How to Prevent Credential Harvesting: A Comprehensive Guide

Imagine discovering that someone has stolen your house keys, made copies, and now has unlimited access to your home. This is essentially what credential harvesting does in the digital world - cybercriminals collect usernames, passwords, and other authentication details to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information, leading to significant personal and organisational damage.

Understanding and Identifying the Threat

Credential harvesting persists as a significant risk due to its effectiveness and the growing sophistication of cyberattacks. With over 20 billion username and password combinations available on the dark web, cybercriminals have an almost limitless supply of tools to fuel their malicious activities. This abundance, combined with advanced tactics such as phishing and social engineering, ensures that credential harvesting remains a persistent and evolving threat.

Recent data underscores this growing threat - credential phishing attacks surged by 703% in the second half of 2024, with sophisticated phishing kits and social engineering tactics leading the charge. The healthcare sector has been particularly vulnerable, prompting warnings from the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (HC3) about ongoing credential harvesting campaigns.

Common Attack Methods and Their Evolution

Attackers employ various techniques to gather credentials, each exploiting different vulnerabilities in our digital defences:

Phishing and Spear Phishing

Traditional phishing casts a wide net using generic deceptive messages, while spear phishing targets specific individuals or organisations with meticulously crafted content. Both methods exploit human psychology, using urgency or authority to compel recipients into clicking malicious links or providing login details. Think of phishing as fishing with a net, while spear phishing is more like fishing with a carefully chosen lure for a specific type of fish.

Keylogging: The Silent Observer

Keyloggers act like invisible recorders, capturing every keystroke a user makes. These malicious programs often arrive disguised as legitimate software or hidden within seemingly innocent downloads. Once installed, they silently harvest everything from passwords to personal messages. Protection requires vigilance: keeping software updated, using reputable antivirus programs, and treating unexpected downloads with healthy suspicion.

Adversary-in-the-Middle (AitM) Attacks

Imagine a postal worker reading your mail before delivering it - that's essentially how AitM attacks work. Attackers position themselves between you and your intended destination, intercepting communications without either party's knowledge. Defending against these attacks requires phishing-resistant Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), encrypted connections (HTTPS), careful use of public Wi-Fi, and robust network security protocols.

Reverse Proxy Credential Theft: A Modern Threat

This sophisticated technique acts like a deceptive mirror, reflecting a legitimate service while secretly capturing credentials. Attackers deploy a malicious reverse proxy server that sits between the victim and a legitimate service, such as a corporate login portal or a cloud application. As users interact with what appears to be the legitimate service, the reverse proxy forwards requests to the actual server, capturing the user’s credentials (including multi-factor authentication tokens) in the process.

This technique is particularly dangerous because it bypasses traditional security measures like HTTPS encryption and MFA. The user unwittingly interacts with the genuine service while the attacker silently harvests sensitive information. To mitigate this threat, organisations must invest in phishing-resistant authentication methods, such as Fast Identity Online 2 (FIDO2) hardware tokens, passkeys, or certificate-based logins, and continuously monitor for anomalous login behaviours indicative of reverse proxy attacks.

Social Engineering: The Human Hack

Social engineering is a deceptive tactic that exploits human psychology to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information. Rather than breaking through technical defences, attackers rely on psychological tricks to bypass logical thinking. Common tactics include impersonating trusted entities, creating artificial urgency, or offering tempting incentives.

To counteract these threats, organisations should implement a multi-faceted approach:

• Train employees to recognise suspicious behaviour and maintain a healthy scepticism
• Establish and enforce clear protocols for handling sensitive information requests
• Implement strict identity verification procedures before sharing any confidential data
• Cultivate a security-conscious culture that values caution over convenience

Fake Wi-Fi Networks: The Digital Trap

Like a Venus flytrap for digital devices, fake Wi-Fi networks lure unsuspecting users with the promise of free connectivity. These deceptive hotspots, often mimicking legitimate networks, can intercept everything from browsing data to login credentials. Protection requires caution: use virtual private networks (VPNs), verify network legitimacy, and avoid accessing sensitive information on public networks.

Session Hijacking: The Digital Pickpocket

Once users authenticate with a server, session hijackers can swoop in and take over, much like a pickpocket stealing your train ticket after you've passed the barrier. They exploit session tokens to gain unauthorised access without needing original credentials. Prevention involves secure cookie handling, implementing session timeouts, and monitoring for unusual activity patterns.

