is always malicious and strategic.

Indicators of an Insider Attack

Insider attacks often use unusual techniques to get and maintain the access to the organizations system, this may be done by planting malicious hardware or software to easily access the system. Doing so includes some extra steps that can be noticed with the help of an active security team, tools and techniques such as:

1. Remote Access Software

If remote access software like anydesk, Teamviewer and physical servers are installed around the campus or systems, the activities could be a sign of an insider attack.

2. Changed Passwords

If passwords of any account are changed without the authorized user's action, it could be a sign of an other insider could've performed the action for a malicious intent.

3. Backdoors

If there are any backdoors in a system enabling access to data, there's a high chance it's being attacker by an insider.

4. Changes in Firewalls

Any changes in the setting of firewall must be seriously verified, as it could be done by an insider attacker.

5. Unknown and Unauthorized Software

Any new software in system that has not been authorized by the organization should b checked thoroughly for being a possible insider attack.

6. Unauthorized Access Attempts

If any access attempts are made to sensitive servers or data, it could be an insider attack because the access is often in the hands of security teams or authorized people.

Real-World Cases of Insider Threats

Insider attacks have been responsible for various organization into financial and data losses, whether intentional or not the organizations have to pay in one form or the other. Some of the most famous cases in the real world where insiders were responsible for cyber attacks are as follows:

2023 - Tesla Data Leak by Former Employees

Two former Tesla employees leaked personal information of over 75,000 current and former employees to a foreign media outlet. The leaked data included names, contact details, social security numbers, and more. They also exposed customer bank information and company secrets. Tesla took legal action, but the breach harmed the company's reputation.

2022 - Microsoft Credential Leak

In August 2022, some Microsoft employees accidentally exposed login credentials on GitHub. These could have allowed attackers to access Azure servers and internal systems. Fortunately, a cyber security firm discovered the issue before any damage was done. Microsoft confirmed that no data was accessed and took steps to prevent future incidents.

2016 - Google Employee Steals Data Before Joining Uber

A Google employee, Anthony Levandowski, downloaded thousands of files about Google’s self-driving car project before leaving to join Uber. The stolen data could have given Uber a competitive advantage. Google sued him, and he admitted the company may have lost up to $1.5 million because of the theft.

Prevention Techniques for an Insider Attack

Insider threats pose a serious risk to organizations, as they come from individuals who already have access to internal systems and data. Whether intentional or accidental, these threats can lead to data breaches, financial loss, and reputation damage. To protect against such risks, organizations must take proactive measures to detect, prevent, and respond to insider threats effectively.

• Organizations should limit user access to only what is necessary for their job.
• User activity must be monitored to detect any unusual or suspicious behavior.
• Multi-factor authentication should be enforced to strengthen login security.
• Employees need regular training on cyber security practices and threat awareness.
• Data loss prevention tools should be used to block unauthorized sharing of sensitive information.
• Access must be revoked immediately when an employee leaves the organization.
• Behavior analytics can help identify potential insider threats through unusual activity patterns.
• An insider threat policy should clearly define risks and outline rules and consequences.
• Regular audits should be conducted to review user access and detect vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

Insider attacks are one of the most dangerous forms of cyber threats, as they originate from individuals with trusted access to systems. Whether intentional or accidental, these attacks can lead to serious consequences, including data breaches, financial loss, and reputation damage. Organizations must stay caareful by identifying signs of insider threats early and implementing strong security measures. Taking these steps ensures better protection against internal risks and strengthens the overall cyber security posture.