Do you think your firewall is keeping your network safe? You might want to reconsider that thought. The reality is, hackers have already compromised almost 50,000 Cisco firewalls due to vulnerabilities. Scary, right?
• Take sensitive information like passwords and customer information
• Crash systems and cause downtime
• Install malware to spy or create a mess.
Many systems are at risk because large enterprise, industries, and small businesses deploy Cisco firewalls.
• Doing your updates on your firewalls should be done as rapidly as possible - do not wait
• You will want to continue to monitor the systems regardless of when you update
• Do not believe that large brands aren't subject to issues - they can have issues
It is funny how all stories related to hacking come full circle to *“Update your systems, watch your network, and pay attention.”*
If we are to be logical we would expect you would rather the story be on an update and not on a critical cyber event!
The Problem?
Cisco discovered vulnerabilities in their ASA and Firepower firewalls. They allow hackers access to take over your system or cause a crash or install malware. Even scarier is that there are users whose devices remain unpatched and online - You know - like leaving the front door of your house wide open to intruders.Why This Matters
A firewall is the critical security block for any organization. If it is no longer effective - hackers can take:• Take sensitive information like passwords and customer information
• Crash systems and cause downtime
• Install malware to spy or create a mess.
Many systems are at risk because large enterprise, industries, and small businesses deploy Cisco firewalls.
Is a Fix Available and Are They Implementing It?
Cisco has rolled out fixes for these problems but many organizations have not installed the fix. I understand - sometimes updating is worthless or takes time but not doing it is an extreme risk. A few hours to update is much better than being a victim of a compromised system.Things to Keep in Mind
Here is what you should know:• Doing your updates on your firewalls should be done as rapidly as possible - do not wait
• You will want to continue to monitor the systems regardless of when you update
• Do not believe that large brands aren't subject to issues - they can have issues
It is funny how all stories related to hacking come full circle to *“Update your systems, watch your network, and pay attention.”*
The Bottom Line
An astonishing 50,000 firewalls were vulnerable to attacks! The incident is a welcome reminder to stay on top of your updates to your systems, and take alerts seriously. The value of updating now will outweigh repairs to your hacked system later.If we are to be logical we would expect you would rather the story be on an update and not on a critical cyber event!