Preventing Credential Harvesting Attempts

Detecting credential harvesting attempts early can prevent significant damage. Watch for these warning signs:

• Unexpected Authentication Requests: Be wary of sudden login prompts, especially when you’re already authenticated. Legitimate services rarely ask for re-authentication without clear reason, such as accessing sensitive features or after session timeouts.
• Email Bombing and Suspicious Messages: A flood of emails might serve as a smoke screen for credential harvesting attempts. Pay particular attention to messages containing urgent requests, unexpected account verification needs, or links to login pages.
• Unusual Account Activity: Monitor for unexpected account behaviours, such as login attempts from unknown locations, password reset requests you didn’t initiate, or account setting changes you didn’t make.

While recognising threats is crucial, implementing robust preventive measures creates a strong foundation for security. Here's how to build comprehensive protection against credential harvesting:

Implement Strong Password Policies

Think of passwords as the keys to your digital kingdom - they need to be unique and complex to be effective. Creating and managing strong passwords is fundamental in preventing credential harvesting. Best practices include using complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, avoiding reuse across multiple sites, and changing passwords regularly. Password management tools can assist in generating and storing secure passwords, reducing the risk of credential compromise.

Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) acts as a second line of defence by requiring additional verification beyond just a password. This could include a biometric scan, a one-time code sent to a mobile device, or a hardware token. While MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access, using phishing-resistant MFA is recommended. These methods, such as FIDO2 security keys or certificate-based authentication, provide an additional layer of protection against advanced threats like adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) attacks, ensuring a more secure authentication process.

Understand Your Human Risk

Consider this sobering fact: 95% of cybersecurity breaches can be traced back to human error. Understanding your human risk score provides a measurable, data-driven insight into how vulnerable you or your organisation might be to cyber threats. This approach evaluates specific behaviours, actions, and patterns to identify areas of risk for each individual.

By analysing factors like susceptibility to phishing attempts, risky online habits, or adherence to security protocols, plus a user’s psychological profile, organisations can address vulnerabilities with targeted interventions. This ensures that resources are focused where they are needed most, making risk management more proactive and effective. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all strategy, a human risk score empowers organisations to build personalised defence strategies that adapt as threats evolve.

Conduct Security Awareness Training

Educating employees about the dangers of credential harvesting and teaching them how to recognise and respond to potential threats is essential. With effective, regular and supported training, it is a good first step to managing your human risk. Key topics for training include identifying phishing attempts, understanding the importance of strong passwords, and knowing the procedures for reporting suspicious activity. This approach fosters a security-first culture, empowering employees to act as the first line of defence against credential theft.

Deploy Security Tools

Think of security tools as your digital immune system - they work together to protect against various threats. Utilising security tools such as email filtering, firewalls, and antivirus software plays a crucial role in preventing credential harvesting. Email filters can block phishing attempts, firewalls can protect against unauthorised network access, and antivirus programs can detect and remove malicious software. Implementing these tools and keeping them updated ensures robust protection against evolving threats.

Monitor and Audit Network Activities

Just as a security camera system helps protect physical premises, regular monitoring and auditing of network activities help organisations to detect and respond to suspicious behaviour promptly.  Effective monitoring involves setting up alerts for unusual login attempts, tracking access to sensitive data, and reviewing logs for signs of potential breaches. Regular audits ensure that security measures are functioning correctly and help identify areas for improvement.

Compliance and Regulations

Beyond good practice, adhering to data protection regulations is vital for safeguarding credentials and avoiding legal repercussions. Regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) set standards for data security and privacy. Ensuring compliance involves implementing necessary security measures, conducting regular audits, and staying informed about regulatory changes relevant to credential security.

Staying Ahead of Tomorrow’s Threats

As cyber threats continue to evolve, protecting against credential harvesting requires vigilance and adaptability. Modern security tools offering real-time threat intelligence and automated responses provide a foundation for robust defence, but they must be combined with strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and comprehensive employee training. Investing in advanced fraud detection technologies whilst building a security-aware culture ensures your defences remain effective against emerging threats.

By taking this multifaceted approach, organisations can significantly reduce their risk of credential theft and safeguard their sensitive information from increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. Remember, security is not a destination but a journey - one that requires continuous adaptation and improvement to stay ahead of those who would do us harm.

FAQs

What should we do if we suspect a credential harvesting attack?

If you suspect a credential harvesting attack, immediately change all affected passwords, notify your IT department, and monitor your accounts for unusual activity. It may also be necessary to inform relevant authorities and affected parties, depending on the severity of the breach.

How can we safeguard against future attacks?

To safeguard against future attacks, continuously update and enforce security policies, implement advanced security tools, conduct regular security training, and stay informed about the latest cyber threats and prevention strategies.

What are the legal implications of credential harvesting?

Credential harvesting can lead to severe legal consequences, including fines and penalties for organisations that fail to protect their sensitive data. Individuals may also face legal actions if their negligence contributes to a data breach. Compliance with data protection regulations is essential to avoid these implications.