BadRabbit and other ransomware viruses: how to protect yourself and your business

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Companies and Internet users have finally realized the dangers posed by cyber attacks and have begun to take steps to protect their data. However, sooner or later, hackers will discover new vulnerabilities - it's just a matter of time.

It is necessary to recognize the attack in time and begin to act. This is extremely important because a new hacking technology has emerged called fileless cyberattack.

With the new method, hackers can bypass anti-virus software and corporate firewalls without anyone detecting a breach. The new technology is dangerous because a hacker penetrates the corporate network without using malicious files.

An attacker can easily gain access to a computer and take full control of the operating system by exploiting vulnerabilities in the software. Once a hacker breaks into the network, he will inject code that can destroy or hijack sensitive data without leaving a trace. A hacker can, for example, manipulate operating system tools such as Windows Management Instrumental or PowerShell.

Quiet Risk

Despite the obvious progress in the field of cyber defense, hacking technologies are developing at such a high speed that they allow hackers to adapt and change their tactics on the fly.

Fileless cyberattacks have increased over the past few months, which is extremely alarming. Their consequences can be more devastating than simple extortion.

The Prudential Control Board of the Bank of England called such attacks "quiet risk." The people behind the attack have different goals: to gain access to intellectual property, personal information, or strategically important data.

Those who develop antivirus software probably won't be surprised that hackers have come up with such a sophisticated approach. It allows you to attack without using regular executable files. After all, similar results can be achieved by injecting malicious code into the most common PDF or Word files.

Companies and organizations that run an outdated operating system are practically begging to be attacked. Older operating systems are not supported by the manufacturer and do not update antivirus software. It goes without saying that when software stops releasing updates, the computer becomes an easy target for hackers.

Threat protection

It has long been impossible to rely on old methods of protection. If organizations want to counter new attacks, they need to develop policies internally to mitigate the risks of fileless attacks.

So here's what to do.

• Invest in basic security tools such as high-quality end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and the latest antivirus software with regular updates. Pay close attention to the search for vulnerabilities in the company's computer security system.
• Outdated and faulty antivirus programs are ineffective in most cases. For example, only 10 out of 61 antiviruses were able to stop the NotPetya attack.
• Rules should be developed to control and restrict access to administrative resources among company employees.

Keep in mind that a lack of knowledge of existing security threats can wreak havoc on an organization. Information about cases of fileless attacks must be published in the news, blogs, on the official website of the company, otherwise another major hacker attack, such as WannaCry, awaits us.

Nevertheless, all organizations and firms must understand that hacking technologies are constantly being improved and it will not be possible to stop cyberattacks forever. It is worth identifying the potential hazard and looking for a solution according to the circumstances of the attack.