Cybercriminals continue spamvertising tens of thousands of malicious emails on their way to socially engineer gullible end users, ultimately increasing their botnet’s infected population through the systematic and persistent rotation of popular brands.
We’ve recently intercepted a currently circulating malicious campaign enticing users into executing the fake attachment.
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Despite the prevalence of Web based client-side exploitation tools as the cybercrime ecosystem’s primary infection vector, in a series of blog posts, we’ve been emphasizing on the emergence of managed/hosted/DIY malicious Java applet generating tools/platforms, highlighting the existence of a growing market segment relying on ‘visual social engineering’ vectors for the purpose of tricking end users into executing malicious/rogue/fake Java applets, ultimately joining a cybercriminal’s botnet.
We’ve recently spotted yet another Web based Java drive-by generating tool, and decided to take a peek inside the malicious infrastructure supporting it. read more…
Webroot, the market leader in cloud-based, real-time Internet threat detection, recently returned from the fifth annual Automation Nation in Orlando, hosted by LabTech Software. Labtech, a robust remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform design and built for managed service providers, hosted the event at the Hilton Bonnet Creek from June 2nd through the 4th. Hosting over 425 MSP partners and 600 attendees, the event has grown significantly since the previous years. This was Webroot’s first time attending the conference, coming in as a Diamond Sponsor.
Kicking off the event, Webroot CMO David Duncan helped present during the keynote with the support of Andrew Bagnato, a system engineer for Webroot. Speaking on how security doesn’t have to suck, and that with the integration into LabTech and the advances in the Webroot Intelligence Network (WIN), MSPs had the opportunity to not only manage their clients remotely, but ensure they are protected as well.
Talking about the Webroot Partner Program and the security solutions offered, the onsite team showed that the solutions provided just work, can drive profits, and ultimately don’t suck. With pigs flying left and right, over hear and over there, it was not long until the booth was filled to capacity with partners wanting to learn about the intelligent cloud-based security solutions. Also shown were demos of LabTech Software integration, which was designed to bring the tools of the Webroot console direct to the MSP’s most used console, saving time in the monitoring of Webroot protected endpoints.
While at the conference, Andrew Bagnato also hosted a breakout session presenting on the next generation of anti-malware, packing the room beyond capacity. Showing how legacy solutions were not keeping up with the new tricks of incoming threats, Andrew presented on the power of the Webroot Intelligence Network and just how it can help protect endpoints across all the networks from even the most advanced threats.
With the event going non-stop for 3 days, the team is glad to have some rest, but excited to have introduced the security offerings to the LabTech partners.
In a cybercrime ecosystem dominated by DIY(do-it-yourself) malware/botnet generating releases, populating multiple market segments on a systematic basis, cybercriminals continue seeking new ways to acquire and efficiently monetize fraudulently obtained accounting data, for the purpose of achieving a positive ROI (Return on Investment) on their fraudulent operations. In a series of blog posts, we’ve been detailing the existence of commercially available server-based malicious script/iframe injecting/embedding releases/platforms utilizing legitimate infrastructure for the purpose of hijacking legitimate traffic, ultimately infecting tens of thousands of legitimate users.
We’ve recently spotted a long-run Web-based managed malicious/iframe injecting/embedding service relying on compromised accounting data for legitimate traffic acquisition purposes. Let’s discuss the managed service, its features, and take a peek inside the (still running) malicious infrastructure behind it.
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Cybercriminals continue diversifying their portfolios of standardized fraudulent services, in an attempt to efficiently monetize their malicious ‘know-how’, further contributing to the growth of the cybercrime ecosystem. In a series of blog posts highlighting the emergence of the boutique cybercrime-friendly E-shops, we’ve been emphasizing on the over-supply of compromised/stolen accounting data, efficiently aggregated through the TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures) described in our “Cybercrime Trends – 2013” observations.
We’ve recently spotted a newly launched all-in-one cybercrime-friendly E-shop, offering a diversified portfolio of managed/DIY services/products, exposing a malicious infrastructure worth keeping an eye on. Let’s take a peek inside the E-shop’s inventory and expose the fraudulent infrastructure behind it.
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Relying on the systematic and persistent spamvertising of tens of thousands of fake emails, as well as the impersonation of popular brands for the purpose of socially engineering gullible users into downloading and executing malicious attachments found in these emails, cybercriminals continue populating their botnets.
We’ve recently intercepted a currently circulating malicious campaign, impersonating JJ Black Consultancy.
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PayPal users, watch what you click on!
We’ve recently intercepted a currently circulating malicious spamvertised campaign which is impersonating PayPal in an attempt to trick socially engineered end users into clicking on the malware-serving links found in the emails.
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Sample screenshot of the spamvertised email:
Cybercriminals continue to systematically release DIY (do-it-yourself)type of cybercrime-friendly offerings, in an effort to achieve a ‘malicious economies of scale’ type of fraudulent model, which is a concept that directly intersects with our ‘Cybercrime Trends – 2013‘ observations.
We’ve recently spotted yet another subscription-based, DIY keylogging based botnet/malware generating tool. Let’s take a peek inside its Web based interface, and expose the cybercrime-friendly infrastructure behind it.
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Since the WSJ report was released, endpoint security solutions have received a lot of media attention. As many have started to ask “Is AV really dead?”, I felt it was a good idea to talk about it from my perspective.
