DNSMessenger is a New Method of Cyber Attack

Security, Services,
04
Jul 2017

DNS-Messenger

We’re used to hackers using conventional attack strategies, so, although we can defend these, it means hackers are looking for more discreet attack methods.

And, just recently, hackers have been looking to exploit routes in and out of our PCs which are not usually monitored for malicious activity. It makes sense for hackers to seek out these poorly defended access points as, for hackers, the best hack is an easy hack.

For businesses, though, it raises a lot of questions on just how in-depth and conscientious your security efforts need to be; in order to help you understand the situation and nature of these attacks, I’m going to discuss the DNSMessenger threat.

DNS as a Means of Attack

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the method by which the domain name of a website, computer or network is converted into an IP address which is a numerical code that can be recognized by PCs e.g. one of the many IP addresses for Google is 74.125.224.72

Now, as DNS helps PCs to communicate with many other systems, it provides a very useful route for hackers to breach defenses. Thankfully, it’s very difficult for hackers to hack directly into the DNS channels, but by using a malware exploit they can gain access. And it’s all part of a trend in the evolution of malware.

Users are prompted to download an MSWord document – containing malicious code – through an email phishing campaign which sets the attack in motion. The malicious payload is written in the Powershell language which permits administration tasks to become automated. It’s at this point that the hackers can identify user privileges and plan the next step of the attack which utilizes the DNS.

Using the DNS, hackers are able to send commands directly to the user’s system and effectively have free rein over that system. What’s particularly deceptive (and clever) about this attack method is that it’s very difficult to monitor; few systems monitor DNS traffic and Powershell operates purely in the system’s memory rather than relying on external files which are easily identifiable.

Combatting DNS Attacks

Security-Icon-Microsoft-696x464

Whilst there are niche software solutions that can help protect businesses from DNS attacks, the simplest solution is by educating your staff on the telltale signs of malware and phishing:

  • If you do not recognize an email address then, under no circumstances, click on any links or files contained within it. And, even if you do recognize the sender’s email address, run a quick audit on the email’s content as the sender’s account could have been hacked – badly worded and poorly formatted emails are often a sign of hacked emails.
  • The DNSMessenger attack is only able to unleash its payload once the infected Word document is opened and the recipient clicks on the pop up window prompting them to “Enable Content”. By enabling the content, the recipient is unwillingly giving permission for their system to be hacked, so always treat this request with suspicion.

These preventative methods are fairly simple, but, due to the volume of emails people receive these days, there doesn’t seem to be the time to carry out these quick checks. However, with hackers taking their attacks in new directions which are incredibly difficult to monitor, a few seconds thought could save your systems from a nasty attack.

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

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The Threat of Malvertising

Security,
20
Dec 2016

malvertising

Some websites are seen as trusted, but malvertising is a new threat to the world of cyber security and may cause every website to be viewed with caution.

Now, we’ve all been irritated by online ads whilst trying to enjoy our favorite websites, but, with the advent of malvertising – short for malicious advertising – they’ve reached a new level of irritability. And it’s a threat that has the potential to affect everyone with popular sites such as Spotify and Reuters already falling victim.

As it’s such a new threat, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of malvertising in order to protect your data and feel safe.

What is Malvertising?

online_shopping_scam

Popular websites tend not to handpick their adverts and, instead, they turn to third party ad networks who are able to use complex algorithms and read cookies (tracking files left legitimately by websites) to deliver bespoke adverts to visitors.

And, what many people are unaware of, is that when you connect to sites such as Spotify and Reuters, you’re also connecting to a number of other web addresses and these can include third party ad networks. Naturally, this instantly provides a number of routes for hackers to exploit that the web user is completely unaware of.

With malvertising, hackers use these footholds to deliver malicious adverts which may appear to be genuine, but contain malware. Sometimes the web user will need to click on the ad to activate its payload, but many other forms of malvertising will embed scripts in the affected webpage to automate the execution and infect the user.

Malvertising is also particularly effective as it’s able to ascertain details of the user’s operating system and web browser which is crucial for hackers to launch specific attacks e.g. Firefox running on Windows XP will have different vulnerabilities to Internet Explorer running on Windows 8.

Hackers can also target specific individuals by infecting ads which use specific keywords e.g. a lawyer looking for “lawyer briefcase”, so this, again, highlights just how sophisticated and bespoke a method of hacking malvertising is.

