Disclosure, Alteration, and Denial: Understanding the Key Threats to Information Security

In the world of information security, threats can be broadly categorized into three main types: Disclosure, Alteration, and Denial. These threats are critical because they target the core aspects of data protection and operational integrity, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information.

This blog will explore these three security threats, provide real-world examples, and offer best practices to mitigate them. Table of Contents

What are Disclosure, Alteration, and Denial?

These three threats directly affect the core principles of information security:

Disclosure: The unauthorized exposure of sensitive data.
Alteration: The unauthorized modification of information.
Denial: The disruption of access to systems or data when needed.

These threats are often exploited in cyberattacks and can lead to serious consequences such as financial loss, reputational damage, and compliance violations. Disclosure: Unintended Exposure of Information What is Disclosure?

Disclosure refers to the unauthorized access and exposure of confidential information to unintended parties. Whether intentional or accidental, this breach undermines the confidentiality of sensitive data. Examples of Disclosure

Data Breaches: When an organization’s customer information is leaked online,
 it’s a clear case of disclosure. For example, the 2017 Equifax breach exposed the 
personal data of 147 million people.
Phishing Attacks: A common way hackers gain access to sensitive information is through 
phishing emails, tricking users into providing login credentials or personal details.

Best Practices to Prevent Disclosure

Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive information both in transit and at rest.
Access Controls: Implement role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit who can view 
certain types of data.
Security Awareness Training: Regularly educate employees about phishing 
and other social engineering attacks.

Alteration: Tampering with Data What is Alteration?

Alteration refers to the unauthorized modification of data. This compromises the integrity of information, meaning the data can no longer be trusted to be accurate or complete. Examples of Alteration

Data Manipulation in Banking: If an attacker alters transaction data in a 
bank’s database, it can lead to financial discrepancies, fraud, and loss of trust.
Website Defacement: Hackers often alter the content of websites, changing 
the information presented or injecting malicious scripts that can harm visitors.

Best Practices to Prevent Alteration

Data Integrity Checks: Use hash functions and checksums to ensure that
 files or data haven’t been tampered with.
Access Control Policies: Restrict who can modify data and 
ensure there are audit trails for changes.
Backups: Regularly back up your data so it can be restored to its original state in 
case of unauthorized alteration.

Denial: Disrupting Access to Resources What is Denial?

Denial refers to actions that prevent authorized users from accessing systems or data when needed. This impacts the availability of critical resources and can bring business operations to a halt. Examples of Denial

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: Attackers overwhelm a system with excessive traffic,
 rendering it unavailable to legitimate users. In 2016, a major DDoS attack took down
 several popular websites like Twitter, Netflix, and Reddit.
Ransomware: Malicious software that locks users out of their systems or data unless 
a ransom is paid. For example, the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack halted 
fuel supply operations across the U.S. East Coast.

Best Practices to Prevent Denial

DDoS Mitigation Services: Use specialized services that can absorb and mitigate DDoS attacks.
Redundancy: Implement redundant systems and backups to ensure business continuity
 during attacks or system failures.
Regular Patching: Ensure systems are regularly updated with the latest 
security patches to avoid vulnerabilities.

Why Understanding These Threats is Critical

Understanding the threats posed by disclosure, alteration, and denial is essential for developing robust cybersecurity strategies. These threats attack the core principles of information security:

Disclosure targets confidentiality by exposing sensitive data.
Alteration undermines integrity by tampering with critical information.
Denial affects availability, preventing access to resources when needed.

Organizations that fail to mitigate these risks may face data loss, operational disruptions, financial penalties, and reputational damage. Practical Examples of These Threats in Action

Here are real-world scenarios illustrating disclosure, alteration, and denial threats:

Healthcare Data Breach (Disclosure): Hackers gain unauthorized access to patient 
records, exposing sensitive health data.
Financial Record Tampering (Alteration): An insider modifies financial records in
 a company’s accounting system to hide fraudulent transactions.
DDoS Attack on E-commerce Site (Denial): Attackers flood an e-commerce platform’s
 servers, causing downtime and resulting in lost sales.

Summary of Disclosure, Alteration, and Denial Threat Definition Best Practices Example Disclosure Unauthorized access and exposure of sensitive data Encryption, Access Controls, Awareness Data breach exposing customer info Alteration Unauthorized modification of information Integrity checks, Access Control, Backups Hackers altering financial records Denial Disruption of access to systems or data Redundancy, DDoS Mitigation, Regular Patching DDoS attack on a website Call to Action

Now that you understand the serious risks posed by disclosure, alteration, and denial, it’s time to evaluate your organization’s security measures. Are you doing enough to protect your data and systems?

Learn more about how to safeguard your digital assets by exploring our in-depth cybersecurity resources. Contact us today for a comprehensive security assessment and strengthen your defenses against these common threats!