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New Report: Unveiling the Threat of Malicious Browser Extensions

New Report: Unveiling the Threat of Malicious Browser Extensions

Dec 06, 2023 Browser Security / Privacy
Compromising the browser is a high-return target for adversaries. Browser extensions, which are small software modules that are added to the browser and can enhance browsing experiences, have become a popular browser attack vector. This is because they are widely adopted among users and can easily turn malicious through developer actions or attacks on legitimate extensions. Recent incidents like  DataSpii  and the  Nigelthorn  malware attack have exposed the extent of damage that malicious extensions can inflict. In both cases, users innocently installed extensions that compromised their privacy and security. The underlying issue lies in the permissions granted to extensions. These permissions, often excessive and lacking granularity, allow attackers to exploit them. What can organizations do to protect themselves from the risks of browser extensions without barring them from use altogether (an act that would be nearly impossible to enforce)?  A new report by LayerX, "Unveiling the
Hands on Review: LayerX's Enterprise Browser Security Extension

Hands on Review: LayerX's Enterprise Browser Security Extension

Nov 01, 2023 Browser Security / Cybersecurity
The browser has become the main work interface in modern enterprises. It's where employees create and interact with data, and how they access organizational and external SaaS and web apps. As a result, the browser is extensively targeted by adversaries. They seek to steal the data it stores and use it for malicious access to organizational SaaS apps or the hosting machine. Additionally, unintentional data leakage via the browser has become a critical concern for organizations as well. However, traditional endpoint, network, and data protection solutions fail to protect this critical resource against advanced web-borne attacks that continuously rise in sophistication and volume. This gap leaves organizations exposed to phishing attacks, malicious browser extensions, data exposure, and data loss.  This is the challenge  LayerX  is attempting to solve. LayerX has developed a secure enterprise browser extension that can be mounted on any browser. The LayerX extension delivers comprehen
Making Sense of Operational Technology Attacks: The Past, Present, and Future

Making Sense of Operational Technology Attacks: The Past, Present, and Future

Mar 21, 2024Operational Technology / SCADA Security
When you read reports about cyber-attacks affecting operational technology (OT), it's easy to get caught up in the hype and assume every single one is sophisticated. But are OT environments all over the world really besieged by a constant barrage of complex cyber-attacks? Answering that would require breaking down the different types of OT cyber-attacks and then looking back on all the historical attacks to see how those types compare.  The Types of OT Cyber-Attacks Over the past few decades, there has been a growing awareness of the need for improved cybersecurity practices in IT's lesser-known counterpart, OT. In fact, the lines of what constitutes a cyber-attack on OT have never been well defined, and if anything, they have further blurred over time. Therefore, we'd like to begin this post with a discussion around the ways in which cyber-attacks can either target or just simply impact OT, and why it might be important for us to make the distinction going forward. Figure 1 The Pu
The Dark Side of Browser Isolation – and the Next Generation Browser Security Technologies

The Dark Side of Browser Isolation – and the Next Generation Browser Security Technologies

Sep 28, 2023 Browser Security / Cybersecurity
The landscape of browser security has undergone significant changes over the past decade. While Browser Isolation was once considered the gold standard for protecting against browser exploits and malware downloads, it has become increasingly inadequate and insecure in today's SaaS-centric world. The limitations of Browser Isolation, such as degraded browser performance and inability to tackle modern web-borne threats like phishing and malicious extensions, necessitate a shift towards more advanced solutions. These are the findings of a new report, titled " The Dark Side of Browser Isolation and the Next Generation of Browser Security " ( Download here ). The Roots of Browser Isolation In the past, traditional signature-based antiviruses were commonly used to protect against on-device malware infections. However, they failed to block two main types of threats. The first, browser exploit, especially in Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The second, drive-by malware down
cyber security

Automated remediation solutions are crucial for security

websiteWing SecurityShadow IT / SaaS Security
Especially when it comes to securing employees' SaaS usage, don't settle for a longer to-do list. Auto-remediation is key to achieving SaaS security.
Live Webinar: Overcoming Generative AI Data Leakage Risks

