3 Ways Hackers Gain Access to Databases

Hackers are becoming more sophisticated by the year. They’re finding new ways to access company databases and confidential information.

Organizations often adopt new software to stay ahead of hackers and protect their data. Sadly, it doesn’t take long before hackers figure out new methods of breaching cybersecurity measures and gaining access to an abundance of valuable data.

What Happens When Hackers Access Company Data?

Once hackers manage to access an organization’s data, they usually take one of two steps. The first option is to sell this data to third-party companies to make money. Nowadays, data is its own form of currency, and hackers are well aware of this.

The second option is blocking the organization from accessing its databases and demanding a ransom to unblock it. With this method, cyber attackers make their money directly from the organizations they are targeting, not third-party companies.

Regardless of which path a hacker takes after accessing a database, they may continue to target the same companies over and over again. If an organization fails to implement effective safety measures after a security breach, it's at a higher risk of future attacks.

How Do Hackers Gain Access to Organizational Databases?

Learning which sophisticated methods hackers use to access company databases makes it easier for you to protect your business from cyber-attacks. You can stay one step ahead of the hackers and keep your data safe and secure.

Here are three ways cyber attackers hack into business databases.

1. Through website security walls

Your company’s website is one of the first places that hackers will look when trying to gain access to your data. They will search for potential weak areas in your website’s security wall where they can easily hack into the back-end of your site.

Cyber attackers specifically search for websites that have transactional features, such as retail stores where customers insert their bank details to purchase products. Hackers know that customers’ personal information (such as their names, addresses, and bank details) is highly valuable and can be sold for significant sums of money.

2. Using ransomware

Ransomware refers to a type of malicious software that hackers have used for several years. Hackers search through websites to identify weak spots where they can enter the back-end of your site and download ransomware.

When ransomware infects a computer or a database, it limits the company’s access until it pays a ransom. Hackers may demand hundreds or even thousands of dollars to lift ransomware restrictions.

3. Accessing an unsecured network

If your business operates through an unsecured network, you’re placing yourself at risk of a cyber-attack. Hackers actively search for companies whose internet networks are unsecured or not password protected.

You might not be in full control of the third-party software that you use, but you can install your own cybersecurity programs in-house to protect your data. You should also make sure that all of your internal software and networks have strong passwords and two-factor authentication to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks.