Tech Tips: New Cyber Attack Trends

By Wesley Kirk

Cyber Attack Trends: Introduction

In Strategic’s ongoing cybersecurity education series, we’d like to share some insights on the latest cyber attack trends in email-based assaults that you should be aware of. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their phishing tactics to make their messages more convincing and harder to detect. Adapting your security strategy in light of these new tactics and staying educated on recent phishing trends will help you stay safe.

Weaponized Attachments & Links

Malicious attachments and links remain a significant threat, but the types of malware being delivered are becoming more sophisticated. We’re seeing a rise in “polymorphic” malware that can evade traditional antivirus solutions by constantly changing its code. Attackers are also using increasingly complex social engineering tactics to trick users into enabling macros or downloading infected files. Some companies use advanced email screening to protect from attacks like these, but as you have likely experiences, some spam still gets through. If you notice something fishy in your inbox, forward it to your IT department to investigate, and they will inform you whether the email is safe or not.

Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams

BEC scams continue to be a major concern, with cybercriminals finding new ways to compromise business email accounts and emails from team member’s accounts for financial fraud or data theft. These attacks often target high-level executives or finance teams, making them particularly dangerous. People in these roles should be especially careful to avoid requesting or providing information like this over email. One best practice is to verify requests over email through a trusted line of communication like a call or in-person chat.

Increased Use of Cloud-Based Services

As more organizations adopt cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools, attackers are targeting these services with phishing and credential theft campaigns. Employees may inadvertently expose sensitive data or grant access to malicious actors through compromised cloud accounts. This is why it is especially important to watch out for malicious links that steal your login credentials by imitating a legitimate login site. Before entering your login, compare the web address to the login page you have bookmarked and make sure it is legitimate.

Staying Vigilant & Proactive of New Cyber Attack Trends

To protect yourself and your organization against these evolving email threats, it’s crucial to:

• Stay up-to-date on the latest phishing and malware trends through regular security awareness training.
• Verify the legitimacy of any email requests, even if they appear to come from trusted sources, before taking action.
• Use caution when opening attachments or clicking links, even from known senders.
• Report any suspicious emails to your IT security team immediately for investigation and mitigation.

Conclusion

Staying ahead of email-based threats requires continuous vigilance and education. By understanding the latest trends in weaponized attachments, BEC scams and cloud-based attacks, you can better protect yourself and your organization. Remember, the cornerstone of defense is not just your sophisticated email screening systems but also your proactive efforts. Always verify suspicious emails, be cautious with attachments and links and report anything unusual to your IT security team. Together, we can create a robust shield against cybercriminals and keep our digital environment secure.