Headlines of large security breaches are becoming increasingly commonplace, but the most recent one is quite the cause for concern.
According to an article from the Washington Post, a Russian hacker ring has stolen the largest collection of Internet credentials ever recorded. It is believed that the group acquired 1.2 billion usernames and password combinations and more than 500 million email addresses.
While the names of the websites affected were not released because some of the sites are still vulnerable, researchers said that 420,000 websites were compromised. The list runs the gamut from household names that everyone knows and small niche websites. Alex Holden, the founder and chief information security officer of Hold Security, said the criminals were not just targeting U.S. companies, but any site they could get.
This highlights the need for businesses to improve their IT security systems. Cyber criminals are evolving their attack methodology as quickly as companies can release a solution that combats them. The moment a patch is released, the next big malware is already being released.
"The ability to attack is certainly outpacing the ability to defend," said Lillian Ablon, a security researcher at the RAND Corporation. "We're constantly playing this cat and mouse game, but ultimately companies just patch and pray."
IT security protocols come in a number of different avenues, all of which companies need to start embracing. With the help of an IT consulting firm, any business will be able to audit their solutions and ensure that they are doing everything possible to combat the latest challenges.
