network Archives

HiatusRAT Malware Returns with a Vengeance

HiatusRAT, malware, network, Ophtek, Security, Updateseducate, HiatusRAT, malware, network, Ophtek, security, updatesOphtek, LLC

Oct 2023

The HiatusRAT malware has re-emerged from its slumber to prove how resilient it is by targeting multiple organizations in Taiwan and the US.

As with most malware which is deemed successful in terms of its longevity, the threat actors launching HiatusRAT have ensured that it’s more powerful than ever. And, to strengthen its attack, they have redesigned it to escape detection. So far, the majority of the organizations targeted by this latest version of HiatusRAT have been based in Taiwan, but at least one US-based military system has also been attacked. And, with HiatusRAT seemingly operating at full throttle, it’s likely to spread even further.

Due to the potential danger contained within HiatusRAT, we’re going to take you through how it operates and how you can protect your organization.

The Lowdown on the Latest HiatusRAT Campaign

HiatusRAT was first detected back in March 2023, when it was discovered infecting the routers of various organizations in Europe and North and South America. This attack involved stealing data by hijacking email channels as well as installing a remote-access Trojan (RAT) on infected routers. It was an attack which led to significant data loss, but the malware’s activity soon dropped off. However, during this downtime, HiatusRAT has been refined and reconfigured.

Again, HiatusRAT appears to be targeting routers and similar networking devices. By redesigning HiatusRAT to target ARM and Intel hardware, the threat actors – who are currently unknown – have managed to enhance the potency of their malware. Operating with two types of servers – Tier 1 and Tier 2 – they have been able to use multiple IP addresses to transmit data to remote sources. As the attack has targeted at least one military system, it’s suspected that there may be a nation-state involved with the attack. However, as of now, security researchers have been unable to pinpoint the true motives outside of data theft.

Protecting Your Organization from HiatusRAT

You may not run an organization in the military industry, but RAT-based malware doesn’t tend to discriminate. Therefore, you need to be on your guard against HiatusRAT and other similar attacks. Remaining vigilant is crucial, and you can strengthen this vigilance by practicing the following:

Always install updates: many malware attacks are the result of an unpatched vulnerability giving threat actors free access to your IT systems. This means that installing updates, for every piece of software and hardware you use, is vital. It may feel like a time-consuming task in the short-term, but ultimately it could save your organization from data breaches and significant disruption.

Monitor network activity: HiatusRAT was observed to be transmitting data to a remote server for around two hours, and this is why monitoring network activity is so important. Occasionally, there can be a surge in network activity, but this is most often related to identifiable reasons and directed towards known destinations. However, anything out of the ordinary – such as unusual destinations and IP addresses – should immediately be investigated.
Educate your employees: one of the surest ways for malware to breach your IT infrastructure is through your employees. This means that strong IT induction programs need to be implemented and regular refresher courses conducted to solidify this knowledge.

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

Every business wants their IT infrastructure to be secure, so it’s crucial that you understand all your options. And two of the best are an SOC and an NOC.

A Security Operations Center (SOC) and a Network Operations Center (NOC) are exciting options for your defenses, but not everyone knows what they are. The good news is that both of these options, which can be based in-house or outsourced to external contractors, are here to protect your IT operations. And they both do this with a high level of sophistication, which ensures that cybersecurity threats are quickly identified and nullified.

How Does an SOC Protect Your IT Infrastructure?

Integrating an SOC into your cybersecurity strategies is one of the quickest ways to enhance your defenses. In short, an SOC is a dedicated team of professionals who can provide 24/7 monitoring of your IT systems. Their main duties include:

Maintenance: one of the surest ways to keep any system operating effectively is through routine and preventative maintenance. And this is a duty which an SOC will take in its stride. From initiating and installing updates through to updating firewalls and managing backup protocols, a dedicated SOC will ensure that none of these vital tasks are missed.
Creating response plans: in the case of a security incident, your organization needs to have a solid response plan ready to go. This could involve restoring data from backups, partitioning your networks, or even shutting your entire IT infrastructure down. Regardless of the strategy, you need to make sure that the perfect response plan has been formulated. And, thanks to the experience of those employed in an SOC, you can rest assured that your response minimizes disruption.
Monitoring: security incidents can strike your organization at any time of day, so it’s important that you have round-the-clock monitoring to flag up any attacks. An SOC can take care of this by not only monitoring network activity, but also analyzing it to provide a strong determination as to the threat level posed. This allows the SOC team to quickly identify potential threats and react accordingly.

