Where is Cybersecurity Heading in 2023?

Artificial Intelligence, cryptojacking, cybersecurity, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, Ransomware, remote workers, , , , , , ,
08
Aug 2023

We’re already halfway through 2023 and threat actors are showing no signs of slowing up, but just where is cybersecurity heading?

It may feel as though you’re waging a never-ending battle against hackers and, well, that’s exactly what you’re doing. However, the strategies and techniques of threat actors has changed significantly in the last two decades. Back in 2003, for example, ransomware was less prevalent, but now it’s a major player in terms of cyber-attacks. Therefore, it’s always good to keep one step ahead of the hackers and understand where they are likely to go next.

What Will Future Cyber Attacks Look Like?

The future of cybersecurity will be concerned with maintaining defenses against existing threats and tackling new, innovative strategies launched by threat actors. These attacks are expected to be based in the following categories:

Artificial Intelligence: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has been huge in the last couple of years, just look at the interest generated by ChatGPT in 2023. However, the power to cause damage with AI is causing just as many headlines. You can, for example, ask AI systems to help generate code to build computer programs. The exact same code which is used to build malware. This means that designing and executing malware could be easier than ever before, and lead to a surge in new attacks.

Remote working: since the pandemic, more and more employees have been working remotely. While this is convenient, and has been shown to enhance productivity, it also increases the risk of falling victim to malware. Although many remote workers connect to their employers through a VPN, they are often accessing this through devices which aren’t secure. Also, as they will not have colleagues directly around them to offer advice, employees will be more vulnerable to, for example, clicking a malicious link.

Phishing: threat actors have been launching phishing attacks for nearly 20 years, and this means that many PC users can easily spot a phishing email. But this doesn’t mean we’re safe. Instead, it’s likely that future attacks will be more sophisticated to be successful. Taking advantage of AI and machine learning, threat actors will be able to craft phishing emails which are both engaging and convincing. This will allow their attacks to be more successful and harvest more stolen data.

Cryptojacking: despite several significant attacks, cryptojacking is yet to hit the mainstream PC user in the same way that ransomware has. Nonetheless, cryptojacking attacks are on the rise. Accordingly, PC users are likely to become more familiar with them in the next few years. Cryptojacking, as the name suggests, involves hijacking a PC and using its computing resources to mine cryptocurrencies. Due to the huge amount of processing power required to mine cryptocurrency, these attacks target entire networks and can grind them to a halt.

Final Thoughts

These four attack strategies may not be troubling you every day, but they could soon become regular headaches. That’s why you need to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Make sure that you

keep updated on the latest threats, regularly review your security measures, and ensure that your staff are fully trained in cybersecurity best practices.

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

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Vidar Malware Attacks Online Sellers 

malware, Ophtek, Phishing, social engineering, Vidar Malware, Viruses, , , , ,
01
Aug 2023

E-commerce means big business in the 21st century and it proves a highly attractive target to threat actors, as online sellers are now finding out. 

Such is the size of the e-commerce industry – estimated to hit $4.11 trillion in 2023 – threat actors have many reasons for attacking online merchants. Taking control of a seller’s account will instantly provide hackers with a treasure chest of personal information about their customers e.g. payment methods, personal identifiers, and email addresses. It’s also common for threat actors to lace these compromised inventories and shops with malicious JavaScript code, this can then record credit card details during the checkout process. 

Therefore, this latest attack, which uses the Vidar malware to advance its payload, is one that you need to be aware of. 

How is Vidar Causing Havoc in the Digital Aisles? 

The attack launched against online sellers uses a combination of social engineering and phishing emails to deceive its targets. Threat actors are posing as disgruntled customers who claim to have had large amounts of money deducted from their bank without an order being processed. Using a bit.ly URL – which is typically used to shorten long URLs, but also hides the true destination of the link – the sender of the email advises the merchant to investigate a screenshot of their bank account. This, they claim, will show proof that funds have been taken. 
 
Clicking this link will take the victim to a malicious website designed to look like a genuine Google Drive account. Here, the victim is encouraged to download a .PDF of the bank statement which the sender claims will demonstrate that an illegal transaction has taken place. However, rather than downloading a .PDF, the victim will instead download a file called bank_statement.scr. And this file contains the Vidar malware. 

Vidar was first discovered in 2018 and its method of attack is well known. A classic data miner, Vidar will steal information such as passwords, browser cookies, text files, and also take screenshots of the infected PC. After uploading this data to a remote location, the threat actors can easily download this information and use it to exploit the victim further e.g. sell login credentials on the dark web or access other user accounts using the same information. 

