Middle East Countries Targeted by World Cup Malware

Hackers, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, World Cup, , , ,
20
Dec 2022

The World Cup has arrived and, as ever, it is creating headlines around the world, but it’s also creating numerous opportunities for hacking groups.

Fair play should be at the heart of everything taking place on the pitch during the World Cup, which is being held in Qatar, but matters off the pitch are slightly different. Threat actors thrive on a good opportunity and the popularity of the World Cup – over 3.5 billion people watched the last World Cup final in 2018 – makes it full of potential. And it’s an opportunity which hackers have taken advantage of, with a string of malware campaigns launched before the first ball is kicked.

While these attacks have, so far, mostly targeted countries in the Middle East, it’s likely these efforts will spread globally as the tournament progresses. Therefore, you need to understand the tactics that the hackers are following.

Football Phishing Attacks Hit the Middle East

Security researchers at Trellix have discovered, in the lead up to the World Cup, a significant increase in the number of phishing attacks hitting the Middle East. These phishing campaigns have been shown to be unashamedly cashing in on the interest in the World Cup, with many of the emails claiming to originate from either departments within FIFA or even from specific team managers.

The emails being delivered to unsuspecting victims are used to tempt the recipients into clicking links which, for example, promise to take them to payment pages for match tickets. However, the true destination of these links are malicious websites. As with most malicious websites, the potential for risk is very high, and the websites involved in this latest attack have been found to be housing malware such as Emotet, Qakbot, Remcos, Quad Agent and Formbook. All these malware strains have the potential to harvest data and gain remote access to infected PCs.

How To Defend Against the World Cup Malware

Whilst the malware at the heart of this campaign may not be the most dangerous ever seen, the fact remains that it is malware. And all malware should be considered a major problem for your IT infrastructure. Accordingly, protecting yourself against these phishing campaigns, and any others in the digital wild, is paramount for your cybersecurity. Therefore, make sure you adopt these tactics into your team:

  • Analyze every email: if an email sounds too good to be true, it’s likely it is. Say, for example, you receive an email from a manager of one of the World Cup teams, it’s unlikely they would be contacting you directly. Likewise, if you receive an email regarding payment for something you’ve never ordered – such as World Cup tickets – you should be equally suspicious.
  • Use an anti-malware suite: one of the best ways to protect your organization is by installing an anti-malware suite. This is a collection of tools which provides protection against malicious websites and emails by evaluating their risk level as well as monitoring network connections and installing a firewall.
  • Install all updates: you can maximize your security by ensuring that all software updates are installed and in place. Taking this crucial step will maximize the security of your IT infrastructure by protecting you against software vulnerabilities.

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

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7 Quick Tips to Improve the Security of Your PC

download privileges, Ophtek, Password Security, Phishing, shut down pc, Updates, , , , ,
20
Sep 2022

It’s impossible for a PC to be 100% secure, but there’s nothing to stop you strengthening the defenses of your PC.

With cyberattacks on small businesses at an all-time high, there’s never been a more important time to strengthen your PC’s security. However, as ever, budgets are a crucial factor in achieving this. Thankfully, investing thousands upon thousands of dollars isn’t your only option (although it certainly helps) as simpler solutions are available. Many of these are processes which are either overlooked or simply unknown to most PC users. But the enhanced security they offer is unarguable. Therefore, it’s time integrate these 7 quick tips to improve the security of your PC:

  1. Automatic updates: software vulnerabilities are a sure-fire way to open your IT infrastructure to the world, so it’s vital you install updates as soon as possible. Installing updates, though, is far from glamorous and this is why many PC users fail to install them when available. Luckily, it’s possible to implement automatic updates in Windows to take the pain out of this process.
  • Never write down your passwords: it may be one of the biggest sins when it comes to PC security, but PC passwords are routinely written down in every single business in the world. And it’s a practice which needs to stop. The only place passwords should ever be stored is in either your memory or a password manager.
  • Shut your PC down: when you’ve finished on your PC for the day, you should always shut it down. It may be tempting to leave it running, so that you can start straight away again the next day, but all this does is label your PC as a sitting duck for hackers.

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

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New Phishing Scam Uses a Photo from the Webb Telescope

GO#WEBBFUSCATOR, network activity, Ophtek, Phishing, SMACS 0723, Updates, Webb Telescope, , , , ,
13
Sep 2022

A new malware threat has been discovered which uses the public excitement around the Webb telescope to deliver a phishing scam.

The first image to be released by the Webb telescope project was entitled SMACS 0723, and its new, stunning view of the galaxy created headlines around the world. However, it’s this level of interest which has led to hackers using it as bait. The image is used as part of an email phishing scam and, unfortunately, fails to highlight the wonders of space. Instead, it compromises a PC and leaves it at risk of further attacks.

Phishing scams are a contemporary irritant in the IT security world, so we’re going to delve deeper into this one and see what we can do to help protect your PC.

The Threat from Outer Space

This latest strain of malware has been given the rather complex name of GO#WEBBFUSCATOR but the way in which it operates is simple. Security experts Securonix have discovered a phishing email – described as one promoting satellite service plans – which contains an infected Microsoft Office document. If this document is downloaded and opened, the malware will – if Word macros are enabled – begin to release its payload.