Live Webinar: Overcoming Generative AI Data Leakage Risks

Sep 19, 2023 Artificial Intelligence / Browser Security
As the adoption of generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, continues to surge, so does the risk of data exposure. According to Gartner's "Emerging Tech: Top 4 Security Risks of GenAI" report, privacy and data security is one of the four major emerging risks within generative AI.  A new webinar  featuring a multi-time Fortune 100 CISO and the CEO of LayerX, a browser extension solution, delves into this critical risk. Throughout the webinar, the speakers will explain why data security is a risk and explore the ability of DLP solutions to protect against them, or lack thereof. Then, they will delineate the capabilities required by DLP solutions to ensure businesses benefit from the productivity GenAI applications have to offer without compromising security.  The Business and Security Risks of Generative AI Applications GenAI security risks occur when employees insert sensitive texts into these applications. These actions warrant careful consideration, because the inserted data b
Guide: How Google Workspace-based Organizations can leverage Chrome to improve Security

Guide: How Google Workspace-based Organizations can leverage Chrome to improve Security

Aug 16, 2023 Browser Security/ Online Security
More and more organizations are choosing Google Workspace as their default employee toolset of choice. But despite the productivity advantages, this organizational action also incurs a new security debt. Security teams now have to find a way to adjust their security architecture to this new cloud workload. Some teams may rely on their existing network security solutions. According to a  new guide , this is a hit and a miss. Network solutions, the guide claims, just don't cover all SaaS and browsing requirements. Meanwhile, Google offers a wide range of native security functionalities built-in to Chrome. These functionalities enable the organization to leverage the browser for consolidating security, simplifying operations and reducing costs. If you're wary about trusting Chrome with your security, then the guide is recommended to read. In great detail, it explains which security features Chrome offers users. These include: Forcing users to sign into Chrome, to ensure the
RFP Template for Browser Security

RFP Template for Browser Security

Aug 03, 2023 Browser Security / Data Security
Increasing cyber threats and attacks have made protecting organizational data a paramount concern for businesses of all sizes. A group of experts have recognized the pressing need for comprehensive browser security solutions and collaborated to develop "The Definitive  Browser Security RFP Template . " This resource helps streamline the process of evaluating and procuring browser security platforms. It provides organizations with a standardized approach to enhance their security posture by protecting the key employee workspace - the browser. The Importance of a Standardized RFP Template The RFP (Request for Proposal) template offers numerous advantages for organizations seeking robust browser security solutions. By promoting standardization, the RFP template ensures a consistent structure and format for proposals, saving time and effort for both the procurement team and vendors. Moreover, it facilitates clear and specific instructions to vendors, resulting in higher-qualit
New Research: 6% of Employees Paste Sensitive Data into GenAI tools as ChatGPT

New Research: 6% of Employees Paste Sensitive Data into GenAI tools as ChatGPT

Jun 15, 2023 Browser Security / Data Security
The revolutionary technology of GenAI tools, such as ChatGPT, has brought significant risks to organizations' sensitive data. But what do we really know about this risk? A  new research  by Browser Security company LayerX sheds light on the scope and nature of these risks. The report titled "Revealing the True GenAI Data Exposure Risk" provides crucial insights for data protection stakeholders and empowers them to take proactive measures. The Numbers Behind the ChatGPT Risk By analyzing the usage of ChatGPT and other generative AI apps among 10,000 employees, the report has identified key areas of concern. One alarming finding reveals that 6% of employees have pasted sensitive data into GenAI, with 4% engaging in this risky behavior on a weekly basis. This recurring action poses a severe threat of data exfiltration for organizations. The report addresses vital risk assessment questions, including the actual scope of GenAI usage across enterprise workforces, the relati
Webinar with Guest Forrester: Browser Security New Approaches

Webinar with Guest Forrester: Browser Security New Approaches

May 25, 2023 Browser Security / Tech
In today's digital landscape, browser security has become an increasingly pressing issue, making it essential for organizations to be aware of the latest threats to browser security. That's why the Browser Security platform LayerX is hosting  a webinar  featuring guest speaker Paddy Harrington, a senior analyst at Forrester and the lead author of Forrester's browser security report "Securing The Browser In The World Of Anywhere Work ". During this webinar, Harrington will join LayerX CEO, to discuss the emergence of the browser security category, the browser security risk and threat landscape, and why addressing browser security can wait no longer. The webinar will also cover browser security solutions, explaining their pros, cons, and differences, and how organizations can work more securely in the browser. Additionally, the session will focus on using browser security solutions as a cost-saver for security teams. Participants will also get an exclusive opport
Browser Security Survey: 87% of SaaS Adopters Exposed to Browser-borne Attacks

