Why Physical Access is the Most Overlooked Cybersecurity Risk

2025-08-08 | By Arkadiusz Cios

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When most people think of cybersecurity, they picture firewalls, antivirus software, and complex password policies.
But there’s a far more direct threat that often slips under the radar - physical access.

If an attacker can get their hands on your device, even for a few seconds, all your digital defenses may crumble.

The Illusion of Digital-Only Threats

Organizations invest heavily in securing networks:

  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Encrypted communication
  • Advanced intrusion detection

But while everyone focuses on remote attacks, a pentester or malicious actor with physical access can:

  • Plug in malicious USB devices
  • Boot from external media
  • Remove and clone storage drives
  • Install hardware keyloggers

No zero-day exploit is needed. Just a moment of unattended access.

The USB Drop Scenario

One of the most famous physical attack methods is the USB drop:

  1. An attacker leaves a USB stick in a parking lot or lobby.
  2. A curious employee plugs it in.
  3. A payload executes, granting remote access or exfiltrating data.

This attack works mainly because people tend to be curious or helpful but also because many organizations overlook physical security as part of their cybersecurity strategy. Endpoint protections frequently focus on software vulnerabilities and network defenses, leaving direct hardware interactions insufficiently monitored.

This concept has been popularized in media, including the TV series Mr. Robot, where similar tactics demonstrate how attackers leverage human behavior and physical access to bypass sophisticated digital defenses.

Why Companies Ignore This Risk

  • Convenience over caution: Employees need USB ports for legitimate work.
  • Underestimation: Physical breaches are seen as less likely than online attacks.
  • Training gaps: Staff often lack awareness of hardware-based threats.

Mitigating Physical Access Threats

  1. Restrict USB port usage: Through device control policies or physical port locks.
  2. Train employees: Make them aware of hardware attack risks.
  3. Secure hardware storage: Lock devices away when not in use.
  4. Implement BIOS/UEFI security: Disable external boot options and set strong firmware passwords.

Physical Access in Pentesting

In legitimate security testing, physical access simulations are vital.
They reveal how quickly a breach can happen if an attacker reaches the hardware.

Future Sicarius devices are designed to assist in ethical, controlled tests of these scenarios, so organizations can fix vulnerabilities before someone exploits them.

Conclusion

If an attacker can touch your device, it’s no longer your device.

Defend your network, but never forget to defend your physical perimeter.