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Malware: the biggest threat

Malware remains the biggest threat to corporate networks, more costly than any other threat including ransomware and Trojans. A research study conducted by Deep Instinct reports on the hundreds of millions of attempted cyber-attacks that occurred every day throughout 2020 showing malware increased by 358% overall.

John Mc Loughlin.

Emotet maintained its number one position in the Global Threat Index, highlighting the global impact of this malware. The highly destructive banking Trojan remains the top malware as it has already impacted six percent of organisations globally. This malicious spam campaign uses various delivery techniques to spread the malware, this includes phishing emails, embedded links, attachments and password protected Zip files.

Emotet also collaborates with other campaigns where cybercriminals used it to drop ransomware and spyware onto systems that were already infected by this malware. Its worm-like capabilities enable it to spread to other devices within the same network. Regardless of how it is spread, Emotet is persistent and avoids detection. This means victims are unaware that they have been compromised until it's too late.

Emotet is one of the most costly and destructive malware variants. It's critical for corporates to be aware of this threat, they need robust security systems to prevent data breaches. More importantly, employees need comprehensive training so they are able to identify and react to Emotet.

Trickbot is another banking Trojan that is used in various cyber-intrusion campaigns. Similar to Emotet, it is often installed on computers to provide a gateway to install ransomware. The third biggest malware is Formbook, a credential-harvesting Trojan that is used by cyber-criminals to steal information like usernames and passwords.

To help prevent becoming a victim to malware attacks, businesses must ensure that they have a comprehensive cyber resilience programme in place. This programme will ensure a layered defence and provides visibility across the full environment, no matter where their users are.

It must incorporate all aspects of their operations including email, data, applications, Internet and the people who are accessing these. It will ensure that all software is up to date, users are well trained and anomalies can be rapidly detected and threats remediated.

One cannot manage what you cannot see. You cannot keep defending the same way and expecting different results. The threats and cyber criminals have evolved, so should your security.

For more information contact J2 Software, +27 11 794 1096, john@j2.co.za, www.j2.co.za

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