The Return of the Trickbot Malware

anti malware, malware, Ophtek, trickbot, two-factor authentication, , , , ,
09
Feb 2021

Some malware is incredibly difficult to remove, but it is removable. However, that very same malware could come back stronger than ever before.

We first reported on the Trickbot malware back in 2017 when it was being used to target banks in the US. Back then it was using web-injection techniques to infect users and steal login credentials. But much can change in three and a half years. Trickbot has steadily evolved to become a much stronger strain of malware. And this, naturally, means that its more dangerous. Therefore, even if you managed to beat Trickbot before, it’s going to require an even stronger battle this time around.

The good news is that we’re going to give you a lowdown on the latest variant of Trickbot and, more importantly, how to beat it.

What is Trickbot?

Trickbot has changed significantly since we last encountered it, so it’s crucial that we take a comprehensive look at it. Since its early days as a banking trojan, Trickbot has evolved several times. Enhancements to its design has allowed it to spread through networks rapidly and with stealth on its side. Trickbot has also been re-engineered to become a malware loader meaning that it can download even more malware to an infected system. It had appeared, last year, that a collection of tech companies had managed to take the Trickbot network down. But it appears that Trickbot is still active.

The latest Trickbot attack uses a social engineering approach to unleash its payload and is targeting legal and insurance companies in the US. Phishing emails are being distributed which inform the recipient that they are responsible for a traffic violation. A link contained within the email promises to deliver proof of this violation. But the true destination of this link is a website which will download an infected ZIP file. This infected file will then connect the user’s PC to a remote server and completes the infection by downloading further malware.

How to Beat Trickbot

Good security practices are essential when it comes to beating malware such as Trickbot. Protect yourself by carrying out the following:

  • Install Your Updates: Vulnerabilities in your hardware and software allow malware such as Trickbot easy access into your system. Plug this gap by installing all updates when prompted to and, where possible, set these to automatic installs.
  • Teach Email Safety: The busy pressures of the working day mean that we can sometimes switch to automatic when checking our emails. However, by taking a few moments to carry out some basic checks you can make sure you don’t fall victim to malicious emails.
  • Two-Factor Authentication: Trickbot is well known for being able to spread through networks like wildfire, but you can limit this spread. By installing a method of two-factor authentication on your network you can make this spread much harder.
  • Use Anti-Malware Software: A wide range of anti-malware software is available – much of it at no cost – that can protect your PCs from malware. Windows itself has Windows Defender built into it as standard, so make sure you have something in place. And, don’t forget, make sure the software is turned on.

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

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The Best PC Shortcuts You Should Know

Customizeable mouse, keyboard shortcuts, Keyboards, Ophtek, PC Shortcuts, Productivity, , ,
02
Feb 2021

Anything that can increase your productivity is a godsend. If it’s a simple process it’s even better. And that’s exactly what you can do with a PC shortcut.

Working with a mouse and a keyboard at the same time can become a fiddly task. But, thankfully, much of this complexity can be removed by using PC shortcuts. When we say PC shortcut we’re not referring to the icons on your desktop that launch applications. We’re talking about quick tricks that you can execute in seconds to save you time. These mostly involve either the keyboard or the mouse and you should be able to start implementing them immediately.

Increasing Your Productivity

The best PC shortcuts you should know are:

  • Switching Apps: When you have numerous applications open it can be difficult to navigate your way between them with a mouse. However, if you hold down the ALT key and then tap the TAB key you can quickly switch between each application. A mini preview window will open in the center of the screen to make things as simple as possible.
  • Select a Paragraph: If you want to select an entire paragraph of text to move, copy or delete then you have two options. The first is to manually click and drag your mouse cursor over the entire text. The second, and much quicker, option is to do a triple click of the left mouse button anywhere on the paragraph.
  • Select Everything: If you want to select everything in, for example, a Word document, a text box in any application or even MS Paint, all you have to do is press and hold the CTRL key and then the A key. This will highlight everything instantly and allows you action further processes immediately.
  • Close Your Current Window: The most common way to close a window on your PC is by clicking the X icon in the top right corner. But sometimes this may not be visible or your mouse may not be working correctly. In these cases you can still close the window quickly by pressing and holding the ALT key and then the F4 key.
  • Rescue Your Closed Browser Tab: We’ve all closed a tab on our internet browser by mistake and not been able to remember the address. Rather than digging through your internet history, though, there’s a quick way to re-open that tab. In most internet browsers, if you click and hold the SHIFT key and then the CTRL key and finally the T key, your last closed tab will be re-opened.
  • Zoom In: There’s always a need to zoom in on documents and images, but finding the zoom function in an app isn’t always easy.  There is, however, a quick solution. If you hold down the control key and then move the scroll wheel of a mouse up and down then you should zoom in and out. This works in a wide range of applications such as MS Office, Chrome, Firefox and most graphic design software.

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

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Windows Defender Needs Defending

Cyber Security, Data Security, Defender, Ophtek, PC Security, Security, Windows Defender, , ,
26
Jan 2021

You would like to think that your security software keeps you secure and, on the whole, it will. But there is the chance it could be turned against you.

One of the most trusted anti-malware tools is Microsoft’s Windows Defender app. Originally launched in 2005 – as Microsoft AntiSpyware – Windows Defender is a free tool which offers real-time protection against infected files and websites. It’s a highly effective piece of software and one that all Windows users should ensure is running. But, in an ironic twist, Windows Defender has fallen victim to a vulnerability. And, as you would expect, hackers have been keen to capitalize on it.

The Windows Defender Vulnerability

The basic process of Windows Defender is that it scans files and activity on a PC for any malicious potential. If these files are considered suspicious then they will be quarantined by Windows Defender; the user then has the option to either restore or delete the file. However, a problem has been discovered in Windows Defender in the form of CVE-2021-1647. This code, allocated by Microsoft, indicates that it’s a vulnerability in Windows Defender which allows remote access to the app.

By allowing remote access to Windows Defender, this vulnerability grants hackers the chance to turn the app against its user. Instead of scanning malicious files and quarantining them, remote users will program Windows Defender to execute these files. Therefore, a hacker could send infected files to a user safe in the knowledge that Windows Defender will do the hard work for them. It’s a serious threat and one which could cause major problems for your network in a matter of seconds. The exploit has been recorded as active in the digital wild, so this demonstrates that hackers have been aware of it for some time.

Defending Windows Defender

It may sound a tall order to defend a piece of software there to defend you, but this is the world we live in. Thankfully, putting safety measures in place is relatively simple. The vulnerability in question has been fixed thanks to a patch swiftly released by Microsoft. This will be installed automatically and requires no work on the user’s part. Naturally, this does not mean that Windows Defender is 100% secure, the threat of further exploits being discovered remains a possibility. But, by ensuring that automatic updates are in place, your system will be safer than before.

Final Thoughts

Vulnerabilities in PCs are all too common and even Microsoft are not immune from these flaws in their products. The Windows Defender vulnerability – and others such as Zerologon – underline the importance of installing updates. The simplest way to secure your PC is by making sure it has the best chance to defend itself. Accordingly, updates need to be installed as soon as possible. When it comes to Microsoft updates, these can be set to install automatically. This gives you the best chance of staying ahead of exploits and any hackers using them.

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

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Online COVID-19 Scams to Be Aware of

Covid Scams, Hacking, malware, Ophtek, Security, Security Threats, , , ,
19
Jan 2021

 

COVID-19 has changed the way we live our lives and, not surprisingly, hackers are trying to take advantage of the fear factor behind the virus.

No aspect of life is off-limits to a hacker; if they can turn a situation to their advantage then they will. And this means that all sense of morals and ethics go out of the window. COVID-19, of course, has caused great fear and panic since it emerged, so it’s a subject people take very seriously. And it’s this investment in fear that hackers are looking to exploit. As with most online scams, if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is. But some people are willing to take a risk when COVID-19 is mentioned.