Combatting Malvertising

protect_against_advertising

Malvertising may be new, but it doesn’t mean you need to panic about being defenseless. In fact, if you follow the advice below then you should find you’re well protected from malvertising:

  • Keep your browsers updated – Internet browsers such as Chrome and Internet Explorer are designed with safety measures in place to identify websites exploited by malvertising. However, you need to ensure that your browser is up to date to ensure you’re protected from the latest threats.
  • Update Flash – We’ve discussed the security flaws in Abobe Flash before and it’s no surprise to discover that malvertising just loves to exploit Flash. Therefore, it’s crucial that all patches and updates are installed as soon as possible. Or, alternatively, just disable Flash from running at all times.
  • Use ad-blockers – Popular with many users, ad-blockers prevent ads from being displayed and prevent users clicking on them and activating malware. These may, however, block genuine adverts that are necessary, but these can easily be put on ‘exceptions’ lists.

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

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Backdoor Attacks Pose a Real Headache for Cyber Security

Uncategorized,
15
Nov 2016

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Backdoors are a point of access which can be illegally installed to give hackers free and easy network access; they’re also very difficult to detect.

Unfortunately, for all computer users, backdoor hacks are a form of cyber-attack which is on the rise. And what’s particularly galling for businesses is that they’re becoming harder and harder to combat.

I’ve previously covered variants of backdoor attacks – such as the GlassRAT Trojan – but it’s time I took a closer look at how these backdoors operate.

What is a Backdoor Attack?

Gaining remote access to a computer network is a hacker’s dream, so anything that makes this a possibility will be pursued by hackers; a backdoor to your network is the most straightforward way of achieving this.

It literally is a ‘backdoor’ which hackers can use to come and go as they please without leaving any signs of forcing an entry. And with free rein to access your network, a hacker will seriously compromise the safety of your data and all your systems.

How Do Backdoor Attacks Take Place?

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What’s particularly tricky about backdoor attacks is the number of different strategies they employ to breach your defenses:

  • Software Exploits – Many pieces of software have backdoors built into them that only the developer is aware of. Sometimes this can be to help aid in maintenance, but there have also been reports of government agencies insisting ‘secret backdoors’ are installed to aid security. However, no matter how secret these backdoors are, there’s always the chance a hacker will discover them.
  • Malware – One of the most common methods of establishing a backdoor is through malware which first breaches the network before downloading code to setup a backdoor. As we’ve learned previously, malware can come in many forms such as email attachments and phishing.

Both these methods are troubling as they can take the form of a zero day exploit, so firewalls and anti-malware software are oblivious to these new security threats which leads to a period where the attack simply isn’t detected.

Secondly, the backdoor establishes the hacker with seemingly legitimate credentials and this fails to create any suspicion around the connections being made into your network, so they’re not easy to pick up and gives the hacker plenty of time to run riot.

How to Defend Against Backdoors

Although backdoors are tricky attacks that are difficult to counter, you can still protect your network by taking the following measures:

  • Don’t Forget The Old Methods – Firewalls and anti-malware software still have a place and can detect a high proportion of backdoor activity e.g unauthorized incoming traffic. Therefore, it’s not quite time to dispose of these quite yet otherwise you run the risk of a simple and quick hack taking place.

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

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Cyber Crime as a Service – A New Threat

Security, Uncategorized, ,
08
Nov 2016

Computer crime concept

The latest evolution in hacking is here and it’s known as Cybercrime as a Service (CaaS) and it promises to create faster, more powerful hacks, but how?

Well, many people have a need to carry out hacking operations, but don’t have the technical skills to design or even launch these types of cyber-attacks. Therefore, there’s a niche in the market for those who do know how to design a piece of malware to monetize their skills. And this is what the foundations of CaaS are built upon – money and cybercrime.

How exactly does it work, though? And what does it mean for the future of cyber security?

What is CaaS?

Hacking has rarely been referred to as an ‘industry’ despite a few individuals willing to carry out cyber-attacks in exchange for money. However, with CaaS, hacking appears to be turning into an industry which means big bucks and nightmares for computer owners all over the world.

Say, for example, a disgruntled ex-employee wants to sabotage their previous employer’s website to cause disruption to their activities. Now, it’s highly unlikely that this employee would be skilled in the world of cyber-crime, so what would they do? Well, previously they would have tried reading a few online articles about hacking and then given up when they realized how difficult it was.

