What exactly is an 'island hopping' attack and how can it be prevented?

In the world of cybersecurity, attackers are constantly finding new ways to penetrate networks and gain access to sensitive information. One such tactic is known as an "island hopping" attack, which involves targeting not just the primary target organization, but also any other organizations connected to it through its supply chain or business partnerships. This can be a particularly effective technique for attackers, as it allows them to bypass the security measures of the primary target and gain access to valuable data or systems through a weaker link in the chain. In this article, we will explore the concept of island hopping attacks in more detail and discuss strategies for preventing them.

Executive Summary:

Island hopping is often associated with adventures in exotic locations, but in the world of cyber security, it refers to a sophisticated type of cyber attack. Attackers use this technique to bypass advanced cyber security measures deployed by large organizations. This article discusses the key insights into island hopping attacks, including the industries most affected and how to prevent them.

What is Island Hopping (in Cyber Security)?

An island hopping attack occurs when cyber adversaries pursue access to a company through a circuitous route. Instead of directly targeting the intended victim organization, the attackers will ‘hop’ through a series of intermediary steps in order to achieve their objectives. For instance, cyber adversaries may compromise a large organization’s third-party partners in order to eventually gain access to the intended target.

Network-based Island Hopping

This occurs when cyber attackers compromise one organization’s network and then use that network access in order to move directly into another company’s network. Cyber attackers exploit this to access high-value networks. For example, an attack group might go after a target organization’s managed security service provider (MSSP) in order to ultimately gain access to the targeted enterprise.

How do Island Hopping Attacks Work?

Island hopping attacks often start with a phishing email. One strategy used by island hopping attackers consists of impersonating trusted brands via email, like Apple and Google, and enticing people to respond by leaning into the trusted brand’s reputation. Another technique, known as a reverse business email compromise attack, consists of taking over the mail server of a target company and deploying fileless malware.

Why Cyber Attackers Choose Island Hopping

Cyber attackers use island hopping attacks in order to deploy ransomware, to cryptojack, to steal intellectual property, and to determine which organizations to target in even larger attacks, among other things.

How to Stop Island Hopping Attacks

There are a variety of best practices that can help you prevent and defend against island hopping attacks:

• Connect with business partners and third-parties.
• Consider recommending the same cyber security ecosystem/infrastructure that you have in place to your business partners.
• Lead or request a check on all of the data that your small business partners can access.
• Leverage network segmentation to protect server access.
• Implement multi-factor authentication.
• Have an incident response plan ready-to-roll and maintain an incident response team.

Conclusion

Island hopping attacks are a growing threat to large organizations, particularly in the finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail industries. By following the best practices outlined above, your organization can avoid becoming a victim of these sophisticated cyber attacks.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Island hopping in cyber security is a sophisticated type of cyber attack used by attackers to circumvent advanced cyber security measures deployed by large organizations. This article provides key insights into island hopping attacks, including the industries most affected, how they work, and how to prevent them.

What is island hopping (in cyber security)?

An island hopping attack occurs when cyber adversaries pursue access to a company through a circuitous route. Instead of directly targeting the intended victim organization, the attackers will ‘hop’ through a series of intermediary steps in order to achieve their objectives.

Network-based island hopping

This occurs when cyber attackers compromise one organization’s network and then use that network access in order to move directly into another company’s network.

How do island hopping attacks work?

Island hopping attacks often start with a phishing email. One strategy used by island hopping attackers consists of impersonating trusted brands via email, like Apple and Google, and enticing people to respond by leaning into the trusted brand’s reputation.

Why cyber attackers choose island hopping

Cyber attackers use island hopping attacks in order to deploy ransomware, to cryptojack, to steal intellectual property, and to determine which organizations to target in even larger attacks, among other things.

How to stop island hopping attacks

There are a variety of best practices that can help you prevent and defend against island hopping attacks:

• Connect with business partners and third-parties
• Consider recommending the same cyber security ecosystem/infrastructure that you have in place to your business partners
• Lead or request a check on all of the data that your small business partners can access
• Leverage network segmentation to protect server access
• Implement multi-factor authentication
• Have an incident response plan ready-to-roll and maintain an incident response team

If you’re interested in more great cyber security insights, please see CyberTalk.org’s past coverage. In addition, check out the CyberTalk.org newsletter! Sign up today to receive top-notch news articles, best practices and expert analyses; delivered straight to your inbox.

Island hopping is a term that is commonly associated with travel and vacationing. However, in the context of cyber security, it refers to a sophisticated type of cyber attack that is used by attackers to circumvent advanced cyber security measures deployed by large organizations. The industries most affected by island hopping cyber attacks include finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. Ultimately, the target of an island hopping attack is a large enterprise with good cyber security. Following best practices can help your organization avoid an island hopping attack.

An island hopping attack occurs when cyber adversaries pursue access to a company through a circuitous route. Instead of directly targeting the intended victim organization, the attackers will ‘hop’ through a series of intermediary steps in order to achieve their objectives. For example, cyber adversaries may compromise a large organization’s third-party partners in order to eventually gain access to the intended target. This technique is often used because the intended target (a larger organization) will likely have state-of-the-art cyber security that cyber attackers cannot otherwise get past.

Island hopping attacks often start with a phishing email. One strategy used by island hopping attackers consists of impersonating trusted brands via email, like Apple and Google, and enticing people to respond by leaning into the trusted brand’s reputation. Cyber attackers use island hopping attacks in order to deploy ransomware, to cryptojack, to steal intellectual property, and to determine which organizations to target in even larger attacks, among other things. There are a variety of best practices that can help you prevent and defend against island hopping attacks. These include connecting with business partners and third-parties, recommending the same cyber security ecosystem/infrastructure that you have in place to your business partners, leveraging network segmentation to protect server access, implementing multi-factor authentication, and having an incident response plan ready-to-roll and maintaining an incident response team.

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