COVID-19 Scams to Look Out For

You should be aware of the usual online threats to look out for, but here are the specific COVID-19 scams you should be aware of at the moment:

  • COVID-19 Vaccine on the Dark Web: Now that vaccines have been approved in the fight against COVID-19, hackers have decided to exploit this demand. And that’s why it’s now possible to find listings for the vaccine on the dark web. Naturally, you should never buy medicine online unless this has been approved by your healthcare professional and the site is genuine. Very little on the Dark Web – an encrypted form of the internet – is genuine, so any marketplace listings that promise a COVID-19 vaccine should be dismissed. 
  • Fake COVID-19 Mapper: Everyone has been intrigued as to the behavior of COVID-19 and its spread, so the opportunity to monitor its spread is appealing. However, hackers have used this curiosity to help spread their malware. Researchers have discovered a PHP malware dropper which disguises itself as a piece of COVID-19 mapping software. Using a compromised website, hackers encourage visitors to download and install the mapping software. But all that is installed is software which downloads further malware. 

How to Combat COVID-19 Scams

The urge to click on sensational news and promises regarding COVID-19 is strong, but it’s crucial that you think long and hard before clicking. There are numerous COVID-19 scams in the digital wild and they are only going to get more sophisticated. As with all online scams and malware, make sure you practice the following:

  • Install all Updates: Malware often takes advantage of outdated software, so make sure that all your software is up to date. All you need to do is install all updates and upgrades as soon as they become available – your PC should automatically prompt you to install these when available.

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

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Beware of Online Tax Scams

Hacking, Ophtek, Phishing, Phishing Email, Security, Security Threats, Tax Scams, , , ,
05
Jan 2021

Many of us will have started preparing our tax returns and hackers are well aware of this. Therefore, it pays to be aware of the numerous online tax scams.

Nobody likes completing tax returns due to the vast amount of data involved. However, they’re essential for organizations to remain operating. And that’s why we spend hours and hours collecting receipts and details for transactions; this is where all the data builds up. Hackers, of course, like nothing more than getting their hands on huge amounts of data. This data can be used for both financial gain and damaging an organization. Accordingly, tax season is their hunting season.

Tax Scams to Look Out For

Countless tax scams are currently circulating in the digital wild, but these are the most common ones you will encounter:

  • Automatic Tax Payment Deduction: A number of emails have been discovered which claim to originate from the Income Tax Department. These emails falsely claim, in order to generate anxiety, that a tax payment has automatically been deducted from their bank account. An attachment is included which masquerades as a receipt for this transaction. Hackers hope that the recipient’s anxiety and confusion will cause them to open this receipt. Unfortunately, contained within this ‘receipt’ is a slice of malware named W32.Golroted. 
  • Fake Government Websites: A popular method for scamming victims out of money is by designing Government websites which look authentic, but are fake. Using information which has usually been stolen through malicious files or social engineering, these fake websites inform victims that they have received a tax fine. The only way to pay this fine is by wiring payment or purchasing general purchase reloadable cards. However, there is no fine to pay and all the victim will be doing is bankrolling the hackers. 
  • IRS Tax Return is Locked: The last few years have seen the emergence of a phishing email which claims that access to the recipient’s tax return has been restricted. The email is designed to look as though it has been sent by the IRS or, sometimes, the manufactures of the popular TurboTax software. The truth is that the email is fake and has been sent by hackers. The email will urge recipients to click on a link which will take them to a malicious website where their personal information will be stolen.

Staying Safe During the Tax Season

Despite the number of online tax scams it’s easy to stay safe during the tax season. All you have to do is follow these best practices:

  • Remember that the IRS will never contact you by email to discuss the nature of your tax return or your personal details.
  • Verify the true identity of any suspicious links by hovering your mouse cursor over the link. A popup will then display where the link will send you.
  • Never send personal documents to unsolicited email requests as it is likely that a hacker is trying to harvest your details
  • Emails that claim to be from official organizations, but do not use your name are to be treated as highly suspicious and should be deleted.

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

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