An “Admins ATO” (Account Takeover) attack refers to a situation where cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to administrative accounts. This type of attack is particularly dangerous because administrative accounts typically have higher privileges and access to sensitive information and critical systems.
In an ATO attack, attackers often use stolen credentials, which they might obtain through data breaches, phishing campaigns, or purchasing them on the dark web. Once they have access, they can perform various malicious activities, such as:
• Changing account settings to lock out legitimate users.
• Exfiltrating sensitive data.
• Deploying malware or other malicious software.
• Using the account to launch further attacks within the organization.
These attacks can have severe consequences, including financial loss, reputational damage, and operational disruption.