The malware begins by downloading the SMACS 0723 image, but this image is far from innocent as it contains hidden Base64 code. With this code activated, the infected PC is then systematically tested for vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Once these have been detected and analyzed, the hackers begin a campaign of exploitation to take control of the PC. It’s also interesting to note that the computer language behind this malicious code is constructed from Go, a cross-platform language which highlights the scope of the threat actors behind GO#WEBBFUSCATOR.

Staying Safe on Planet Earth

The number of vulnerabilities this malware targets, along with its deceptive approach, make it a powerful weapon for hackers. Therefore, protecting yourself against its dangers is paramount and you must make sure you:

  • Monitor network activity: once malware such as GO#WEBBFUSCATOR has made its way onto your PC, it’s likely that you will notice a surge in unusual activity on your network e.g. increased traffic and downloads. And this is likely to be one of the only signs you receive, so it pays to keep a close eye on any spikes in network activity.

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

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Cuba Ransomware Collects Over $40 Million in Ransom Fees

Backup, Cuba ransomware, Ophtek, Phishing, Ransomware, Updates, , , , ,
23
Aug 2022

Using a new remote access trojan, threat actors behind the Cuba ransomware have amassed ransom payments estimated to be close to $44 million.

Over the past five years, countless headlines have been generated by the damage caused by ransomware attacks. Not only do they compromise access to your organization’s data, but they also have the potential to inflict painful financial damage. To make matters worse, these attacks are evolving to become more powerful and harder to prevent. In fact, on many occasions (and as we’ll see with the Cuba ransomware) these evolutions will take place over a matter of months.

Ransomware, therefore, is a very real threat to your organization’s IT network, so it’s important that you understand exactly how the Cuba ransomware operates.

What is the Cuba Ransomware?

Cuba was first detected in late 2019 before disappearing from the frontline and returning two years later in November 2021. Evidence of the Cuba ransomware has been detected in around 60 ransomware attacks, with 40 of these victims revealed to be US-based. Cuba is delivered to PCs through the Hancitor loader, a type of malware which is used to download and execute additional malware e.g. remote access trojans. Hancitor makes its way onto PCs through a variety of means such as phishing emails, stolen login credentials and software vulnerabilities.

Since Cuba first emerged onto the digital landscape, it has undergone a series of significant changes. The most notable changes have seen it terminating more processes before it locks files, widening the range of file types it encrypts and, believe it or not, enhancing its support options for victims wanting to pay. Cuba has also been observed operating a backdoor trojan called ROMCOM RAT, a piece of malware which deletes files and logs data to a remote server.

Protecting Yourself Against the Cuba Ransomware

With Cuba collecting ransom payments of over $40 million, it’s clear to see Cuba is a dangerously effective threat. It’s also important to point out there is currently no known decryption tool available to combat Cuba’s encryption methods. Accordingly, you need to be on your guard against this threat and any similar attacks. Therefore, make sure you practice the following:

  • Install updates: Cuba has the power to exploit software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to computer networks, so it’s crucial that you always install updates as soon as possible. The install process for updates can feel time consuming, but when you have the option to automate these installations, there’s no reason this shouldn’t take place.

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

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Hello XD Ransomware is no Laughing Matter

Data Backup, Hello XD, Ophtek, Phishing, Ransomware, Russian Hacker, , , , ,
14
Jun 2022

The Hello XD ransomware was first spotted in the digital wild back in November 2021, but recent research indicates that it’s becoming more virulent.

There’s no such as ‘good’ ransomware, but it’s not unreasonable to describe Hello XD as ‘disastrous’ due to its enhanced capabilities. Whereas, previously, Hello XD focused its efforts on the standard ransomware practice of encrypting files, its evolved form now includes a backdoor feature. This enhanced functionality allows the transfer of data from infected PCs to external sources. Combined with its ransomware feature, this new form of Hello XD represents a huge security risk.

Ransomware is a highly problematic attack, and it’s one which your organization needs to avoid at all costs. Hello XD is the latest in a long line of ransomware attacks and, as ever, it could save you a fortune by understanding how it operates.

Hello XD Steps Up Its Game

Spread through various phishing techniques, Hello XD operates in the following manner once it arrives on a PC:

  • Hello XD’s first step is to disable shadow copy capabilities, this means that system snapshots cannot be saved or accessed. System recovery, therefore, can’t be used to counter the impact of Hello XD.
  • The infected system’s hard drive is then encrypted by Hello XD, all files are encrypted with a .hello extension and rendered inaccessible.

Clearly, Hello XD packs a powerful punch and has the capability to bring your organizations IT operations to a halt. It is believed that Hello XD has been designed by X4K, a Russian-speaking hacker who has been advertising his wares on various hacking forums. It’s also likely that X4K will enhance Hello XD’s capabilities even further for future attacks, so it’s crucial you remain alert.

How Do You Say Goodbye to Hello XD?

The best way to avoid falling victim to Hello XD is by practicing the following:

  • Understand phishing techniques: Hello XD, and many other forms of ransomware, use phishing strategies such as mass emails to snare their victims. Emails, for example, which instill a sense of urgency over financial matters can be used to encourage users to open malicious attachments. However, if your employees understand the tell-tale signs of social engineering, they will be better placed to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks.

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

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