Has there ever been a time you noticed a website responding slowly or a server will not be updated? It seems fine but those older and unpatched servers are essentially doors open to hackers. In my experience, leaving a server unupdated is just inviting trouble. Botnets love this.
• Old Software = Low Hanging Fruit: The servers that have not received updates contain known flaws that hackers can exploit.
• Automated Hacking: Botnets execute complex scripts to scour the internet and takeover unpatched servers.
• Quietly Reproduce: When those computers get infected they will quietly work to reproduce the botnet and you may not even realize anything happened.
Small businesses have told me they don't need to bother with updates and that typically, they are just fine. In a matter of days their servers were part of a botnet.
1. Update Everything: Don't wait, install updates as they come.
2. Firewall: This helps block out many automatic attack vectors.
3. Monitor Server Traffic: Look for any suspicious activity early.
4. Train Personnel: One careless administrator can put the whole system at risk.
It's only a few minutes of updates, but it could save you big time later.
So have you ever had a server compromised? It's a scary situation, but it is fairly easy to avoid by keeping your updates current!
What Is a Botnet?
A botnet is essentially an army of computers or servers that hackers have control over. These bad actors utilize the computers to do bad things, and the computer owners are not aware this is happening. That's scary, huh? When hackers are looking for something to hack into, their opportunities are often presented by the lack of server updates.Why Unpatched Servers are a Botnet Paradise
Are you curious why some botnets continue to propagate themselves? Here are a few reasons:• Old Software = Low Hanging Fruit: The servers that have not received updates contain known flaws that hackers can exploit.
• Automated Hacking: Botnets execute complex scripts to scour the internet and takeover unpatched servers.
• Quietly Reproduce: When those computers get infected they will quietly work to reproduce the botnet and you may not even realize anything happened.
Small businesses have told me they don't need to bother with updates and that typically, they are just fine. In a matter of days their servers were part of a botnet.
What Can Happen
Botnets can really do damage, such as:- Cause your website to crash with DDoS attacks.
- Disseminate malware to anyone accessing your server.
- Theft of sensitive information and/or bank information.
Ways to Secure the Servers
Here are my personal tips to secure servers:1. Update Everything: Don't wait, install updates as they come.
2. Firewall: This helps block out many automatic attack vectors.
3. Monitor Server Traffic: Look for any suspicious activity early.
4. Train Personnel: One careless administrator can put the whole system at risk.
It's only a few minutes of updates, but it could save you big time later.
Closing Thoughts
Unpatched servers are not just a bad approach to IT— they are what hackers look for to grow botnets. Think of updates like brushing your teeth— do it every day or face a world of hurt in the future. If you keep your servers patched, monitor them closely, and patch vulnerabilities, you'll be secure.So have you ever had a server compromised? It's a scary situation, but it is fairly easy to avoid by keeping your updates current!
