Acronym for Account Takeover—unauthorised access to user accounts using stolen credentials.
ATO stands for Account Takeover. See 'Account Takeover' for the full definition. ATO attacks have increased dramatically as credentials from data breaches become widely available on dark web marketplaces.
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
ATO is one of the main reasons MFA is essential. With billions of leaked credentials available, passwords alone provide inadequate protection. Implement MFA on all accounts, especially those with access to sensitive systems.