Imagine you’re a small business owner who has recently navigated through the aftermath of a cybersecurity incident, only to discover that your most valuable assets were compromised for less than the cost of a daily coffee. This unsettling scenario highlights the harsh reality of cybercrime facilitated by Initial Access Brokers (IABs) operating in the dark corners of the internet.
In this scenario, an IAB, known by the alias “NetGateKeeper,” exploited a weak password on an outdated server to gain initial access to a company’s network, offering it up on the dark web for a mere $300. This access enabled cybercriminals to infiltrate the business, exfiltrate confidential data, and deploy ransomware, all for less than the cost of a mid-range smartphone. The ease and affordability with which this security was breached are both shocking and a call to action.