IP spoofing is a method of attack where cyber criminals mask an IP address as a trusted source to gain access to your device or network. This technique enables various malicious attacks, such as infecting devices with malware, crashing servers, or stealing data.
How does IP Spoofing work?
All data transmitted over the internet is split up into smaller chunks called ‘packets’. Each packet carries an IP address which is a unique number that gives every device on the internet a distinct identification. Cyber criminals use tools to disguise their IP address in packets as a legitimate source, which tricks the receiving computer into accepting it. By sending these spoofed packets to target systems, attackers can bypass security measures.
Put more simply, consider IP packets as postal letters – in this case, IP spoofing would be changing the “return address” to conceal the letter’s origin.
How to prevent IP Spoofing?
- Ingress and Egress filtering – Implement filtering to verify packets have valid source IP addresses and configure routers and firewalls to reject packets with spoofed source IP addresses.
- System updates – Keep your software updated with the latest security patches to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
- Use anti-spoofing software – Anti-spoofing software can detect and block spoofed packets in real-time.
- Regular monitoring and logging – Monitor network traffic and log information about source IP addresses. Analyse these logs for any anomalies or suspicious patterns that may indicate IP spoofing attempts.
If you’re uncertain about implementing these preventative measures, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mitigo for assistance.
