Would you ever hang a bright neon sign outside your business reading, "Hey burglars, doors unlocked, come on in!"? Of course not. Yet astonishingly, many businesses do just that digitally, leaving their firewall ports wide open and welcoming cybercriminals with open arms. Recently, even the FBI stepped in to issue a stern (and somewhat embarrassing) Open Port Warning about the dangers of leaving these digital doors unlocked. And while cybersecurity is serious business, sometimes the simplicity of the problem borders on comedy, until it’s not funny at all.
In the recent cybersecurity advisory (Alert Code: AA25-050A), the FBI and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) issues a joint advisory sounding the alarm about cybercriminals actively targeting networks through open firewall ports. Think of it like leaving your office windows wide open overnight, one forgotten latch and intruders can waltz right in. The FBI is urging businesses to close these vulnerabilities immediately, before your open ports become a hacker's personal playground filled with data breaches, ransomware, and other digital nightmares.
Let's be honest: leaving your ports open is like tossing your car keys into the front seat and walking away. Sure, your car might be there in the morning, but the odds aren't exactly in your favor. The puzzling thing? Checking for open ports is straightforward, yet countless businesses overlook it, creating massive and entirely unnecessary risks. The potential cost isn't just financial; imagine explaining to your clients that your "secure" network was basically a revolving door for hackers. Ouch.
Like many other cyber security topics, business leaders choose to ignore them even with plenty of coverage on the subject. Here are just a few of the articles written about this particular warning.
Forbes: "FBI Says Backup Now—Advisory Warns Of Dangerous Ongoing Attacks"
This article highlights the FBI's warning about the ongoing and dangerous nature of Ghost ransomware attacks, emphasizing the importance of immediate data backups.
WaterISAC: "(TLP:CLEAR) CISA, FBI, and MS-ISAC Release Advisory on Ghost (Cring) Ransomware"
This piece provides an overview of the joint advisory, detailing the indicators of compromise (IOCs), tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) associated with Ghost ransomware.
Security Boulevard: "[CISA AA25-050A] #StopRansomware: Ghost (Cring) Ransomware"
This article discusses the CISA advisory on Ghost ransomware and introduces an attack graph released by AttackIQ to help organizations validate their security controls against this threat.
SafeBreach: "SafeBreach Coverage for US CERT AA25-050A [Ghost (Cring) Ransomware]"
This blog post outlines how SafeBreach has added coverage against attacks by Ghost threat actors targeting organizations across more than 70 countries.
NeptuneWorx: "Summary: Understanding CISA's Cybersecurity Advisory AA25-050A"
This summary provides insights into the CISA advisory, emphasizing the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures and understanding the threat landscape.
We don’t have the hard statistics yet for 2025, but over the past several weeks at WatchPoint we have been getting more requests than usual for help with ransomware attacks. These were non-WatchPoint clients of course and generally referrals from existing clients, but of the last three, two were caused by open ports. There was a dip in ransomware attacks that coincided with the start of the war in Ukraine, but now we appear to be back in the throughs of a full-on assault from cyber attackers.
Here’s the good news—checking your ports isn't complicated or time-consuming. In fact, it's as quick and painless as checking your smartphone’s battery. With a few clicks, we can run a port scan and immediately see if you are unintentionally offering hackers a warm welcome to your network. Given how simple this task is, there’s really no excuse not to do it unless you enjoy making life easy for cybercriminals.
At WatchPoint IT, our mission is to make cybersecurity feel less like rocket science and more like routine maintenance—easy, stress-free, and efficient. Our free port scanning service quickly identifies which of your digital doors are wide open. Additionally, we won’t leave you hanging. We provide continuous monitoring and alerts to immediately flag any new vulnerabilities, keeping your digital assets safe 24/7.
Here's What You'll Receive from Our Free Scan:
Cybersecurity can seem daunting, packed with acronyms, jargon, and endless threats. But when it comes to securing your network, think of it as simply locking your front door. With the FBI’s urgent warning fresh in our minds, there’s no better time than now to act.
Don’t wait until you’re already compromised. Connect with WatchPoint IT today, run your free port scan, and let’s lock those digital doors tighter than Fort Knox. Because in cybersecurity, being proactive isn't just smart, it's essential.
Stay smart, stay secure!
Ready to lock things down? Visit WatchPoint IT today and let us know you would like a free port scan. Your future self will thank you.
