On a daily basis, we are exposed to suffer all kinds of cyber attacks with which hackers seek to access our personal information or to monitor our activity on the Internet. One of the best known is the port scanner attack.
Is a computer equipment scanning technique, by which they can detect any vulnerability in the system and take advantage of it to extract all kinds of user data. Therefore, it is essential to know the measurements of security required to avoid it.
In this post, we will delve into the issues involved in the Port Scanner attack, what it is, how it works and tips to protect yourself in these cases.
What is a port scan attack and what does it look for on our computers?
He port scan attack or Port scan is a illicit activity by which the ports of a computer are automatically scanned or any machine connected to a network. The objective of this is to verify which ports are open, closed or which of them has a security protocol. According to this analysis, intruders can get their hands on personal information such as the composition of a network architecture, the operating system, possible security holes, etc.
The tricky thing about this is that represents a gateway for cyber attackers. Once they manage to penetrate a network through the portscan, may extract sensitive information such as personal data, access to passwords, among others. For its part, it is also necessary to clarify that many network administrators make use of port scanning in order to have a vulnerability map, to later correct them and avoid attacks.
What are the clearest signs that we are victims of a port scanner?
First of all, you should know that when a port is open, is exposed to accept and recognize all packets UDP and TCP that leave or enter through it. Conversely, when a port is closed on a router or blocked by a firewall, that port will not receive any communication with the outside and any traffic that tries to penetrate will be rejected.
In this sense, the most common security practice in these cases is to simply close the ports by default, and open only those with which you work. This will prevent pirates from having access to them. However, you can back yourself doing a complete scan of your ports with the help of tools.
Some of the most popular port scan tools are:
Nmap
Download Nmap Windows
Angry IPScan
Download Angry IPScan Windows
Download Angry IPScan MacOS
With their help, you will discover information about your ports For example, if a port is open on a network so that apps can connect to the Internet without problems. Or carry out a complete scan to find out possible ways of access to hackers. So, you can identify if you are suffering from a Port Scanner attack. This is generally a task that many computer security agencies perform, but one that you can do without problems too.
Tips to protect yourself from a port scan attack that you should know
There are a number of actions you can take into account to avoid attacks on your ports and maintain as much security as possible.
Here are some tips that will be of great help:
Use the necessary ports
It may seem obvious, but many people don't take it into account. A hacker always will try to scan using a robot and brute force. Keep in mind that most attacks are automated, so the best way to avoid suffering attacks of this type is working only with the necessary ports.
Works with non-standard ports
The ideal is to make the attackers' work difficult, so it is recommended as far as possible use non-standard ports. For example, when someone wants to collect information from a system, they may do so through standard ports such as the 1521 for Oracle or 8081 for a maven antifactory. Likewise, this is not a 100% safe measure by itself. But it does help if you want to back up your networks and devices.
Protects access to everything that should be restricted and its connections
If you must offer a service to a user or company, but it is a service that runs the risk of being attacked, the ideal is protect it with the help of authentication systems. Make use of this type of strategy and you will shield your ports against attacks.
Take advantage of preventive methods
It is always better to be safe than sorry, so preventive methods will be very helpful. This tip is one of the most important, so you have to implement it as soon as possible.
When you have a public service, you must have preventive systems that react effectively to attacks. At this point, the IDS and firewalls. In the case of a IDS, It acts in a programmed way and conforms to the rules defined by the user and which can be dynamic. For its part, the use of firewall it is well known and you will get many very effective software and hardware options. Apply it as soon as possible!
Hide information
The attackers seek to get your information of all kinds when entering a system, so hiding it or making its access complicated can save you.
Some actions that will help you are:
- Disable information banners of any service.
- Falsify the footprint of the pile TCP / IP to give false clues in cases of error and thus deceive fingerprint detection systems.
Keep the software up to date
It is essential that keep the software updated, since with each new version they correct errors and failures of vulnerability. Without a doubt, it is essential to maintain your updated software.
Stay up-to-date on the latest security enhancements
Security mechanisms are constantly updated, so it's always a good idea to stay informed on these topics. Remember that cyber attackers get better and better, and the idea is to be one step ahead of them. Thus, you can protect yourself.