What is Session Hijacking?

Session hijacking is a cybercriminal attack in which hackers intercept or take over a user’s active session with an online application. This enables attackers to acquire unauthorised access to sensitive data or control over the user’s account, frequently resulting in security breaches.

Session hijacking can occur across various platforms, including personal devices such as PCs, smartphones, and cloud environments. This attack occurs without the user’s knowledge, making it very dangerous for the compromised individuals.

Unlike other types of assaults, including malware or ransomware, session hijacking exploits flaws in session tokens or network communication, allowing hackers to disguise themselves as the victim and influence their sessions.

Indicators of a Session Hijacking Attack

1. Unusual Account Activity: If your account shows symptoms of illegal logins or strange behaviours such as password changes, purchases, or file revisions, this could indicate session hijacking.
2. Unexplained Logouts: If you are logged out of an application or website, especially if you have not been inactive for long, your session may have been compromised. Attackers may terminate your session while keeping their access.
3. Inconsistent Device Performance: Like cryptojacking, session hijacking can cause visible performance reductions as attackers use your session maliciously. You may observe delays or inconsistencies in system or browser responsiveness.
4. IP Address Disparities: Checking your log-in sessions for unusual IP addresses or geolocations can help identify hijacked sessions. Attackers frequently access your account from many places or devices, which might trigger security alarms if adequately monitored.
5. Increased Network Traffic: Session hijackers can boost the data flow to and from your device, causing a visible spike in network activity. This could be related to illegitimate commands, data extraction, or manipulation attempts during your session.

How to Detect Session Hijacking Attacks

1. Monitor Login Sessions: Track your active sessions across applications or services. Any unexpected devices or IP addresses in your account settings may indicate session hijacking.
2. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implementing 2FA adds a layer of security to your accounts, making it more difficult for attackers to hijack your session.
3. Check Browser Cookies and Tokens: Session hijacking frequently involves stealing session cookies or tokens. Clearing your browser cache and cookies consistently can help limit attackers’ chances of gaining access to this critical information.
4. Use Security Software: Install antivirus or anti-malware software that serves sophisticated protection against session hijacking tactics, such as detecting and blocking assaults on session tokens.
5. Monitor Network Traffic: Network monitoring technologies can help you identify strange traffic patterns, such as data delivered to unfamiliar IP addresses or places. Such irregularities could imply that an attacker is influencing your session.

How can iZOOlogic Help my Company or Organisation?

iZOOlogic provides advanced solutions that can help protect your company against session hijacking threats through secure session management and continuous monitoring services. Our Threat & Forensics Analysis solutions safeguard your sessions and sensitive data from hijacking attacks.

To learn more about how iZOOlogic can enhance your organisation’s cyber security, schedule a demo.