CyberheistNews Vol 14 #49 | December third, 2024
[Heads Up] Unhealthy Actor Makes use of Deepnude AI Picture Generator to Lure And Infect Customers
The risk group FIN7 is utilizing the lure of producing nude photographs of favourite celebrities to get victims to obtain their NetSupport RAT.
In any social engineering rip-off, there’s all the time the necessity to create some sense of urgency to behave with the intention to make the potential sufferer take an motion that allows the assault. Within the case of a brand new assault by risk group FIN7, the urgency seems to be the need to see deepfake nude photographs.
In accordance with cybersecurity vendor SilentPush’s evaluation of Russia-connected FIN7’s actions, the risk group hosted seven honeypot web sites utilizing domains that included the phrase “ai-nude” in them.
The sufferer is prompted to add a picture and is then instructed their generated picture is prepared for obtain – with the obtain being a .zip file carrying a malicious payload.
SilentPush warns organizations to be cautious of this assault and others prefer it, as they observe that the malware being put in could compromise company credentials by way of infostealer performance.
Organizations that enroll their staff in new-school safety consciousness coaching are higher ready for these sorts of malvertising-based cyberattacks. Positive, the deepfake nudes lure is an actual outlier right here, however coaching does educate the worker on why it isn’t advisable to go to and obtain information from unknown web sites.
Weblog publish with hyperlinks:
https://weblog.knowbe4.com/threat-group-use-ai-adult-based-deepnude-image-generator-to-infect-victims
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Date/Time: TOMORROW, Wednesday, December 4, @ 2:00 PM (ET)
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Phishing Emails Use SVG Recordsdata to Keep away from Detection
Phishing emails are more and more utilizing Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) attachments to show malicious types or ship malware, BleepingComputer reviews.
SVG is a picture format that is saved in XML textual content information, permitting customers to create a picture by way of XML code by specifying shapes, colours, and textual content. Menace actors are utilizing these information to craft convincing phishing types that may bypass safety filters.
“SVG attachments used in a recent campaign pretend to be official documents or requests for more information, prompting you to click the download button, which then downloads malware from a remote site,” BleepingComputer says.
“Different campaigns make the most of SVG attachments and embedded JavaScript to auto-redirect browsers to websites internet hosting phishing types when the picture is opened. The issue is that since these information are largely simply textual representations of photographs, they have a tendency to not be detected by safety software program that always.
“From samples seen by BleepingComputer and uploaded to VirusTotal, at the most, they have one or two detections by security software.”
Customers needs to be looking out for SVG attachments, since they are not generally utilized by most companies. If an SVG file shows what seems like an Excel spreadsheet with a login portal, for instance, it is definitely a phishing try.
“Receiving an SVG attachment is not common for legitimate emails, and should immediately be treated with suspicion,” BleepingComputer says. “Unless you are a developer and expect to receive these types of attachments, it is safer to delete any emails containing them.”
One thing so as to add to the filters. Weblog publish with hyperlinks:
https://weblog.knowbe4.com/phishing-emails-use-svg-files-to-avoid-detection-1
[NEW WHITEPAPER] AI vs. AI: Combating Cybercriminals with an AI-Powered Safety Consciousness Coaching Program
Cybercriminals are diving into AI to make the world extra harmful for the remainder of us.
Thankfully, infosec professionals like you are able to do one thing about it. Likelihood is you are already making use of AI throughout your tech stack. Why not leverage it to fortify your human firewall? Relating to the important human factor of cybersecurity, the ability of AI can be utilized to your benefit to interact customers with related coaching and preserve them knowledgeable in opposition to evolving cyber assaults.
This whitepaper discusses methods dangerous actors are utilizing AI for their very own units. It additionally explores what a sturdy safety consciousness coaching (SAT) and simulated phishing program with AI at its core can carry to a complete cybersecurity initiative.
You will be taught:
- How dangerous actors are utilizing AI to supercharge their assaults
- What smarter human danger administration powered by AI can seem like
- How generative AI can increase current strengths to enhance safety tradition
Obtain Now:
https://data.knowbe4.com/wp-ai-powered-security-awareness-ksat-chn
CISA Strongly Recommends Phishing-Resistant MFA
By Roger Grimes
We’re excited to see the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Safety Company (CISA) and outgoing Director Jen Easterly strongly suggest PHISHING-RESISTANT multi-factor authentication (MFA).