Taking Vidar Back to the Store 

If you believe that your PC has been breached by Vidar, the good news is that most anti-virus tools will pick it up and eradicate it from your system. Nonetheless, it’s always better to not get infected in the first place. Therefore, make sure you follow these best practices to avoid falling victim to Vidar: 

Pick up on suspicious language: phishing emails are full of telltale signs, but you need to know what you’re looking for. Firstly, look out for urgency, fear, and excitement-inducing words. Secondly, watch for requests to disclose personal information or click on suspicious links. And, finally, pay attention to poor grammar or spelling errors. 

Only download from trusted sources: it’s advisable to only download files from sources you can verify are genuine. Downloading files from customers, even if they are genuine, should be avoided wherever possible. These files could, as the Vidar attack has shown, contain anything. In a scenario where you need verification, always turn to an IT professional. 

Use anti-phishing tools: installing anti-phishing software is a good way to enhance your protection against phishing attacks. These tools can be implemented as either browser extensions or part of a security suite. Once they detect an attempt at phishing, they will block the content and present you with a warning in its place. 

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

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Interest in ChatGPT Related to New Malware Attacks 

ChatGPT, cyber attacks, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, two-factor authentication, , , , ,
04
Jul 2023

The launch of ChatGPT and its accompanying headlines have been heard around the world. And threat actors are leveraging this interest to launch new attacks. 

You don’t have to look hard to find a headline relating to ChatGPT, the latest and most intriguing AI service to be released to the public. Everyone has been talking about it and, of course, this also includes hackers. After all, anything which proves popular – such as social media and cryptocurrency – quickly becomes an attractive method of delivering malware. Now, while you and your business may not use ChatGPT daily, this latest campaign utilizes a few attack strategies you need to be aware of. 

How Has ChatGPT Got Caught Up in Malware? 

The massive interest generated by ChatGPT means that AI related apps are at the forefront of most internet users’ thoughts. As a result, threat actors have decided to turn this interest to their benefit with their most favored technique: deception. The attacks, which were discovered by Meta, the owners of Facebook, have involved 10 different malware families and, on Meta’s platforms alone, 1,000 malicious links relating to ChatGPT. 
 
Two of the most notable strains detected, which appear to have originated from Vietnam hacking groups, are NodeStealer and DuckTail. NodeStealer is a JavaScript-based piece of malware which is used to steal cookies and login credentials. DuckTail, meanwhile, not only steals cookies, but also focuses on hijacking Facebook business accounts to access lucrative ad accounts. Both of these malware strains are typically spread and activated via infected files or links to malicious websites. 

How Do You Stay Ahead of AI Malware? 

The official and genuine ChatGPT site has already been used by threat actors to develop new malware, so there is already concern about how it can be compromised. And this latest attack, while not directly involving the app, certainly adds fuel to the fire. Deception, of course, is nothing new in the world of hacking. But the number of people who fall for the duplicitous schemes of hackers is astronomical. Therefore, you need to remain on your guard by following these best practices: 

  • Use two-factor authentication: many of the malware strains identified in the latest round of ChatGPT-related attacks involve stealing credentials. Therefore, there’s never been a better time to implement a further layer of security in the form of two-factor authentication. While it won’t necessarily protect against session hijacks, two-factor authentication will significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts. 

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

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Bumblebee Malware Gives a Nasty Sting Through Google Ads 

Ad-Blocker, Bumblebee, malvertising, malware, Ophtek, , , ,
27
Jun 2023

It’s difficult to avoid online ads these days. This makes them the perfect target for hackers. And this is what they have done with the Bumblebee malware. 

It’s estimated that the average American is exposed to between 4,000 to 10,000 online ads a day. And each one of these ads has the potential to carry malware. Therefore, it’s not surprising that threat actors have started exploiting them. This recent attack, however, has also employed SEO poisoning in its campaign – this is a method by which hackers create malicious websites and tempt visitors there with high-demand keywords. 

Bumblebee, then, is a credible threat to your organization and its IT systems. Consequently, it’s important that you know how it operates and, most importantly, how to avoid it. 

What Do You Need to Know about Bumblebee? 

