Account Takeover (ATO)

What is Account Takeover?

Account Takeover (ATO) is a cyberattack where threat actors gain control of a legitimate user’s account by bypassing authentication controls. This may involve stolen credentials, credential relays through phishing infrastructure, brute force attacks, or remote access manipulation. Once inside the account, attackers impersonate the victim to commit fraud, extract sensitive data, or perform unauthorized transactions, often without raising immediate suspicion.

How does Account Takeover work?

Attackers typically obtain access by:

• Using stolen credentials from phishing sites or data breaches
• Launching automated credential stuffing or brute force attacks
• Deploying real-time credential relays using phishing kits
• Tricking victims into granting remote session access
  

Once inside, attackers may transfer funds, change account settings, or exploit the account to commit further fraud or abuse.

Memcyco’s Solution for Account Takeover

Most solutions detect ATO only after the attacker has gained access. Memcyco takes a different approach, infiltrating the attack itself and exposing the threat as it unfolds.

By blocking credential harvesting during phishing attacks and detecting stolen credential use at login, Memcyco prevents ATO across the full attack chain, from impersonation through in-session compromise.

How it works

• Memcyco identifies account takeover attempts as they unfold, whether attackers arrive through stolen credentials, relayed logins, or manipulated user access.
• On the legitimate site, Memcyco monitors device behavior, session context, and referral paths to detect signs of impersonation or compromise in real time.
• Decoy credentials and threat deception techniques help expose fraud attempts and neutralize stolen data before it can be used.
• If an account is at risk, Memcyco provides real-time victim-level insights, allowing enterprises to respond before any damage occurs.

Memcyco gives enterprises visibility and control at the moment it matters most.

Related reading

• Remote Access Scams: How to Stop Them (and Why Security Teams Miss the Risk)
• Why MFA Isn’t Enough to Fight ATO—How Memcyco Helps
• How To Prevent Loyalty Account Takeovers in Real Time
• 5 of the Biggest Retail Account Takeovers in Recent Years (And How They Could Have Been Stopped)