Browser Security Survey: 87% of SaaS Adopters Exposed to Browser-borne Attacks

Apr 26, 2023 Browser Security / SaaS Security
The browser serves as the primary interface between the on-premises environment, the cloud, and the web in the modern enterprise. Therefore, the browser is also exposed to multiple types of cyber threats and operational risks.  In light of this significant challenge, how are CISOs responding? LayerX, Browser Security platform provider, has polled more than 150 CISOs across multiple verticals and geolocations. They asked them about their security practices for SaaS access, BYOD, phishing, browser data loss and browser security. The results of this extensive poll can be found in the report "2023 Browser Security Survey". In this article, we bring a taste of the report. You can read all the results and analysis here . Main Highlights Organizations in the cloud are exposed to web-borne attacks. 87% of all-SaaS adopters and 79% of CISOs in a hybrid environment experienced a web-borne security threat in the past 12 months. Account takeover is a top concern. 48% list credential phis
ChatGPT's Data Protection Blind Spots and How Security Teams Can Solve Them

ChatGPT's Data Protection Blind Spots and How Security Teams Can Solve Them

Apr 20, 2023 Artificial Intelligence / Data Safety
In the short time since their inception, ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms have rightfully gained the reputation of ultimate productivity boosters. However, the very same technology that enables rapid production of high-quality text on demand, can at the same time expose sensitive corporate data. A recent  incident , in which Samsung software engineers pasted proprietary code into ChatGPT, clearly demonstrates that this tool can easily become a potential data leakage channel. This vulnerability introduces a demanding challenge for security stakeholders, since none of the existing data protection tools can ensure no sensitive data is exposed to ChatGPT. In this article we'll explore this security challenge in detail and show how browser security solutions can provide a solution. All while enabling organizations to fully realize ChatGPT's productivity potential and without having to compromise on data security.  The ChatGPT data protection blind spot: How can you govern
2023 Browser Security Report Uncovers Major Browsing Risks and Blind Spots

2023 Browser Security Report Uncovers Major Browsing Risks and Blind Spots

Mar 02, 2023 Browser Security
As a primary working interface, the browser plays a significant role in today's corporate environment. The browser is constantly used by employees to access websites, SaaS applications and internal applications, from both managed and unmanaged devices. A new report published by LayerX, a browser security vendor, finds that attackers are exploiting this reality and are targeting it in increasing numbers ( download report here ). The key report findings  Over half of all the browsers in the enterprise environment are misconfigured.  While a configured browser is nearly impossible to compromise, stealing data from misconfigured browsers is like taking candy from a baby. The Leading misconfigurations are improper use of personal browser profiles on work devices (29%), poor patching routine (50%), and the use of corporate browser profiles on unmanaged devices. 3 of every 10 SaaS applications are non-corporate shadow SaaS,  and no SaaS discovery/security solution can address its ris
The Definitive Browser Security Checklist

The Definitive Browser Security Checklist

Jan 25, 2023 Browser Security
Security stakeholders have come to realize that the prominent role the browser has in the modern corporate environment requires a re-evaluation of how it is managed and protected. While not long-ago web-borne risks were still addressed by a patchwork of endpoint, network, and cloud solutions, it is now clear that the partial protection these solutions provided is no longer sufficient. Therefore, more and more security teams are now turning to the emerging category of purpose-built  Browser Security Platform  as the answer to the browser's security challenges. However, as this security solution category is still relatively new, there is not yet an established set of browser security best practices, nor common evaluation criteria. LayerX, the User-First Browser Security Platform, is addressing security teams' need with the downable  Browser Security Checklist ,  that guides its readers through the essentials of choosing the best solution and provides them with an actionable che
Mitigate the LastPass Attack Surface in Your Environment with this Free Tool

Mitigate the LastPass Attack Surface in Your Environment with this Free Tool

Jan 05, 2023 Password Management / IT Breach
The latest breach announced by LastPass is a major cause for concern to security stakeholders. As often occurs, we are at a security limbo – on the one hand, as LastPass has noted, users who followed LastPass best practices would be exposed to practically zero to extremely low risk. However, to say that password best practices are not followed is a wild understatement. The reality is that there are very few organizations in which these practices are truly enforced. This puts security teams in the worst position, where exposure to compromise is almost certain, but pinpointing the users who created this exposure is almost impossible.  To assist them throughout this challenging time, Browser Security solution LayerX has launched a free offering of its platform, enabling security teams to gain visibility into all browsers on which the LastPass extension is installed and mitigate the potential impacts of the LastPass breach on their environments by informing vulnerable users and require t
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