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: no, AV is not dead. However, what is dead, and has been for many years now, is the traditional, reactive AV protection approach that uses signature-based detection. Within the security industry, it is common knowledge that this approach to threat prevention doesn’t scale to address the tactics used by today’s cybercriminals.
In the realm of providing defenses from an increasingly sophisticated adversary, endpoint protection has never been more important. The endpoint is the primary point of entry in most corporate compromises. To keep up with modern malware, the methods for discovering and addressing new endpoint threats needs to change. AV isn’t dead; it’s evolving.
From our perspective at Webroot, we recognized the inadequacies of traditional AV many years ago, which is why our current endpoint security products are vastly different from traditional technology. When we released our SecureAnywhere™ product family in 2011, we also discontinued our legacy technology offerings as they represented the traditional signature-based security model, which we could see was nearing obsolescence.
Providing defense against today’s cybercriminal tactics required a complete rethink of how to approach the problem. When it comes to defending against an attack, it is crucial to be able to realize when an attack has occurred. The traditional model was not well equipped to handle massive scale distribution of new malware variants at very low volume. The result is very low detection rates due to a lack of awareness. To successfully defend against this tactic, you need visibility into every application on every endpoint. This is a core component to the success of SecureAnywhere solutions: granularity and actionable insight into applications encountered by every Webroot user worldwide.
Beyond rapidly identifying new incidents, our threat intelligence engine resides in the cloud so there is no need for definition updates. All endpoints are always up to date, and as new threats are identified, all users are protected in real time.
There are many other topics I could discuss – remediation, compromise prevention in the face of an active infection, and the impact on system performance – which have undergone complete rethinks for Webroot SecureAnywhere® solutions. The end result speaks for itself. In the third fiscal quarter in 2014 Webroot added 1.4 million new endpoint customers, increasing the contextual awareness of our intelligence network even further and, thereby, improving our capacity to identify never-before-seen attacks as they emerge. Our bookings from new business grew by nearly 200%, and 5,000 businesses trust Webroot technology to secure their networks and endpoints.
Clearly, AV is not dead. In fact, endpoint security has never been more important! The issue at hand is that we can’t let our technology get stagnant. Organizations need a layered protection approach, as well as cloud-based security technology that is designed to grow, learn and continue to evolve to combat the tactics used by today’s cybercriminals. After all, the malware writers don’t rest. Neither should we.
Cybercriminals continue populating their botnets through the persistent spamvertising of tens of thousands of legitimately looking malicious emails, impersonating popular brands, in an attempt to trick socially engineered users into clicking on the malicious links found within the emails.
We’ve recently intercepted an actively circulating spamvertised campaign which is impersonating HM’s Revenue & Customs Department and enticing users into clicking on the malware-serving links found in the emails.
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On Monday, an executive at Symantec declared “AV is dead.” He went on to repeat to several media outlets that protecting customers on their PC and Mac computers had become an impossible battle that they were ready to concede. He indicated that Symantec desktop AV products are only able to stop viruses and malware about 45% of the time. Based on this analysis, what the exec was really saying was “Symantec AV is dead!”
What really should have been communicated was that traditional signature-based AV protection does not work – the criminals have figured out how to get around it. Symantec, like all signature-based security products for PC and Mac computers, uses a nearly identical methodology for determining whether a file is malicious or safe. This approach has changed very little since it was developed in the 1980s. Criminals identified the chinks in this armor long ago and have been developing more clever, more aggressive and more dangerous strains of malware for years.
Symantec is not alone in declaring the end of desktop AV solutions. There has been increasing product investment in the industry into solutions that are not focused on protection, but on after-the-breach detection and remediation. We see this as a disturbing trend. If your internet security company is no longer focused on protection, but has signaled surrender to the cybercriminals, they are exposing millions of customers to serious financial and data loss.
At Webroot, we reject the notion that a highly effective desktop AV solution cannot be created. We did it three years ago. Our Webroot SecureAnywhere products for consumers and businesses are radically different and extraordinarily effective at protecting customers from viruses, malware, rootkits, ransomware, identity theft, phishing attacks, and advanced persistent threats. SecureAnywhere solutions turned the old traditional 1980s model on its ear by doing nearly everything in a different way – no signatures, no huge malware definition files to update every day. Just real-time, worldwide protection for every customer using the power of cloud computing, threat intelligence, and some fiendishly clever data modeling.
Our cloud-based security approach has resulted in very happy customers (95% customer satisfaction rates) and outstanding levels of protection (over 99% as measured by actual customer support incidents.)
Desktop and mobile AV solutions should still be a critical part of any company’s layered security model. Otherwise, if you truly think AV is dead, you might just have the wrong AV solution.
To quote Neil Rubenking, editor of Security Watch at PCMag.com, “AV is not dead, and saying so is not news.”
In a cybercrime ecosystem, dominated by client-side exploits serving Web malware exploitation kits, cybercriminals continue relying on good old fashioned social engineering tricks in an attempt to trick gullible end users into knowingly/unknowingly installing malware. In a series of blog posts, we’ve been highlighting the existence of DIY (do-it-yourself), social engineeringdriven, Java drive-by type of Web based platforms, further enhancing the current efficient state of social engineering driven campaigns.
Let’s take a peek inside yet another Web based DIY Java applet distribution platform, discuss its features, and directly connect to the Rodecap botnet, whose connections with related malicious campaigns have been established in several previously published posts.
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