Web traffic security safeguards corporate network infrastructure against both incoming and outgoing Web threats, shielding company data from exposure or jeopardizing system integrity.

Traffic monitoring allows companies to detect and control threats on SSL-encrypted web traffic. It also improves network performance by increasing the speed and dependability of business applications and resources.

Malware

Malware, also known as malicious software, is any program or file designed to cause harm to your device or system. It can steal, encrypt or delete sensitive data, alter key computing functions and monitor your activity without your knowledge.

Viruses, ransomware, trojan horses and spyware are the most prevalent types of malware. They can spread via email attachments, drive-by downloads or known vulnerabilities in software that a user has installed on their computer.

Some of the more sophisticated types of malware can avoid detection and are designed to circumvent security sandboxes, while other varieties may even write no code to the hard drive – this type is known as fileless malware – making detection with traditional anti-computer forensic strategies such as signature-based detection tools, hardware verification or pattern analysis highly challenging.

Cybercriminals use malware to infiltrate your machine, steal personal and financial information, and then sell that data on to others. For instance, some programs may record keystrokes which could be used to collect usernames, passwords and credit card details. They may also lock down your device so you cannot access its files or data.

Malware infections are particularly dangerous because they often lead to severe issues with your computer. A machine infected with malware may become overheated or experience significant performance issues. It could slow down its speed dramatically, costing you both time and money in the long run.

Your website’s performance can also be negatively impacted, leading to reduced traffic and search engine rankings. In some cases, it could even get your website flagged for malware by Google or other search engines.

Thankfully, there are ways to protect your site from these threats and the most straightforward option is Kaspersky Web Traffic Security. This software blocks malicious web-based attacks and controls employees’ internet usage for maximum network security.

Kaspersky Web Traffic Security provides comprehensive protection for your company’s internet gateway, serving as a first line of defense against all online threats that could harm your business. It helps guard against phishing, malware and ransomware while decreasing the risks associated with careless web surfing or inappropriate data transmission.

Botnets

Botnets are networks of internet-connected devices (PCs, servers and mobile phones) infected with malicious software that allows them to be remotely controlled by threat actors. They’re commonly employed for malware propagation, disrupting web services or other Internet-related disruptions.

Cybercriminals aim to build a botnet by infecting as many online devices or “bots” with malicious software, since each bot can perform automated tasks that remain invisible from the user of that device. This ensures that cybercriminals have complete control over all infected machines in their network.

Bots are controlled by a cybercriminal known as the “bot herder”, and can be employed to commit various types of cybercrimes. Examples include disrupting internet services, sending spam emails or stealing data from users’ computers.

A large number of infected devices can make it challenging to identify an individual hacker and trace the origins of a botnet attack. This is especially true when cybercriminals utilize peer-to-peer (P2P) models that conceal the identity of their command and control (C&C) server from those affected by a botnet.

However, in today’s connected world of Internet of Things devices, botnets can also be detected through scanning collected data and inspecting their security settings. Doing this helps identify and prevent botnets from ever forming in the first place.

Botnets can be a major issue for online businesses, as they may cause irreparable damage to their reputation, distort analytics and diminish customer engagement. Furthermore, botnets possess sensitive data like credit card details and passwords which could be stolen by malicious actors.

The ZeuS banking trojan is one such botnet that has caused billions of dollars in damages by fraudulently accessing bank accounts around the globe. At its peak, it had infected 13 million computers across 196 countries and accounted for 90% of all global online bank fraud instances.

Botnets present a particularly complex and daunting problem to manage due to their sheer size, relative ease of creation and expansion, and the vast number of internet-connected devices that could potentially become infected. Therefore, effective mitigation and detection strategies are paramount for web traffic security.

Data Leaks

Data leaks are a frequent occurrence for businesses and can be used by cybercriminals to target sensitive information like personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, medical records, and internal documents. These types of records may be stolen or sold on the black market for identity theft, cyberespionage, and other malicious purposes.

Leaks are often unintentional and can be caused by human error or inadequate data security practices. Common examples include misaddressed emails, unprotected databases, lost hard drives or laptops, and lax password security.

To protect yourself from data leaks, the best practice is not to provide personal details like your email address, phone number or home address when using online services that collect user data. Doing this reduces your potential exposure to cybercriminals and helps ensure that a leak never occurs in the first place.

Entrepreneurs must remember their legal obligation to safeguard your organization’s sensitive information. This includes preventing leaks and breaches that can negatively impact both the image and reputation of the brand.

Some companies have even had to pay fines for leaking confidential information, which is usually illegal. That’s why it’s essential to conduct a detailed discovery and classification assessment of your sensitive data and take the necessary steps to keep it private.

Another way to prevent data leaks is by educating your employees on how to protect against security breaches or unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. For instance, if your company has a bring-your-own-device policy, make sure they know how to avoid unintentional access to the company’s network or servers.

It’s essential to comprehend how to safeguard your information in the cloud. For instance, if your business relies on cloud storage, make sure all employees comprehend the significance of using strong passwords and other methods for account protection.

To minimize the likelihood of a data breach, it’s essential to take measures to secure sensitive information by setting up encryption on all important systems and devices. This is particularly crucial if your company has customers in healthcare or financial industries as these organizations must abide by stringent privacy regulations.

Unproductive Sites

Unproductive sites can be a huge burden on productivity and bandwidth. They may cause employees to get distracted by non-work related content and utilize excessive bandwidth and network resources, negatively affecting the performance of your company as a whole.

Companies utilize web traffic security solutions to protect employees from accessing such sites, reduce costs and protect the organization against data loss/theft, malicious content and phishing attacks. These solutions offer a secure and productive browsing experience by blocking or allowing certain categories of URLs based on policy rules.

When users attempt to visit a website, their request will be checked against an established database of web traffic categories. Depending on the policy in place, this may block or permit traffic originating from malicious or phishing sites as well as other categories deemed unsafe and unproductive for business operations.

Popular unproductive websites include social media, gaming sites and humor blogs. While these can be entertaining and distracting, they often contain SEO poisoned links, Trojans and other harmful malware that clogs networks.

If an employee wishes to reduce the amount of time spent on these sites, they can create a Productivity profile and assign each site an unproductive use rating. This helps guarantee employees don’t spend too much time on such platforms while simultaneously increasing their productivity levels.

Another way to limit access to ineffective sites is by setting a time limit on how long they can stay online. This could be as straightforward as 30 minutes or as complex as implementing a time out period that blocks access until the user has reclaimed their time.

This helps guarantee employees don’t spend more than their allocated time on these sites, saving them valuable work hours. It also keeps employees focused on their tasks and reduces the risk of data leaks or stolen information.

Administrators have the flexibility to set exceptions for specific teams and rate a website or application as productive or unproductive according to that team’s needs. For instance, while engineers might find Facebook unproductive, marketing managers could find it beneficial.