Everything you need to know about zero-day threats

If you work in tech or own a business, you’ve probably spent some time learning about cybersecurity and the best practices to put in place. You might already know about the most common types of threats, like malware and ransomware that can infect your devices.

Once you have a handle on that, there’s a new word to add to your glossary: zero-day threats.

The cybersecurity world is no stranger to cyberthreats, but zero-day threats are especially tricky to manage. Here’s the lowdown on zero-day attacks, and how you can create a line of defence against them so they don’t impact your work.

What are zero-day threats, exactly?

A zero-day threat is one that hasn’t been seen before, and therefore there are no known ways to combat it. Also known as 0Day or zero-hour threats, these threats give attackers a chance to take advantage of a vulnerability in the short timeframe where no solutions or cybersecurity measures exist. And those attackers usually succeed, because there are often no defences in place.

There are many types of zero-day attacks in cybersecurity. For example, a cybercriminal could create zero-day malware, a virus that doesn’t have an antivirus “signature” yet. They could also exploit web browsers, email attachments or file types such as Word or PDF.

The most common targets for zero-day exploits are government departments, large corporations, and individuals with access to intellectual property. Why? Because data is a cybercriminal’s most valuable currency, and there are endless ways they can use, exploit or sell it.

Beating zero-day threats at their own game

Since zero-day threats pop up — and are exploited — so quickly, they’re not always easy to detect.

That’s where an agile third party like ESET comes in. We use machine learning to monitor never-seen-before threats. If we identify one, it’s our job to create code and release patches for our software programs as soon as possible.

ESET Protect Complete is designed to safeguard businesses from new, emerging and existing cyber threats, and is packed with features that specifically work against zero-day threats.

These are the key zero-day attack prevention features:

• Server Exploit. This feature secures corporate networks and puts robust security measures in place to protect your servers. It identifies and analyses suspicious behaviour online, and pulls samples so we can create a solution. It also gives IT security administrators access to attack data, so that they can work from the inside and protect against threats before they happen.
• Cloud Sandbox Analysis. This tool helps to identify, block and address attacks, like ransomware, before they enter your company’s cloud. In other words, it “detonates” threats in an isolated environment, so we can learn more about it while avoiding any devastating effects. Our zero-day antivirus software uses cloud sandboxing technology to run constant tests observing suspicious files, and keep your data safe from various threats.
• Endpoint Detection. The ESET Protect Suite also offers endpoint protection, which is crucial if you have employees using wireless devices that can “talk” to each other. It provides an advanced defence against a range of cyber threats, such as malware, secures WiFI networks and webcams, and scans attachments and images for viruses. It also strengthens the security of cloud email, collaboration and storage systems (like Google Drive), and works to keep your data safe across your company’s servers. Finally, this zero-day protection program has a remote management feature, which means you can monitor your cybersecurity from afar.

Protect yourself against the unknown with ESET

Zero-day threats are unpredictable by nature, but zero-day detection software can help you to stay vigilant and respond to threats before they turn into attacks. Contact ESET’s expert team today to learn about the best zero-day antivirus solutions for your business.