What are Initial Access Brokers?

Cyber Security, Hackers, IAB, Initial access brokers, Ophtek, Ransomware, , , , ,
30
Aug 2021

Gaining access to an unauthorized network is every hacker’s dream. And, now, this is easier than ever thanks to the rise of initial access brokers.

Initial access brokers (IABs) are a relatively new trend in the world of hacking. These threats have been tracked for several years now, but they have yet to create major headlines. Nonetheless, they represent a major threat to your organization’s security. And the number of IABs operating online is rising. Therefore, it’s important that you understand what IABs are and the threat they represent. So, to help keep your organization safe, we’re going to look at IABs.

What is an IAB?

We’ve discussed ransomware in depth on numerous occasions, but we’re yet to touch upon the role of IABs when it comes to ransomware. The hard work, for a hacker, is breaking into a network. Most networks will have some level of security, so significant time needs to be invested to beat this. But what if there was someone you could go to for ready-made access? It would be a dream scenario for a hacker and it’s one which is provided by IABs.

Acting as a literal broker, IABs carry out extensive research on organizations to identify those that are considered vulnerable. Slowly, these IABs will build up a portfolio of vulnerable targets and details on how to gain access to their networks. This takes the hard work out of hacking for the hackers and ensures that, for a fee, details of vulnerable networks can be quickly obtained. The majority of these deals take place on the dark web with access details being sold to the highest bidder.

How Do You Avoid Becoming an IAB Listing?

IABs are not selective in the industries that they target and tend to scour all industries for potential victims. These threats are also unfolding on a global basis, but some research has shown that a third of IAB listings involve businesses located in the US. Accordingly, you will want to make sure you don’t find your organization having its vulnerabilities advertised as being for sale. And you can do this by taking note of the following:

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Hackers Use Microsoft Platform to Launch Malware Attacks

data harvest, Hackers, malware, MSBuild, Ophtek, redline stealer, , , ,
01
Jun 2021

Hackers are innovative and industrious individuals, a description which is best demonstrated by their recent leverage of MSBuild to deliver malware.

The Microsoft Build Engine (MSBuild) is an open-source platform which allows software developers to test and compile their source codes. Operational since 2003, the platform has proved to be highly popular with developers and, accordingly, supports a large number of users. And it’s this popularity which has made it so attractive to hackers. By targeting these source codes at a development stage, the hackers are able to piggyback their malicious software into genuine software.

While your organization may not be involved in software development, there’s always the risk that you could end up working with software which is pre-loaded with malware. Therefore, we’re going to take a look at this MSBuild hack.

How are Hackers Infecting MSBuild?

Project files housed within MSBuild can be integrated within executable files which allow the hackers to launch their malicious payloads. But, as ever, hackers have been keen to remain stealthy; the infected payload does not run as a file. Instead, the malicious code is loaded into the PCs memory and it is here that the attack is launched. So far, it has been established that at least three forms of malware have been injected into systems via this approach. Redline Stealer, Remcos and QuasarRAT are the most recognisable forms of malware and have the potential to cause great damage.

Redline Stealer is primarily used as a data harvester and, as such, is mostly employed to steal login credentials and sensitive data. Remote access and surveillance, meanwhile, is the heartbeat of Remcos and allows hackers to hijack PCs remotely. Finally, QuasarRAT is another remote access tool and one which grants hackers full control of infected PCs. Naturally, these three malware variants are the last things you want on your system. And, given that they run filelessly and in the memory of a PC, it’s a threat which is difficult to tackle.

Protecting Yourself Against Memory Based Malware

Malware which operates from within the memory of your PC is difficult to tackle, but not impossible. Start by making sure you carry out these best security practices:

  • Monitor Network Activity: Regardless of whether a malware attack is file-based or fileless, there will be noticeable changes in your network activity. Any unusual spikes in data transfer or transmissions to unusual destinations should be investigated immediately.

Unfortunately, not all antivirus software can detect fileless malware such as that involved with the MSBuild hack. Conventional, file-based malware leaves behind digital footprints which are easy to detect, but this is not the case with fileless variants. In order to fully protect yourself, check with vendors whether their software has the capability to combat fileless malware.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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What Should You Do AFTER a Data Breach?

Data Breach, data recovery, Data Security, Hackers, Hacking, Ophtek, , ,
04
May 2021

One of IT security’s main aims is to avoid data breaches. However, breaches are inevitable in the modern age. Therefore, you need to know how to recover.

The impact of a data breach can be huge and catastrophic for all involved; organizations and their clients can be equally affected when data is stolen. And, in many cases, the clients are the ones who have the most to lose e.g financial and personal data being leaked and spread by hackers. Accordingly, if your organization finds itself in the unenvious position of experiencing a data breach, there is a lot of work to do.

A data breach is a stressful event and cleaning up afterwards can be a real struggle. But, with our tips on what you need to do after a data breach, you should find it a little easier.

Coping with a Data Breach

Once a data breach is confirmed then it’s crucial that you carry out the following:

