If you're a regular reader of cybersecurity news, then you might have seen article after article discussing the KRACK attack. But what exactly is the KRACK attack? Should private businesses worry about it? Can anything be done to stop it?

Below, CyberPolicy answers these questions and more by recommending changes to your cybersecurity policy. By following these tips, you can improve your chances of avoiding the severe consequences of data breaches and cyberattacks.

‍Spying Through the KRACKs

KRACK attacks, also known as  Ëœkey reinstallation attacks,"' are the latest form of  Ëœman in the middle' attacks. Basically, they intercept sensitive information traveling to and from your device. KRACK takes advantage of WPA-2 vulnerabilities in your Wi-Fi connection, which allows unauthorized users to see information in transit.

Keep in mind that WPA-2 stands for the second version of the Wireless Protected Access standard. It was developed as a means to stymie hacker intrusion by way of encryption. But now we know that this isn't a foolproof solution.

Here's how the KRACK attack works: A cyber crook identifies a vulnerable network and then makes an exact replica of the network. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi channel is now controlled by the hacker, who forces your device to trust this perfidious network.

Even more surprising is that the phony network overrides traditional encryption keys implicit in the plain text by compromising the handshake process. According to CSO, the handshake process is what establishes the connection between a device and the router or network server. It's not the router itself that has been turned, mind you. But by foiling the handshake process, the hacker becomes a dangerous eavesdropper.

This is bad news for businesses that regularly use Wi-Fi inside and outside the office to share files, communicate with coworkers, and manage client data.

Luckily, this isn't a death sentence. There are ways to obstruct KRACK attack hackers from listening in on your online activities. For example," the SD-WAN network protocol is actually safer than the WPA-2 standard. That's because SD-WAN uses dynamic encryption at the packet level, which means that your network is protected no matter how your data is transferred.

Or as, CSO writes, "The very nature of SD-WAN means that data is encrypted from its origin all the way to its destination, leaving no weak points for hackers to exploit. Âù

Since this exploit was only recently discovered, it helps to update all your devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.) with the latest security patches. Turn on auto-updates, as developers" now aware of the situation" will likely come out with new improvements all the time.

If you are really paranoid, you can always turn off your Wi-Fi and switch to Ethernet. This will ensure that any online activities you perform will be invisible to Wi-Fi hackers because you are no longer on Wi-Fi. It's a cheap and simple solution to a novel and scary problem.

There's no doubt in anyone's mind that sophisticated cybercriminals will continue to develop new and frightening threats. Get in front of the problem by investing a cybersecurity insurance policy from CyberPolicy. No matter what kind of digital threat sinks its teeth into your network, you can rest easy knowing you are backed by a reputable insurance provider.

Find the right policy for your business by visiting CyberPolicy today!