We often worry about cyberattacks exploiting vulnerabilities and bugs in software or system configurations, but most malicious behavior occurs in the form of abuse. Hackers can create malicious websites or domains, fake social media profiles, and even engage directly with online users through legitimate platforms used to find information, products, and services. 

As there is no vulnerability or bug associated with this activity, it occurs daily. Even when businesses follow best security practices internally to protect their perimeter, it does not prevent hackers from abusing internet services to target their online presence and even their consumers.

Eventually, these external threats will lead to lost sales and dissatisfied customers seeking deals or promotions that never existed.

Most companies can fall victim to online scammers. E-commerce platforms, online stores, and service providers are often targeted directly. Still, manufacturers can also be victims of piracy, with malicious actors on online marketplaces and social media offering low-quality counterfeit goods.

To combat and discourage this type of harmful behavior, companies can leverage an external cybersecurity platform — or digital risk platform.

What is in scope? An external cybersecurity platform should provide visibility into a brand's online footprint, including mentions on social networks and marketplaces, similar domain names, and phishing attacks. It should also allow companies to remain aware of conversations related to them in the Deep & Dark Web and other places where criminals plan their fraud campaigns.

Here is what to consider when selecting a platform to protect your online footprint:

Coverage & Visibility

The primary function of an external cybersecurity platform is to provide visibility into external threats, so it is essential to understand what is in scope. If a threat is not visible, no remediation will be possible.

Social networks, forums, domain names, online marketplaces, and app stores — where hackers impersonate brands to publish illegitimate apps — are some environments your external cybersecurity platform on the Surface Web should cover. Regarding the Deep & Dark Web, coverage should include messaging services and communication platforms (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord) and websites on the Tor network.

Although a longer list of covered spaces is generally better, this is not always true. A social platform or messaging service might be more relevant in one region than another. 

Furthermore, expanding the number of monitored spaces will only lead to more noise unless the platform also provides appropriate tools to filter and prioritize alerts.

• Ensure that the online spaces that matter to your business are covered. If you are unfamiliar with the scope, seek advice from experts and test the platform's capabilities.
• Understand the coverage of Deep & Dark Web spaces. These forums and websites usually do not represent a direct risk to your consumers — as a phishing attack would, for example. However, conversations and mentions in these places can anticipate future campaigns and function as threat intelligence for your business.

AI, Automation & Threat Intelligence

People talk about popular brands and products on the web all the time. That is why digital risk platforms must employ powerful algorithms to highlight pages and posts that represent a real risk while skipping content that does not contain anything of interest.

For example, Axur's platform manages over 86% of detections autonomously, significantly reducing the time spent on manual assessments.

On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider the "counterintelligence" behavior of criminals. Hackers employ various tactics to evade monitoring systems, so the platform must have appropriate measures and technology to thwart these attempts and preserve its visibility over threats. 

A simple trick is to include the brand or company name only within images. Unless the platform has optical character recognition (OCR) or similar functionality, there will be nothing to detect. At a more advanced level, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can be leveraged to identify similarities, effectively identifying the presence of logos and other visual cues associated with the brand, including company executives.

Axur also found phishing websites promoted within mobile apps, which present the malicious web page only to certain visitors — who access it through mobile devices. Since monitoring systems are not smartphones, these attacks could go undetected, especially considering the device detection we analyzed is reasonably advanced. Our platform incorporates technology to maintain visibility into these threats.

The last point to consider when it comes to technology is Threat Intelligence. There are many places where hackers post harmful information or leak data stolen from users. While data leaks can happen after an organization is hit by a cyberattack, many exposures result from users being directly compromised by hackers, often due to malware or password reuse.

An external security platform should be able to detect and handle this data appropriately, processing credentials and other data formats in a way that allows your business to respond appropriately.

Given this, remember to look for:

• Automation. The platform must automate detections and prioritizations to prevent you from spending valuable time on false positives or low-risk incidents.

