Hacker Motives: Red Flags and Prevention

Hacker are motivated by different things to compromise your data. See what patterns hackers have been following and how you can keep your company safe.
Michael Buckbee
1 min read
Last updated October 14, 2022

Hackers are getting savvier. They’re constantly finding new ways to abuse system vulnerabilities and sneak into our networks. The worst part? The likelihood of a cyber attack is now higher than a home invasion. Most people don’t notice when their data has been compromised until it’s too late. The silver lining is that the rise in attacks allows us to analyze the patterns hackers follow and strengthen our defenses.

Major cybersecurity attacks of the past have taught us hard lessons, including the need for CSOs to embrace data-centric security. Massive breaches like the Marriott data breach also taught us the importance of effectively managing mergers and acquisitions, especially when the company you’re acquiring has a recent history of breaches and hacks.

We took a look at hacks in the past years and identified the most important trends you should watch to ensure your business’s safety. We’ve also included a few tips to make sure your company doesn’t become another victim.

Every company has data to protect. Whether you’re a multi-million dollar enterprise or a 6-month-old startup, each business has its own set of vulnerabilities. Larger companies have complex systems and lots of data to monitor, thus making it easier for hackers to infiltrate and persist for long periods of time while staying undetected. Small businesses, on the other hand, are likely less prepared to handle a cyber attack due to a lack of resources or staff. Take a look at some of our tips below to see what you can do to stay ahead of these hacker trends.

click to view tips to defend against hacker motive trends

Preparation and a quick response time are essentials for any security team. It’s smart to start with engage in effective threat modeling and create a comprehensive incident response plan to keep your team vigilant and ready for threats. Taking advice from other professionals through cybersecurity TED talks or podcasts can also jump start your security planning to see what threats and solutions are top-of-mind for others in the industry. To get started, take our data risk assessment to see where your vulnerabilities lie and what steps you need to take to keep your company safe.

Sources: Verizon | HackerOne | IBM

 

What should I do now?

Below are three ways you can continue your journey to reduce data risk at your company:

1

Schedule a demo with us to see Varonis in action. We'll personalize the session to your org's data security needs and answer any questions.

2

See a sample of our Data Risk Assessment and learn the risks that could be lingering in your environment. Varonis' DRA is completely free and offers a clear path to automated remediation.

3

Follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (Twitter) for bite-sized insights on all things data security, including DSPM, threat detection, AI security, and more.

Try Varonis free.

Get a detailed data risk report based on your company’s data.
Deploys in minutes.

Keep reading

Varonis tackles hundreds of use cases, making it the ultimate platform to stop data breaches and ensure compliance.

dnsmessenger:-2017's-most-beloved-remote-access-trojan-(rat)
DNSMessenger: 2017's Most Beloved Remote Access Trojan (RAT)
I’ve written a lot about Remote Access Trojans (RATs) over the last few years. So I didn’t think there was that much innovation in this classic hacker software utility. RATs, of...
announcing-varonis-edge-–-to-the-perimeter-and-beyond
Announcing Varonis Edge – to the Perimeter and Beyond
Email, web, and brute force attacks are the primary ways that malware gets through your defenses.  The Yahoo hacker’s favorite technique? VPN. The Sony hack? Phishing emails.  Remote Access Trojans?...
entrepreneurial-rats:-alienspy-and-taas-(trojans-as-a-service)
Entrepreneurial RATs: AlienSpy and TaaS (Trojans as a Service)
When I wrote about Remote Access Trojans (RATs), I thought they were like the mousetraps of the hacking world — it’s hard to improve on. RATs let hackers get a...
what-does-it-take-to-be-an-ethical-hacker?
What Does it Take to Be an Ethical Hacker?
A white hat hacker, or an ethical hacker, works with agencies and organizations to discover network vulnerabilities and security flaws. Learn what it takes to make hacking your profession with our guide!