New Threats in Cybersecurity To Be Aware Of

You may have heard of firmware here and there, but what is it and what does it do? Firmware is a small piece of software that makes your device work the way the manufacturer intended it to work. Think of it as being the code that makes your hardware tick. Without it, your hardware would become brick-like, unable to do anything but sit there.

For simple technology, like a washing machine, firmware essentially acts as the machine’s operating system and controls all of its functions. With something more sophisticated, like a computer motherboard, firmware plays a less critical role, but still important. A firmware-less motherboard may result in something like your computer being unable to recognize its hard drive.

Although the method of attack is similar—cybercriminals searching for and finding exploitable vulnerabilities—firmware attacks differ from more well-known types of attacks. This threat is especially dangerous because hackers can sidestep standard antivirus software. Done by pushing malicious code to the lower levels of your device, a firmware attack can compromise your device before it’s even turned on.

What’s even more troubling is there are a variety of ways hackers can deliver the code. The most popular vectors for infection include infected USBs, corrupted drives, and bad firmware products. However, this can also be done remotely through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or any other form of connectivity.