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| Supply Chain Attack that Broke JavaScript |
A Comprehensive Guide on the Supply Chain Attack that Broke JavaScript, Leveled NPM, and Ruined Our Day
Introduction: What is a supply chain attack?
A supply chain attack is a type of cyberattack that targets the supply chain. Supply chain attacks are usually directed to the software or firmware of a device which can be found in different industries.
The attack can happen when the attacker gains access to the supplier’s network, then plants malware on the devices and finally delivers them to the customer.
What Happened and What is the Risk of this Supply Chain Attack?
On September 24, 2018, a package of software tools called npm was breached. The npm is a program used by developers to share code and manage dependencies. This breach exposed over 300 million records of user data. This event is considered as the largest security breach in history.
The attackers were able to access these records because they had access to an npm database that was not protected by two-factor authentication. The attackers were able to get the password from one of the employees and gained entry into the database using that information.
This breach has caused security issues for many developers and companies because it revealed credentials for many online services like Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, PayPal and Netflix which could be used maliciously in future attacks on those sites or networks.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Company from Future Attacks?
NPM is one of the most popular package managers. It is used by millions of developers to manage their JavaScript dependencies. In February 2018, NPM experienced a security breach that impacted more than 500 packages and was able to steal sensitive information about the private keys.
The npm security breach has raised many questions about package manager security in general and how we should protect ourselves and our company from future attacks.
Conclusion: The Danger of Supply Chain Attacks & Why You Need to Protect Yourself
An Introduction to Supply Chain Attacks
The software supply chain is a complex network of interconnected parts that are all needed to make a program run. The supply chain attack is a malicious act that exploits the software supply chain in order to modify and distribute malware.
A malicious attacker may be able to use the supply chain attack for their own gain, such as:
-Stealing data
-Modifying data
-Distributing malware
-Losing customer trust
Software Supply Chain Attack Protection and Prevention Measures
The npm platform is a JavaScript package manager that offers more than 400,000 packages. It hosts both free and paid packages.
The npm platform has been used in recent attacks on the software supply chain.
In order to protect against these attacks, enterprises should take some preventive measures. One of these measures is to implement an AI-powered solution for the software supply chain attack protection and prevention.
Possible Safeguards Against a Software Supply Chain Attack
The software supply chain is the process of getting a software to its end user. This includes the development, design, and distribution of software.
Protecting the supply chain is important because it can be an easy target for hackers. There are several ways to protect the supply chain, including:
- Encrypting data during transmission
- Requiring two-factor authentication
- Enforcing strong passwords
- Limiting access to sensitive information
Working with Threat Intelligence Experts in the Event of a Software Supply Chain Attack
The npm incident was a perfect example of how a software supply chain attack can happen. The company had to close its registry and take down a number of packages.
It is important for companies to work with threat intelligence experts in the event of such an attack. These experts will help them identify the risks and solutions for their business.