• Artificial Intelligence. The platform should have appropriate AI features and technology to detect visual elements related to your brand and ensure that threats remain visible.
• Threat Intelligence. The platform should know how hackers attempt to evade detections to avoid losing visibility on high-risk threats, such as phishing. It should also be aware of how criminals share information online so that every leaked data and credential is handled appropriately. Finally, inquire about any additional threat intelligence services they offer. As you become aware of how hackers attack your business, on-demand threat intelligence operations can provide much insight for improving your cybersecurity strategy.

Takedown & Integrations

After an incident is detected and confirmed — preferably with automation — the last step is remediation. The takedown is the most common and effective remediation step. As the name implies, it removes the content from the web, wiping out the threat.

Not all takedowns are the same, however. Social media profiles, marketplaces, and domain names all require different procedures for a takedown. A takedown might be faster if it is based on trademark infringement, but another may require a report on the type of abuse or crime, with each claim supported by evidence. After all, you can remove an ad on Facebook Marketplace or a phishing domain.

The faster the content is removed, the fewer the victims. For this reason, the external cybersecurity platform should strive to employ the most effective strategy in each takedown to remove the content as quickly as possible. Faster takedowns have the added benefit of discouraging further malicious activity against your brand.

When the takedown is not the solution, you may need to use the information provided by the platform to respond to the incident on your own. This may involve resetting a user's password, contacting a customer to inform them that their data has been used in a fraud, or engaging your legal department to take the appropriate measures.

These steps will be easier if the platform provides the means for integrating into your on-premises systems or exporting data in a way you can easily use outside the platform.

So, in summary:

• Understand the platform's capability to remove content from the web through takedowns. The takedown is a very powerful tool for responding and neutralizing threats found by the platform.
• Review integration options and other things the platform can do for you. Since not all incidents will end with a takedown, learn how the platform can be integrated into your environment and other ways you can pull data from it to inform your business decisions, legal actions, and more.

Activation & Use

Before beginning your journey with any cybersecurity platform, you need to make it work for you. In other words, the platform should be user-friendly, preferably offering templates so you can get started quickly.

The interface should be intuitive, as it will save on long-term employee training. Remember that online abuses and external threats are some of the most common incidents you will face — your team will work with this platform frequently.

And since cybersecurity is a continuous process, the platform should offer you options for additional training and learning opportunities. No matter how powerful a tool is, what matters is leveraging it for your business.

With all that said, here are the final points for your checklist:

• Easy activation and onboarding. The platform should have the tools you need to get started quickly.
• User-friendliness. Once monitoring begins, the platform should be easy to understand so you can fine-tune its capabilities. It should also be user-friendly, so you do not have to spend much time training new team members.
• Learning opportunities. As you progress in your cybersecurity journey, you should have access to resources that allow you to make the most out of its capabilities.

The Importance of a Strong Partner Program in Cybersecurity Solutions

Choosing a platform with a robust partner program is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture. A well-structured partner program provides numerous benefits, from specialized training and support to access to advanced cybersecurity solutions.

• What Constitutes a Good Partner Program?

A good partner program offers comprehensive benefits such as early access to new products, exclusive discounts, and specialized training. These programs should also include co-marketing activities and performance-based incentives, ensuring that partners are well-equipped to promote and integrate the platform's solutions effectively.

• Benefits to Expect

When selecting a platform with a strong partner program, businesses can expect enhanced training opportunities, continuous support, and valuable resources to boost sales and technical capabilities. These programs often include strategic collaboration efforts to help partners generate demand and increase brand awareness.

• Advantages of an Established Partner Program

Choosing a solution with a well-established partner program like Axur means leveraging a network of experienced professionals who can provide seamless integration and support. This not only enhances the value delivered to clients but also opens new revenue streams and opportunities for growth. A mature partner program ensures that businesses receive the necessary tools and support to maximize the effectiveness of their cybersecurity strategies.

Integrating these elements into your cybersecurity approach ensures comprehensive protection and optimized performance, ultimately leading to a more secure and resilient business environment.