Why You Should Make Digital Signage Security a High Priority

Digital signage is a powerful, dynamic and versatile tool that can be used for a variety of marketing, communication, entertainment and wayfinding purposes. As organizations become increasingly reliant on these systems, however, they must address security vulnerabilities that could expose them to potential risks.

Some business leaders forget that signage isn’t just a marketing or entertainment tool. These sophisticated systems are typically connected to an organization’s internal or cloud networks. What’s more, they are often deeply integrated with other key IT assets, including event calendars, social media platforms, data feeds, analytics platforms and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

While the connection between signage and IT systems enables centralized management and dynamic content delivery, it also creates potential entry points for cyberattacks. There have been several high-profile cases in which hackers gained unauthorized access to signage systems and displayed pornography or propaganda. Although such attacks are highly concerning, signage systems are vulnerable to a range of more damaging threats. These include:

• Malware distribution. Digital signage media players and content management systems can be targeted by malware and viruses. Infected content or compromised players can then spread malware throughout the network, disrupting operations and potentially stealing sensitive data.
• SQL injection attacks. If the signage system interacts with a backend database, hackers could attempt SQL injection attacks to manipulate the database and access or modify sensitive data.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks. In an MITM attack, an attacker intercepts and possibly alters the communication between the signage player and the content management server. This can lead to unauthorized content injection or manipulation, potentially displaying malicious or false information on the signage screens.
• Packet sniffing. Packet sniffers can be used to capture data packets traveling over the network. If the communication between the signage devices and the server is unencrypted, sensitive information such as login credentials or content updates can be intercepted and exploited.
• DNS spoofing and pharming. DNS spoofing involves redirecting the signage system to a fraudulent domain, while pharming involves compromising the DNS server to redirect legitimate traffic to malicious sites. These attacks can trick users into interacting with harmful content or grant access to unauthorized parties.
• Distributed denial of service attacks. Without adequate safeguards, attackers can overwhelm a signage system’s resources by flooding it with a massive volume of traffic, causing it to become unresponsive and unavailable to legitimate users.
• VLAN hopping. If digital signage devices share a Virtual Local Area Network with other systems, attackers can potentially exploit vulnerabilities to “hop” between VLANs. This could enable them to disrupt network communication and access sensitive information in other parts of the network.
• Ransomware. Once hackers gain network access through the signage system, they can deploy ransomware that encrypts network data. The Petya ransomware variant, for example, targeted poorly secured networked digital screens in the shipping, banking, energy, transportation and healthcare sectors.

Securing digital signage systems against such threats requires a combination of robust measures. It begins with strong user authentication to ensure that only authorized personnel can access and manage the digital signage content. Two-factor authentication and encryption are also critical for reducing the risk of compromised accounts. Regular security audits, network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can further enhance security.

Because many organizations rely on their marketing or audio/visual teams to manage the digital signage environment, strong security measures aren’t always the first priority. SageNet can help ensure you’re taking the proper precautions with a security-focused approach to the design, implementation and management of the signage ecosystem. Contact us to learn more.