With the advent of CaaS, though, this ex-employee could easily purchase the software or the execution services of a skilled hacker. Naturally, this is a highly illegal act for both parties, so the resources for these types of services tend to be hidden on the dark web to lower the chances of identification.

Consumers can expect to find malware kits, access to infected computers and even botnet rentals which allow the initiation of Denial of Service attacks. Therefore, it’s somewhat of an Aladdin’s Cave for someone who is looking for quick, easy access to cybercrime e.g. exploit kits can be purchased for just $50 per day and, believe me, they can cause a lot of damage in one day.

What Does CaaS Mean for Hacking?

mobile phone crime concept of thief stealing money when mobile phone is on insecure network

CaaS is making hacking much more accessible for the average computer user whereas, before, it was purely the preserve of those who had the skill to design malicious software and carry out sophisticated attacks. This means that we can expect to see an increase in attacks in the future, so safeguarding your networks is more important than ever.

One of the most troubling aspects of CaaS, though, is that when a service becomes a business it drives competition amongst the vendors. And this means that those hackers who are designing exploit kits and various other hacking tools are going to have to up their game to remain in the market.

Therefore, we’re going to see a rapid evolution in the capabilities of hacking tools, so expect faster and more devastating attacks which are harder to stop. In order to protect yourself from these enhanced attacks you’re going to have to ensure that your cyber security protocols enhance visibility of such attacks and prevent them taking hold of your systems.

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

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Malware is Evolving and Getting Harder to Stop

Security, Uncategorized,
01
Nov 2016

new-hempacks-logo

We like to think that once a cyber-attack takes place that a solution will be found. However, malware is evolving and becoming harder and harder to stop.

In Q1 2016, Kaspersky prevented just over 228 million malware attacks and this is a   figure which has been increasingly rapidly for the last few years. In fact, several years ago, it would have been unlikely to see pushed 228 million malware attacks in an entire year.

Malware, therefore, remains big business for hackers so, naturally, they’re constantly looking to upgrade their weaponry to beat the firewalls and antivirus software we rely on. And it’s a digital arms race which the cyber security experts are struggling to keep up with.

Let’s take a look at why malware is getting harder to stop.

Ransomware Arrives

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One of the most reported evolutions in the malware landscape has been the rise in ransomware attacks such as Locky.

Ransomware is a form of malware which encrypts users’ files and then demands a ransom to decrypt them. Being a relatively new form of malware, knowledge regarding their build and execution capabilities is somewhat limited, so this is making them particularly difficult to combat.

What’s also crucial to the success of ransomware is that the majority of attacks are routed through anonymous Tor servers which mask the attacker’s true IP address. This means that identifying the hackers becomes very difficult and they’re able to continue operating impeded and improve their malware. And this evolution of existing ransomware is best demonstrated by the Locky Trojan which began as a .DOC file, but is now being identified as a .ZIP archive in order to evade detection.

Targeted Attacks

Malware has, traditionally, followed the same execution regardless of which network it has been deployed upon. However, hacking groups such as Poseidon are now ensuring that their attacks are, after the standard breach, able to customize the attack depending upon the network.

Poseidon maps their victims’ networks and harvests all the available credentials to ensure they can gain the maximum privileges on the network. And the reason for this customized attack is because Poseidon is actively hunting the computer which operates as the local Windows domain controller. If the hackers are able to take control of this computer then they will have free rein over the entire network.

It’s this type of attack which is a cyber-security firm’s worst nightmare as it involves extensive research into the intricacies of individual networks. This is very time consuming and underlines how hackers are actively looking to make themselves more powerful.

Long Term Evolution

adwind-rat-console

One of the biggest problems with Malware is that certain strains are constantly evolving into new strains. The best example of this is the Adwind RAT (remote access tool) which first appeared in 2012 as a tool for online spying.

Originally debuting under the name Frutas, it evolved into Adwind, Unrecom, AlienSpy and JSocket over the next three years. Starting off as a Spanish language piece of software, it soon received an English language interface which allowed it to spread worldwide.

All these changes have allowed the Adwind RAT to enjoy a long career and cause so many cyber-attacks. By actively changing its exterior appearance and name, it has fooled firewalls and antivirus software to leave security experts scratching their heads.

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

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