How does Blockchain enhance cybersecurity?
13 blockchain cybersecurity use cases
1. Secure Private Messaging
USP of blockchain-based messaging system is its working on a decentralized ledger model. To secure private chats and messaging on social media apps or any chat applications, encryption on Block chain has an edge over peer-to-peer verification system.
Being a decentralized ledger, data storage is never dependent on a single location. It means, future cyber-attacks or hacking is virtually impossible reason being it’s never less than one entity’s control.
Consensus protocols across a network of nodes secure users’ metadata when users exchange chats on social media apps, messaging platforms for security, privacy, and verification.
2. Blockchain IoT Security Use Case:
On the one hand, the Internet of Things (IoT) is about running smart operations, identifying, authenticating and securing devices in an infrastructure is a great concern.
With ‘Smart’ concept also comes usage as data sensors stored in the Cloud. This is where adoption of blockchain and IoT technologies looks promising because of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) cyber-attacks on smart devices. Hackers now are advanced with their soft spot for Edge devices like thermostats and routers – drivers of gaining control on security systems.
Getting into home automation through smart devices is another matter of concern. Cyber criminals get into IoT devices from compromise by hackers
With distributed ledger technology (DLT), IoT security using public-key cryptography, strong cryptographic hash and complete decentralization opens up new avenues to resist cyber-attacks on IoT.
3. DNS Security Using Blockchain
In 2019, Mozilla embraced DNS-over-HTTP protocol (IETF RFC8484).
Tagged by many as the next evolution of domain names, DNS (Domain Name System) on Blockchain is the new alternative to the traditional (and centralized) DNS servers. The next step after DNS over HTTPS, DNS blockchain technology secures user privacy by preventing DNS cyber security attacks like eavesdropping or Man-in-the-middle.
How traditional DNS system works?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is basically a matchmaking system to match a website name to its corresponding IP address. Browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox interprets and serves web pages.
For example, as zcybersecurity.com is typed in on Google, the internet must seek the corresponding IP address of zcybersecurity i.e. 35.208.234.97 . So, official URL of ZCyber Security has its IP address as 35.208.234.97 and it is the job of DNS to map 35.208.234.97 with domain name i.e. ZCyber Security to let browsers.
DNS is very centralized in nature and an ideal platform for hackers to launch a DDoS cyberattack as they find their malicious way between an IP address and domain name
In the past, critical internet infrastructures of companies like Twitter, Spotify, and Paypal etc have been compromised as cyber criminals found a way to get into the weaker link between IP address and the sites.In fact, the June 2019 EFFICIENTIP report highlighted how more than 80% of companies face DNS attacks like downtime (more than 60% affirmed this).
Some prominent ones are:
- DNS Poisoning and Spoofing
- DNS Amplification for DDoS
- DNS Attacked by DDoS
- DNS fishing
- DNS-based malware
- DNS tunnelling
Blockchain Securing DNS and DDoS:
Blockchain-based DNS systems are examples of decentralized DNS. Blockchain Top-level domains like. bit, .bazar and .coin etc. are decentralized in nature and are not governed by a particular single entity. So, Blockchain can help in saving millions of dollars by encrypting data and keep cyber attackers at bay.
Technologies like Ethereum blockchain based DNS system makes DNS resist an excessive request i.e. DDoS attacks, thanks to its decentralised nature of not making DNS a vulnerable single point.
4. Decentralized Medium Storage Blockchain
In simple terms, Decentralized means transfer of authority and decision-making from a central entity to a distributed independently owned and operated network.
5. The Provenance of Computer Software:
6. Verification of Cyber-Physical Infrastructures
7. Protecting Data Transmission
8. Diminish Human Safety Adversity caused by
Cyber-attacks
9: Securing edge devices with authentication
10: Improved confidentiality, Integrity and Authenticity
11. Boosting or even replacing PKI
12: DDoS Attacks reduction
13: Enabling Multi-Signature Authentication Model
Blockchain Cybersecurity for Digital Business
How Blockchain is revolutionizing cybersecurity can be understood by its decentralized nature (same technology embraced by Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies) – making it apt for information security. Tagged as the new weapon for cyber security, NIST’s definition of Blockchain emphasizes ‘‘without central repository”.
In simple terms, a blockchain (”block” and ”chain”) means an information block residing in a public database (aka chain), and the blocks are linked or chained together by cryptographic signatures (aka hash).
How is Blockchain used in cyber security?
To improve encryption and authentication, Blochain’s decentralization and cryptographic hashing promise absolute security and trust for improving data integrity and digital identities.
What started with Bitcoin has now made its way into the ecosystem of Cyber security.
Going by the same concept of ”keeping digital information safe”, Blockchain can record transactions between different computers, thanks to its distributed and decentralized ledger system.
Blockchain’s Decentralized Technology For Data Storage Security
Data is the mainstay of any cybersecurity posture. To use Blockchain for cyber security purposes, the following 3 points make Blockchain useful for Cyber Security:
- Full traceability and visibility of any information on each block (contains a transaction/s)
- Ability to ensure data has not been tampered with
- Enhanced security
As a strong alternative to Cloud and Server-based companies, Blockchain improvises data security. Its importance gains importance as there are still many digital businesses using the traditional method of storing data.