Why Does Your Organization Need an NOC?

IT networks are complex, highly complex. This means that monitoring them effectively is difficult, but crucial when it comes to securing them. It’s difficult for your standard IT team to dedicate themselves to this task, so this is why the emergence of NOCs is so exciting for organizations. With an NOC supporting your IT infrastructure, you can expect 24/7 coverage in the following areas:

Network monitoring: an NOC can provide your organization with constant network monitoring and surveillance. This monitoring will cover all of the most common elements found in a network such as servers, routers, and switches. It’s an approach which is not only comprehensive, but also allows the NOC team to minimize any disruptions to your network.
Enhanced security: the main aim of a threat actor is to bypass the security of your network, and it’s very easy for them to sneak in when a vulnerability is in place. However, the presence of an NOC team means that not only will updates and patches be installed quickly, but their constant monitoring of your network will allow them to identify any unauthorized access.
Performance monitoring: given the level of competition within business in the 21^st century, your organization’s network needs to perform at a high level. Monitoring the complexities of an IT network, though, is a tough ask. But the experience of an NOC team means they can easily analyze your network performance, and then suggest plans for improving and maximizing its output.

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

The Basics of Protecting Your Network

anti malware, firewall, network, Ophtek, security, two factorAnti- malware, firewall, network, Ophtek, security, segment, two-factor authOphtek, LLC

Apr 2019

Computer networks are complex pieces of technology, but, thankfully, when it comes to protecting them, the processes are relatively simple.

If you’re an organization that works with PCs then the chances are that the backbone of your IT infrastructure will be a network. Packed full of benefits that enhance accessibility, speed and communication, a PC network is crucial for productivity. However, due to the incredible amount of data being transmitted across a network, these bastions of connectivity are squarely in the targets of hackers. And that’s why it’s important that your network is protected from any external threats.

You can, of course, invest heavily in a wide range of security solutions to protect your network, but it’s vital that you make sure you follow the basics as your best defense. So, if you want to know what these are, just take a look at our guide on the basics of protecting your network.

Always Use a Firewall

Your organization’s network is private and, therefore, the last thing you want is for third parties to be accessing the network and viewing its traffic. The most popular and effective method for preventing this is by installing a firewall. A piece of software that analyses incoming and outgoing activity, a firewall is a multi-layered form of defense that can monitor network activity, report unusual behavior and enforce security policies.

Work with Two-Factor Authentication

It’s highly likely that you’re familiar with the process of using login credentials to access networks and applications, but have you ever used two –factor authentication? While the standard practice of entering a login name and a password is highly secure, two-factor authentication makes it doubly so. The concept of two-factor authentication is that users have to go through two forms of authentication to gain access to the network e.g. after entering a username and password, users must then activate a link emailed to a secure email account.

Install Anti-Malware Software

Malware is any form of malicious software that aims to exploit vulnerabilities in your PCs (and their users) to gain access to your network. Naturally, this is the last thing you want, but it’s almost impossible to manually identify every threat entering your network. Therefore, it’s essential that you install anti-malware software to help protect your network. Capable of identifying the vast majority of active threats (and regularly updated against new ones), anti-malware software provides you with peace of mind that your defenses are strong.

Segment Your Networks

A simple way to enhance the security of your network is by segmenting it into individual sub-networks. Not only does this approach enhance the performance of each ‘segment’, it also increases the security of the network as a whole. For example, if a hacker manages to gain access to one of the segments, they will only have access to that one segment. The other sub-networks will be fenced off with their own unique security measures and, therefore, make it much harder for a hacker to gain access to the entire network.

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

Category Archives: network

Always Use a Firewall

Work with Two-Factor Authentication

Install Anti-Malware Software

Segment Your Networks