First discovered in April 2022, the Bumblebee malware is classed as a ‘malware loader’ variant. This means that it is used to connect a remote attacker directly with the infected system. It’s believed that Bumblebee comes from the same hacking group behind BazarLoader. Bumblebee, however, is more powerful and is backed by enhanced stealth capabilities. So, not only is it capable of causing greater damage, it’s also harder to detect. This, as I’m sure you’ll agree, is the last thing any PC owner wants to hear. 
 
The most common approach for Bumblebee is to use Google Ads to lay bait for unsuspecting PC owners. For example, a Google Ad promising a free SQL to NoSQL guide was used to redirect those who clicked it to a fake download page. We say “a fake download page” but it did, in fact, take people to a page where a download occurred. Instead of a free guide, though, it instead downloaded Bumblebee. This malware was then opened and, to reduce detection, loaded Bumblebee into the infected system’s memory. 

Typically, Bumblebee has been targeting businesses rather than consumers. Ransomware, therefore, has been at the front of the threat actors’ operations. But this is achieved through highly detailed planning. Upon the initial infection, Bumblebee quickly downloads a series of malicious tools such as remote access services, network scanning apps and keystroke loggers. This strategy allows the attackers to identify weak spots and deploy ransomware where it will be most effective. 

How Do You Beat Bumblebee? 

All business owners can agree that ransomware is a headache they can do without. So, how do you keep your systems safe from the Bumblebee attack? Well, you may be surprised that the following tips make it very easy: 

  • Keep your software up to date: malicious ads often take advantage of vulnerabilities in outdated software. By keeping your web browser, operating system, and other software up to date, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to malvertising attacks. 

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

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RapperBot Malware Develops New Distribution Tricks 

IoT Attacks, malware, Ophtek, RapperBot, Security, strong passwords, Updates, , , , , ,
20
Jun 2023

Malware constantly evolves, and that’s why it’s a constant thorn in the side of PC users. The ever-changing RapperBot malware is a perfect example of this. 

If malware was boring and lacked innovation, it wouldn’t last very long or infect many computers. It would make our lives a lot easier, but it would defeat the main objective of malware. And that is to cause chaos. Repeatedly. Therefore, malware developers are keen to extend the lifespan of their creations. This is why malware is regularly developed, to keep one step ahead. It’s the digital example of a game of cat and mouse. But the good news is that you don’t have to be the mouse. 

The Lowdown on RapperBot and Its Evolution 

First discovered in 2022, RapperBot started its malware career in the Internet of Things (IoT) niche. Most notably, RapperBot was observed to be using parts of the Mirai botnet code. However, RapperBot was much more than just another take on Mirai. It was much more sophisticated. Not only had its remote access capabilities been upgraded, but it could now also brute force SSH servers – these allow two PCs to communicate with each other. 

This evolution has continued at pace, with security experts Fortinet and Kaspersky detecting the following changes: 

  • After infection, further code was added into RapperBot by the developers to avoid detection. A situation which persisted even after rebooting. A remote binary downloader was later added to allow self-propagation of the malware. 
  • The self-propagation capabilities of RapperBot were later changed to allow the malware to gain constant remote access to SSH servers which had been brute forced. 
  • Finally, RapperBot moved its aim away from SSH servers and targeted telnet servers. Cleverly, RapperBot sidestepped the traditional technique of using huge data lists and, instead, monitored telnet prompts to determine the target device. This allowed the threat actors to identify IoT devices and quickly try their default credentials. 

The Best Tips for Tackling RapperBot 

IoT devices are plentiful in the modern age, and we certainly couldn’t be without them. Accordingly, we need to protect them from threats such as RapperBot and BotenaGo. You can do this by following these best tips: 

  1. Keep devices up to date: it’s crucial that you regularly update the firmware and software which supports your IoT devices. Few, if any, pieces of hardware reach consumers without some form of security flaw present. Once these flaws are detected, the manufacturer will usually release a patch or update to remove this vulnerability. Therefore, you need to install these as soon as possible, a strategy which is made easy by allowing automatic updates. 
  1. Change default passwords: Many IoT devices come with default usernames and passwords, these are often the same across every single version of that device. As such, they represent an incredible risk. This means you need to change these default credentials to strong, unique usernames and passwords before they are connected to your IT infrastructure. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication, wherever possible, to add an extra layer of security. 
  1. Network segmentation: ideally, separate networks should be created to house your IoT devices and isolate them from your core network. As IoT devices carry a certain amount of risk, it makes sense to keep them away from the majority of your IT infrastructure. This ensures that, if an IoT device does become infected, the malware can only spread so far. 

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

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