The vast majority of folks, together with the vast majority of cybersecurity practitioners, have no idea that almost all MFA…particularly the preferred varieties used immediately (e.g., one-time passwords, pushed-based, SMS-based, and so forth.), could be as simply phished or bypassed because the passwords they had been supposed to switch.
Now we have been an enormous advocate for PHISHING-RESISTANT MFA for the reason that starting of the newest MFA push six years in the past, and we had been among the many first firms to advertise PHISHING-RESISTANT types of MFA. While you first learn or heard the phrase PHISHING-RESISTANT MFA for the primary time, there was a great likelihood it was from us.
We had been definitely the loudest, most constant early advocates. Even immediately, we probably have the one inclusive checklist of PHISHING-RESISTANT MFA options on the Web.
The Starting
Our PHISHING-RESISTANT MFA journey started again on Might 5, 2018, when late Chief Hacking Officer Kevin Mitnick created and printed a video demonstrating how straightforward it was to bypass highly regarded MFA utilizing easy phishing. Right here is the associated article printed on KnowBe4’s weblog.
[CONTINUED] on the KnowBe4 Weblog publish with hyperlinks:
https://weblog.knowbe4.com/cisa-strongly-recommends-phishing-resistant-mfa
Can You Be Spoofed?
Are you conscious that one of many first issues hackers try is whether or not or not they’ll spoof the e-mail deal with of somebody in your area?
That is how “CEO fraud” spear-phishing assaults are launched in your org. Such assaults are laborious to defend in opposition to, except your customers know what to search for.
Are your e mail servers weak to spoofing? KnowBe4 might help you discover out with our free Area Spoof Take a look at. It is fast, straightforward and sometimes a surprising discovery.
Discover out now in case your e mail server is configured accurately, many should not!
- It is a easy, non-intrusive “pass/fail” check
- We’ll ship a spoofed e mail “from you to you”
- If it makes it by way of into your inbox, you might have an issue
- You will know inside 48 hours!
Attempt to Spoof Me!
https://data.knowbe4.com/domain-spoof-test-1-chn
Let’s keep protected on the market.
Heat regards,
Stu Sjouwerman, SACP
Founder and CEO
KnowBe4, Inc.
PS: You actually, actually wish to see KnowBe4’s new highly effective AI options accessible proper now:
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PPS: OODA Loop’s Prime 10 Safety, Know-how, & Enterprise Books of 2024:
https://oodaloop.com/evaluation/decision-intelligence/top-10-security-technology-business-books-of-2024/
Quotes of the Week
“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
– René Descartes – Thinker (1596 – 1650)
“The best way out is always through.”
– Robert Frost – Poet (1874 – 1963)
You’ll be able to learn CyberheistNews on-line at our Weblog
https://weblog.knowbe4.com/cyberheistnews-vol-14-49-heads-up-bad-actor-uses-deepnude-ai-image-generator-to-lure-and-infect-users
Safety Information
North Korean Hackers Use Social Engineering For Cybercrime and Espionage
Researchers at Microsoft have outlined social engineering techniques utilized by a number of state-sponsored North Korean risk actors. North Korean authorities hackers typically conduct cyberespionage in assist of Pyongyang’s weapons program, or they commit cybercrime with the intention to fund their closely sanctioned regime.
One group Microsoft tracks as “Sapphire Sleet” impersonates traders or job recruiters in an try and trick victims into putting in malware designed to steal cryptocurrency.
“Sapphire Sleet masquerades as a recruiter on professional platforms like LinkedIn and reaches out to potential victims,” the researchers write. “The risk actor, posing as a recruiter, tells the goal consumer that they’ve a job they’re making an attempt to fill and consider that the consumer can be a great candidate.
“To validate the talents listed on the goal consumer’s profile, the risk actor asks the consumer to finish a expertise evaluation from an internet site beneath the risk actor’s management. The risk actor sends the goal consumer a sign-in account and password.
