Cybercriminals use a range of methods to gain access to business networks to install malware, even though by far the most usual method of dispersing malware is spam electronic mail. As per the latest study by F-Secure, in 2018, 90% of malware was distributed through spam electronic mail.
The most usual kinds of malware distributed via spam electronic mail are bots, downloaders, and backdoors, which jointly comprise 52% of all infections. Banking Trojans comprise 42% and Emotet, Trickbot, and Panda banking Trojans are most usual. Although 2018 has seen several ransomware attacks on companies, ransomware comprises just 6% of spam-delivered malware. F-Secure notices that all through 2018, email-based ransomware attacks have decreased.
Analysis of spam electronic mails has indicated that among the most effective and most used appeals is a failed delivery notice, particularly during the holiday period. At this time of the year, users are likely to be anticipating package deliveries.
During the holiday period, a lot of users let their guard down and reply to messages that they would identify as doubtful at other times of the year. This was shown by F-Secure through replicated Black Friday and Cyber Monday themed phishing attacks. The campaign observed a 39% surge in people replying to the phishing messages than at other times of the year.
F-Secure’s study showed 69% of spam electronic mails try to get users to visit a malevolent URL. The hyperlinks in the messages lead users to phishing websites where they are requested to enter confidential information such as credit card numbers, Office 365 logins, or other identifications. Hyperlinks also guide users to sites hosting exploit kits that probe computers for vulnerabilities and quietly download malware or trick users into downloading apparently benign files that have malevolent scripts. 31% of spam messages have malevolent attachments – often macros and other scripts that download malevolent software.
In years gone, spam electronic mails were comparatively easy to identify; nevertheless, lots of the spam and phishing electronic mails now being sent are much more sophisticated. Cybercriminals are using well-tried social engineering ways to receivers to disclose confidential information or install malware. Many spam electronic mails are almost the same as those sent by real companies, complete with proper branding and logos.
With more users opening malevolent electronic mail attachments and clicking hyperlinks in electronic mails at this time of year, companies confront a higher danger of malware infections, electronic mail account breaches, and theft of confidential information.
Obviously, an advanced spam filtering solution should be applied to avoid malevolent messages from being delivered to inboxes. Web sieving technology can be applied to avoid workers from visiting malevolent websites. Though, as good as technological solutions are at obstructing spam, phishing, and malware downloads, it’s important not to disregard the last line of protection: Workers.
Safety consciousness training must be provided to all workers to teach them cybersecurity best ways and how to identify malevolent electronic mails. Through continuous training, the vulnerability of workers to phishing attacks can be substantially decreased. As per Cofense, training and phishing simulation exercises can decrease worker vulnerability to phishing attacks by over 90%.
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