With the modern digital transformation completely changing today’s business world, it has become more important than ever to become proactive and protect themselves and their customers against the rising threat of cyber attacks. We have already experienced a notable increase of 400% in the number of cyberattacks compared with 2019, and the numbers are just going to keep on rising. No one is safe anymore – it can impact everyone, from the biggest tech giant to the smallest startup which is why cybersecurity needs to become a priority for everyone.
Photo: https://pixabay.com/vectors/computer-computer-monitor-men-2763393/
One of the most practical tools you can implement into your cybersecurity protocol is called device fingerprinting. By using device fingerprinting you can combine certain attributes of a device to create a unique fingerprint that can be used to identify your user and prevent cyber attacks.
Why is cybersecurity important?
The only thing the cybercriminals care about is that you have an online presence and they will be able to use it for their financial gain. Both small and big companies are valid targets in the eyes of the cybercriminals as one will have bigger gains but also stronger cybersecurity protocol, while the other will have smaller gains but with weaker cybersecurity.
If you have a business, you are a target which means your finances, business data, and customer data are in danger. This is why you need to start protecting your business now, before anything happens, rather than doing damage control after the worst has happened. It is imperative everyone realize that cybercrime is not some futuristic possibility, it is right here and right now. Luckily there are ways you can mitigate the risks your business is facing. By knowing how users connect with your online services it will be easier for you to identify those users and discover their intent towards your business.
What is device fingerprinting?
Device fingerprinting gives you a unique opportunity to identify your customers and to use this knowledge to protect your business. How can it do that? It is quite simple. Device fingerprinting is a process of collecting different hardware and software data from a device in order to create a unique fingerprint that will be used to identify that user in their interactions with your services. This makes it easier for your system to recognize the attempts of identity theft or an account takeover, and stop it before they can make any significant damage to your business or your customers.
How can device fingerprint help my business?
It can collect anything, from the operating system, location settings, IP address to browser settings, and hundreds of more variables which makes chances of two people having the same fingerprint highly unlikely no matter the number of active Internet users. While there will be people who will have the same laptop, have the same location and even use the same browser, their plugins and browser settings will be different. All of these variables combined together are what make device fingerprints unique.
It might sound complicated but it is the same as having a car or any other equipment. For example, you can say that you have a car which is a Toyota but that doesn’t make you any different from thousands of other people. There are things that make your car special and unique. For example, your Toyota isn’t only a Toyota, it is a blue Toyota Prius with brown leather seats and a scratch above the right side brake light. How many other cars would be the same?
Just like all of those attributes make your car unique, that is how all of the software and hardware variables make that device unique. This is extremely useful in the area of cybersecurity but device fingerprinting can also be used in the other sectors of your business: knowing who your customers make it easier to know what they want and give you a unique opportunity for targeted marketing. Different companies from retail or banking to media streaming have already implemented device fingerprinting into the business module.
Financial services are among the businesses that can benefit the most from implementing device fingerprinting as it can recognize potentially suspicious activity like a customer using a different device to log into a bank account, or they might be trying to access it from a different location or suspicious IP address. By identifying these red flags they can take further action and protect their business and customers.
