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ransomware attacks
CDR CISA Cyber Attacks Cyber Defenses cybercriminals EDR endpoint detection and response LockBit Malicious Software Open Source Software ransomware attacks

The Rise of Weaponized Software: How Cyber Attackers Outsmart Traditional Defenses

 

As businesses navigate the digital landscape, the threat of ransomware looms larger than ever before. Each day brings new innovations in cybercriminal techniques, challenging traditional defense strategies and posing significant risks to organizations worldwide. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly pervasive, with 66% of companies falling victim in 2023 alone, and this number is expected to rise. In response, it has become imperative for businesses to reassess their security measures, particularly in the realm of identity security, to effectively combat attackers' evolving tactics.
 
Ransomware has evolved beyond merely infecting computers with sophisticated malicious software. Cybercriminals have now begun exploiting legitimate software used by organizations to conduct malicious activities and steal identities, all without creating custom malware. One prevalent method involves capitalizing on vulnerabilities in Open Source Software (OSS), seamlessly integrating malicious elements into OSS frameworks. 

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued warnings about this growing trend, citing examples like the Lockbit operation, where cyber attackers leverage legitimate, free software for nefarious purposes. Conventional endpoint security solutions often lack the necessary behavior analytics capabilities to detect subtle indicators of compromise. 

As a result, attackers can exploit tools already employed by organizations to acquire admin privileges more easily while evading detection. This underscores the need for organizations to stay abreast of evolving techniques and adapt their defense strategies accordingly. Throughout the ransomware attack lifecycle, cybercriminals employ a variety of tactics to advance their missions. 

From initial infection to data exfiltration, each stage presents unique challenges and opportunities for attackers. For example, attackers may exploit vulnerabilities, manipulate cookies, or employ phishing emails to gain initial access. Once inside a network, they utilize legitimate software for persistence, privilege escalation, lateral movement, encryption, and data exfiltration. 

One critical aspect of mitigating the risk posed by ransomware is embracing an identity-centric defense-in-depth approach. This approach places emphasis on important security controls such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), anti-virus (AV)/next-generation antivirus (NGAV), content disarm and reconstruction (CDR), email security, and patch management. By prioritizing least privilege and behavior analytics, organizations can strengthen their defenses and mitigate the risk of falling victim to ransomware attacks. 

As ransomware attacks continue to evolve and proliferate, organizations must prioritize identity security and adopt a proactive approach to defense. By recognizing and addressing the tactics employed throughout the ransomware attack lifecycle, businesses can bolster their defenses, enhance identity security, and safeguard against the ever-evolving threat of ransomware.
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LLM security
Cyber Security endpoint detection and response Endpoint security Garner LLM security

How are LLMs with Endpoint Data Boost Cybersecurity


The issue of capturing weak signals across endpoints and predicting possible patterns of intrusion attempts is ideally suited for Large Language Models (LLMs). The objective is to mine attack data in order to improve LLMs and models and discover new threat patterns and correlations.

Recently, some of the top endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) vendors were seen taking on the challenge. 

Palo Alto Network’s chairman and CEO Nikesh Arora says, “We collect the most amount of endpoint data in the industry from our XDR. We collect almost 200 megabytes per endpoint, which is, in many cases, 10 to 20 times more than most of the industry participants. Why do you do that? Because we take that raw data and cross-correlate or enhance most of our firewalls, we apply attack surface management with applied automation using XDR.” 

Co-founder and CEO of Crowdstrike, George Kurtz stated at the company’s annual Fal.Con event last year, “One of the areas that we’ve really pioneered is that we can take weak signals from across different endpoints. And we can link these together to find novel detections. We’re now extending that to our third-party partners so that we can look at other weak signals across not only endpoints but across domains and come up with a novel detection.” 

It has been demonstrated that XDR can produce better signals with fewer noise. Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks, SentinelOne, Sophos, TEHTRIS, Trend Micro, and VMware being some of the top providers of XDR platforms.

