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WatchGuard's Q2 Internet Security Report Finds Malware Hiding on Popular Content Delivery Networks | |
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 01:31:44 PM | |
Data also shows Kali Linux modules cracking malware top ten list and a dramatic year-over-year increase in overall malware volume SEATTLE – Sept 25, 2019 – WatchGuard® Technologies, a global leader in network security and intelligence, secure Wi-Fi and multi-factor authentication, today announced the release of its quarterly Internet Security Report for Q2 2019. For the first time, the report reveals and ranks the most common domains attackers use to host malware and launch phishing attacks – including several subdomains of legitimate sites and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) such as CloudFlare.net, SharePoint and Amazonaws.com. It also highlights that modules from the popular Kali Linux penetration testing tool made the top ten malware list for the first time, year-over-year malware volume increased by 64%, and more. “This edition of the Internet Security Report exposes the gritty details of the methods hackers use to sneak malware or phishing emails onto networks by hiding them on legitimate content-hosting domains,” said Corey Nachreiner, chief technology officer at WatchGuard Technologies. “Luckily there are several ways to defend against this, including DNS-level filtering to block connections to known malicious websites, advanced anti-malware services, multi-factor authentication to prevent attacks leveraging compromised credentials, and training to help employees recognize phishing emails. No one defense will prevent every attack, so the best way for organizations to protect themselves is with a unified security platform that offers multiple layered security services.” WatchGuard’s Internet Security Report provides real-world data on top security threats, as well as detailed analysis of major security incidents and best practices to help organizations of all sizes protect their business and their customers’ data. Key findings from the Q2 2019 report include:
WatchGuard’s Internet Security Report is based on anonymized Firebox Feed data from a subset of active WatchGuard UTM appliances whose owners have opted in to share data to support the Threat Lab’s research efforts. Today, 41,229 appliances throughout the world contribute to the Internet Security Report data pool. In total, those appliances blocked more than 22,619,836 malware variants, at a rate of 549 samples per device. Additionally, those Firebox appliances prevented 2,265,425 network attacks (60 per device), a significant increase from Q1 2019 that runs counter to past trends in network attack volume. The complete report includes more detailed statistics on the most impactful malware and network attack trends from Q2 2019, an analysis of the RobbinHood ransomware attack that paralyzed the city of Baltimore in May 2019 (and cost approximately $17 million in total damages), and advice and best practices that readers can use to better protect themselves and their organizations. Analysis of MSP Sodinokibi Ransomware Attacks The report also contains a detailed analysis of the actual malware used in the Sodinokibi MSP ransomware attacks. The WatchGuard Threat Lab’s research shows that the attackers leveraged weak, stolen, or leaked credentials to gain administrative access to legitimate management tools that these MSPs used to monitor and manage their clients’ networks, then used these tools to disable security controls and stage and deliver the Sodinokibi ransomware via PowerShell. |