“In signing in to the website and downloading the code associated with the skills assessment, the target user downloads malware onto their device, allowing the attackers to gain access to the system.”
North Korea has additionally deployed 1000’s of IT staff tasked with gaining fraudulent employment at international firms, with the intention to acquire a paycheck whereas trying to steal mental property, supply code, or commerce secrets and techniques. In some circumstances, these staff steal delicate knowledge and try and extort a ransom from the corporate in alternate for protecting the information non-public.
Microsoft says these people function out of North Korea, Russia, and China, and are assisted by prepared or unwitting facilitators in different international locations.
Notably, the IT staff are actually utilizing AI instruments to assist craft convincing on-line personas. “Microsoft has observed that, in addition to using AI to assist with creating images used with job applications, North Korean IT workers are experimenting with other AI technologies such as voice-changing software,” the researchers write.
“This aligns with observations shared in earlier blogs showing threat actors using AI as a productivity tool to refine their attack techniques. While we do not see threat actors using combined AI voice and video products as a tactic, we do recognize that if actors were to combine these technologies, it’s possible that future campaigns may involve IT workers using these programs to attempt to trick interviewers into thinking they are not communicating with a North Korean IT worker.”
Microsoft has the story:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/weblog/2024/11/22/microsoft-shares-latest-intelligence-on-north-korean-and-chinese-threat-actors-at-cyberwarcon/
Three in 4 Black Friday Spam Emails Have been Scams
Three out of 4 Black Friday-themed spam emails are scams, in accordance with researchers at Bitdefender. Most of those scams are focusing on customers within the US and Europe.
“This year, 77% of all Black Friday-themed spam (by volume) analyzed by Bitdefender’s Antispam Lab team was classified as scams, while only 22% was identified as marketing lures—emails designed to drive traffic to legitimate but overly aggressive promotions,” the researchers write.
“In 2023, 7 out of every 10 Black Friday-themed spam emails were scams, compared to 2024, when this figure rose to 3 out of every 4 emails. This 7% increase in scam prevalence underscores the greed and daring of cybercriminals, who increasingly leverage fake offers and phishing tactics to exploit consumer shopping behaviors and trends.”
Menace actors are tailoring their scams to particular areas, utilizing acquainted social engineering strategies to trick folks into performing rapidly.
“As in our previous Black Friday scam trends analysis, scammers leaned heavily on impersonating trusted brands and leveraging psychological tactics such as urgency and exclusivity,” Bitdefender says. “Fraudulent emails promised unique or early entry to Black Friday offers and rewards in alternate for survey participation or irresistible reductions on thriller packing containers for submitting cost particulars.
“Counterfeit Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton bags, and Ray-Ban sunglasses are among the recurring themes and usual suspects in this year’s Black Friday scam agenda, with scammers luring shoppers with realistic websites and too-good-to-be-true prices.”
Predictably, these scams have steadily elevated within the days forward of Black Friday. Comparable procuring scams needs to be anticipated to proceed all through the vacation season, nevertheless.
“Spam activity surged in the lead-up to Black Friday, with a noticeable uptick starting in late October,” the researchers write. “In accordance with knowledge gathered between Oct. 1 and Nov. 17, 2024, Black Friday spam charges peaked at over 6% of whole Black Friday Spam e mail quantity, displaying a major improve in comparison with early October.
“The spikes in activity align with the shopping season’s momentum as scammers leverage the heightened consumer interest in deals.”
Arrange a marketing campaign to alerts your customers.
What KnowBe4 Clients Say
“I can not converse sufficient for what a fantastic job Max B. does as our CSM. I stay up for working with him throughout our common quarterly conferences. He all the time comes nicely ready with concepts and strategies for brand new coaching and phishing campaigns.
He has helped me arrange month-to-month Rip-off of the Week and Safety Hints & Ideas campaigns that just about function month-to-month newsletters for us. He’s artistic on the way to use the KnowBe4 platform to get probably the most bang for our buck out of the system. He’s additionally extraordinarily versatile when my life goes awry, he by no means has an issue rescheduling and getting our assembly match again into his schedule.
Max does an superior job at representing KnowBe4. Thanks…”
– P.J., Supervisor of IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity
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