In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is more important than ever. With the increasing prevalence of online attacks, individuals and organizations must stay vigilant to ensure their data and systems remain safe. One of the newest cybersecurity threats you need to be aware of is “push bombing.”
Push bombing is a form of cyber-attack that leverages a flaw in the security of push notifications. It is a method of attack where cyber criminals send verification prompts to unsuspecting users until the users approve the request, once approved the hackers can gain access to sensitive information. However, push bombing takes advantage of the fact that push notifications can be sent to a device without the user’s consent or knowledge.
This new form of attack is becoming increasingly prevalent. Microsoft reports over 300 million fraudulent sign-in attempts to its services. This shows that cyber attackers are not slowing down. This worrying trend will likely continue as attackers become more sophisticated in their methods.
In addition to the increasing prevalence of push bombing attacks, it is essential to note that these attacks can have severe consequences that lead to significant financial and data loss for businesses and individuals. It is essential to understand how to detect and protect against them. The following sections will discuss the different ways to detect push bombing attacks and the best practices for protecting your devices and systems.
What Is Push Bombing?
Push bombing is a newly emerging cybersecurity threat that involves the constant pushing of 2FA (two-factor authentication) prompts to unsuspecting victims. Cybercriminals use this sophisticated attack technique to trick users into unknowingly giving away their sensitive information, such as login credentials and other personal data.
Push bombing is a highly coordinated attack that combines bot networks, traffic generation systems, and other tactics to inundate a target with a deluge of push notifications. The sheer volume of these notifications makes it difficult for victims to distinguish legitimate from malicious ones, thereby increasing the likelihood of falling for the trap.
This emerging threat is becoming more and more prevalent in the cybersecurity landscape, and it’s not surprising that experts have listed it as one of the top cybersecurity threats to watch out for.
How To Detect and Avoid Push Bombing Attacks
To detect push bombing attempts, you can take the following measures:
- Monitor Your Authentication Logs
Keep a close eye on your authentication logs to detect any unusual activity, such as repeated login attempts from the same user. Push bombing attackers may target a specific user account and repeatedly send 2FA push notifications to that account, hoping to exhaust the user and prompt them to give up their login credentials.
- Monitor Your Push Notification Logs
Keep track of push notifications that are sent to your users. This will enable you to detect any unusual spikes in the number of push notifications sent to a user or group of users. You can then investigate the source of the push notifications and determine if they are legitimate or part of a push bombing attempt.
- Look Out For Unusual Patterns
Detecting push bombing attempts often involves identifying unusual patterns or activity. For example, if you notice a user receiving many push notifications quickly, this may be a sign of push bombing.
- Conduct Security Assessments
Regular security assessments can help you identify vulnerabilities in your system and detect push-bombing attempts. During a security assessment, you can look for signs of push bombing and take steps to mitigate any potential attacks.
Steps To Mitigate The Impact of Push Bombing
If you suspect that you have been attacked via push bombing, there are several steps you can take to mitigate the damage or further attempts on your devices.
- Immediately Change Your Login Credentials
Change them immediately if you have clicked on the push notification and provided your login credentials. Make sure to create a strong password that is not easily guessable.
- Contact The Service Provider
If you are using a service targeted by push bombing, contact the service provider and report the attack. They may be able to provide further guidance on how to protect yourself and prevent future attacks.
- Monitor Your Accounts
Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice any unusual logins or transactions, report them immediately to the service provider and your bank or credit card company.
- Consider Using A Different Authentication Method
If you are uncomfortable using push notifications for 2FA, consider switching to a different authentication method, such as SMS codes, hardware tokens, or biometric authentication.
- Install Security Software
Install security software to protect against malware and other cyber threats. Keep your software up-to-date to ensure that you have the latest protection.
Are You Ready to Stay Protected Against Push Bombing?
At Connect2Geek, we have a team of cybersecurity experts that can help protect your business from such attacks. Our experienced team can help assess your cybersecurity needs, respond to attacks, and help implement proactive measures to prevent future attacks.
Contact Connect2Geek today at 208-468-4323 to discuss your cybersecurity needs and schedule a consultation.