Why LLMs are the new key element of Endpoint Security?

Endpoint security will evolve with the inclusion of telemetry and human-annotated data by enhancing LLMs. 

As per the authors of Gartner’s latest Hype Cycle for Endpoint Security, endpoint security technologies concentrate on faster, automated detection and prevention as well as remediation of attacks, to power integrated, extended detection and response (XDR), which correlates data points and telemetry from endpoint, network, emails, and identity solutions.

Compared to the larger information security and risk management market, spending on EDR and XDR is expanding more quickly. As a result, there is more intense competition across EDR and XDR providers.

According to Gartner, the market for endpoint security platforms will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.8% from its current $14.45 billion to $26.95 billion in 2027. With an 11% compound annual growth rate, the global market for information security and risk management is expected to reach $287 billion by 2027 from $164 billion in 2022.  

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reputation
Businesses Cyber Attacks Cybersecurity measures data security Data Theft endpoint detection and response financial risks payment diversion fraud Ransomware reputation

Growing Threat of Cyberattacks Puts Businesses at Risk

 

In an era defined by digital advancements, businesses face an escalating peril: cyberattacks. While the digital age has opened up unprecedented opportunities, it has also ushered in a formidable threat to businesses' financial stability, data integrity, and reputation.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in both the frequency and sophistication of these attacks, leaving a trail of financial losses and reputational damage. Notably, small enterprises with fewer than ten employees have seen an alarming rise in cyberattacks, jumping from 23% to 36% over the past three years, according to a report from Hiscox, an insurance company.

The pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities, with hospitals becoming frequent targets of ransomware attacks, jeopardizing patient well-being. A prevalent form of cybercrime, payment diversion fraud, affected one in three businesses within the last year, as highlighted by Eddie Lamb, Cyber Education and Advisory expert at Hiscox.

This form of attack involves cybercriminals attempting to redirect or steal payments meant for legitimate recipients. Ransomware attacks persist, as evidenced by a recent breach targeting the Greater Manchester police force. Additionally, data theft remains a persistent threat, with confidential information and intellectual property being prime targets.

According to Lamb, the average cost of an attack stands at €15,000, but one in eight afflicted businesses faced losses exceeding €238,000. Shockingly, one in five respondents stated that the cyber attack they endured posed a significant threat to the future viability of their business.

Beyond financial repercussions, cyberattacks also inflict intangible harm. Lamb emphasized that the damage extends to elements like brand reputation and the erosion of consumer trust, potentially leading to enduring consequences.

This is particularly evident in data breaches, where sensitive information beyond email lists may be compromised. For instance, in 2020, US cybersecurity firm FireEye fell victim to a highly sophisticated attack, possibly orchestrated by a nation-state, resulting in the loss of a critical toolkit.

While such large-scale attacks are infrequent, businesses of all sizes must fortify their defenses. Lamb stressed that while there's no foolproof safeguard, implementing modern anti-virus technology with endpoint detection and response (EDR) is crucial. EDR enables real-time threat monitoring and can autonomously take measures to prevent or mitigate harm.

Other protective measures include adopting multifactor authentication and biometrics. The UK National Cyber Security Centre also underscores the importance of robust data backups in its cyber security guide for small businesses. Online training resources and check tools tailored for small-sized businesses offer further support.

Recognizing that human error is a significant vulnerability, educating and training employees on best cybersecurity practices is essential. As cybercrime tactics evolve, staying updated on the latest trends is paramount.

Lamb urged businesses to be proactive, emphasizing that cyberattacks are a matter of "when" rather than "if". He stressed that the pivotal factor lies not in experiencing a breach, but in the response to it. Consequently, clear and comprehensive security policies, including an incident response plan, are crucial. Additionally, having a dedicated cyber defense team or individual is pivotal, ensuring a swift and coordinated response to minimize downtime.
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