  • Identify the Stolen Data: Understanding exactly what has been breached is vital when it comes to evaluating the extent of the attack. As long as you have a suitable set of defenses in place, you should have access to intrusion detection systems. These tools will provide an insight into which files were accessed and what the hackers did with them e.g. deleted or copied them. Putting this picture together will allow you to determine your next steps.
  • Prepare a Fix and Test It: A data breach indicates that there is a hole in your defenses, so you should act quickly to plug this. It may involve installing a security patch or it may require a more in-depth response from your IT team. Whatever the solution, you need to put it in to place as soon as possible. This will protect your data and limit any further damage. But you need to make sure this fix works. Test the solution several times to guarantee that the attacker cannot launch the same attack again.
  • Advise All Your Customers: It’s essential that, once your fix has been established, you inform your customers of what has happened. Naturally, they will be anxious as the phrase “data breach” carry a certain amount of dread. Honesty, therefore, is the best policy. Advise your customers of the data that has been breached and how it could affect them. This may be as simple as asking them to change their passwords, but could also extend to contacting their financial providers if the relevant information has been compromised.
  • Evaluate and Build Stronger Defenses: The one benefit (and we’re using that verb lightly) of a data breach is that it prompts you to strengthen your IT defenses. Your organization will need to carry out a full investigation to understand exactly what happened. Was, for example, the breach able to succeed due to out-of-date software? Or was it down to a lack of staff training on the dangers of social engineering? Regardless of the cause, the solution will need to be determined and put in place to prevent future breaches.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Defense Companies Under Attack from ThreatNeedle

Hackers, macros, Ophtek, spear phishing, threatneedle, Updates, , , , ,
13
Apr 2021

Defense firms in over a dozen countries have found themselves targeted by a new backdoor threat named as ThreatNeedle. And it’s hitting firms hard.

The last thing that a defense firm wants is for their networks to be breached. Not only does it damage their reputation as a defense firm, but it puts significant data at risk. Hackers, of course, love to cause trouble, so a defense organization is the perfect target. But the hackers behind the ThreatNeedle malware are more than just a minor hacking group. The threat is believed to come from Lazarus, a secretive hacking group with ties to the North Korean government.

As this is a major threat we’re going to put ThreatNeedle under the microscope for a closer look.

What is ThreatNeedle?

ThreatNeedle takes a spear phishing approach to begin its campaign and does this by faking email addresses that look as though they belong to the target company. This move, which is relatively easy with an email server and the right software, allows the victims to be lulled into a false sense of security. This scenario is then exploited by embedding malicious links or attaching infected documents. Often, these emails have been laced with a COVID-19 theme in order to fully engage the user, but any subject may be used to rush the recipient into action.

The attackers, once the ThreatNeedle payload has been unleashed, are then able to take control of the victim’s PC. Naturally, this means that they will carry out typical hacking attacks such as:

  • Executing remote commands to run applications and download further malware
  • Send workstations into hibernation mode to disrupt IT activities
  • Log data and transmit to a remote PC where it can be archived and exploited

However, ThreatNeedle also has an innovative ace up its sleeve. Generally, if a network is segmented then malware will be limited to the segment it infects. This limits the amount of damage that can be caused to an entire network. So, for example, a set of PCs which are not connected to a network by the internet should be safe from all hacks. Unfortunately, ThreatNeedle is able to take advantage of IT department’s administrator privileges. This grants them the opportunity to access all segmented areas of a network. And it maximizes the damage they can cause.

How Do You Protect Against ThreatNeedle?

As with all malware, you don’t have to fall victim to ThreatNeedle. You just need to keep your wits about you and understand its threat. You can do this by carrying out the following:

  • Educate Staff on Phishing Emails: It’s important that your staff are fully trained on the dangers of phishing emails. Social engineering is a popular technique employed by hackers, but it can be thwarted if you know what to look for.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Microsoft Exchange Email Vulnerability Hits 30,000 US Firms Hard

Cyber Security, Data Security, email security, Hackers, Microsoft, Online Security, Ophtek, Software Security Patches, , , , ,
09
Mar 2021

Vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange Server software have led to 30,000 US businesses being hacked. And it’s a very dangerous hack.

A total of four vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft Exchange Server (MES) which has allowed hackers to carry out numerous attacks. The hackers appear to be part of a Chinese cyber-espionage group who specialize in stealing email communications. It’s believed that hundreds of thousands of firms have been attacked with at least 30,000 of them being US-based. As email is a crucial part of any modern business, it’s not an exaggeration to say that the MES hack is a major threat.

What is the Microsoft Exchange Server Hack?

The MES hack appeared, at first, to be concerned with stealing email data from organizations that were running the server through internet-based systems. The four vulnerabilities, present through MES versions 2013 – 19, allowed the hackers easy access to emails. However, the hackers – who Microsoft have called Hafnium – did not stop at stealing emails. Once they had access to affected systems, they also installed a web shell. This granted Hafnium the opportunity to gain remote access and full administrator privileges. The web shell is password protected and ensures that disrupting the hackers’ access is highly difficult.

Microsoft quickly formulated a security patch to eliminate the vulnerabilities, but many organizations have failed to install the MES patch. As a result, these organizations remain at risk. And, to make matters worse, Hafnium still has them in their sights. Using automated software, Hafnium is actively scanning the internet for any organizations using unpatched versions of MES. This allows the hackers to continue their campaign of data theft and disruption. It also appears that Hafnium is not fussy about who they target. Industries as wide ranging as NGOs through to medical researchers and legal firms have all been infiltrated by the MES hack.

Protecting Against Vulnerabilities

When it comes to attacks such as the MES hack it’s vital that patches are installed as soon as possible. The longer your system is unpatched then the chances of it being breached are exceptionally high. And, if you give a hacker enough time, there’s the chance of additional malware such as ransomware being installed. Setting your updates to ‘automatic install’ is the simplest and quickest way to minimize this risk. This will ensure that any security updates are in place the moment they are available.

But you can’t rely on a patch alone. Patches are not always available in time. And this means that you run the risk of having your systems breached and data stolen. Therefore, make sure that you also implement these procedures:

  • Monitor traffic entering and leaving your network to identify any potential breaches. Unusual levels of traffic can often indicate that hackers have taken control of your network.
  • Segment your network where possible. By separating your network into several different segments, you are limiting the access that a hacker has if they infiltrate your system.
  • Employ two-factor authentication procedures for gaining administrator privileges. This should make it next to impossible for hackers to take full control of your network.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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