malware

You expect a phishing test… and then the real stuff kicks in… some quick tips to block evasion techniques

I see more and more phishing exercise fatigue kicking in at my customers…

But it’s more than ever required to be vigilant for new techniques that try to circumvent the typical URL blocking and the other protection layers you put in place.

You’re the best firewall.

What is going on?

You know, these companies that first announce a #phishing test…

which go unnoticed because they are caught by the 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫…

And a few weeks later you get the 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐱 from the same company.

With ridiculous worse quality than the actual test… but still its in the inbox ready to click (DON’T!).

You assume phase 2 of the phishing test…another round, right? (you think: “yeah, right, not me.”).

Because the new mail comes with ridiculous bad quality (⚠️1) than the actual test…

Nowadays you expect smart mails from these criminals…

But still it doesn’t feel OK …you start to realize that this might the real stuff…

Checking for some more phishing indicators (⚠️)

A mail with you in bcc…. (⚠️2)

Addressed to a very strange (New-Zealand) mail address (⚠️3)

with a PDF alike icon image embedded (⚠️4)

via a google drive link (⚠️5)….

SPOILER: I crippled the link mentioned in previous screenshot to avoid any accidents…

SPOILER 2: DO NOT, EVER CLICK these links…

Still, If you can’t control your curiosity, you might peek into the link via alternative methods (see later).

The display of unrelated content, with payment instructions (⚠️6), isn’t really what you would expect.

Because if you even dare to click the links you get another link (⚠️7)… and this time the browser malware detection (Smartscreen filtering) kicks in .. at last… so I’ll stop the curiosity here…

Why is this an issue?

The main issue here is: the phishing links are pointing to well-known (like Google drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox…) for hosting malware, which usually escape or bypass the malware URL detection…

Security tips

Rule nr 1: Don’t click links in unexpected mails

Curiosity kills the cat: Please withstand the urge to click the links to satisfy your curiosity….

If you don’t expect the mail, be very cautions, don’t click the links.

Control your curiosity: test the links in isolated mode

If you can’t control your curiosity, don’t ever click the links on your main computer.

But copy the link and open it

  • in a Windows sandbox
  • virtual machines or test machine… not your production machine
  • mobile device

Use Windows Sandbox

Since Windows 10 (Pro) you can use Windows Sandbox (free), that is a virtual, isolated environment. So you can test some interesting things without damaging your production host machine.

By stopping the Sandbox, the machine forgets all settings and returns to default state, pristine.

More info: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-sandbox/windows-sandbox-overview

Run a quarantined client in virtual machine

Use Microsoft Hyper-V (free) or Oracle Virtual box (free) and install a client OS in the virtual machine.
Snapshot the machine before the test, perform the test, return to snapshot to avoid any left overs of malware.

Run the link on a mobile phone

Less secure, but better than running malware on your most important machine, is running the link on a browser on your mobile device. There is lower risk of infection and less impact than loosing your primary working machine, although… be aware, there is still a small risk of infection even for smartphones…

Additional security measures

To permit some stupidity and protect against accidents, please make sure

  • to implement all the latest OS security updates, patch on a continuous basis
  • have an anti-malware and anti-virus that is updated continuously
  • keep the default OS security features enabled including local system firewall and malware detection
  • consider a paid antivirus subscription, it’s worth the money and keep it up to date every hour
  • get a mail protection against malware, tracking, phishing and ransomware (like Windows defender for 365) have regular backups (1 online and 1 offline) and test the restores
  • use cookie/tracking/advertisement blockers
  • use a DNS blackhole system to protect your network from accessing suspicious URLs (including tracking and phishing websites, advertisements, C&C Command and control malware domains, …)

You’re the best firewall

Don’t get caught.

Don’t be curious.

Suspect everything you don’t expect.

Don’t click the links.

And if you’re curious, keep it safe and secure.

Data Compliance: Get it right the first time

Below is a short overview of the #Hexnode webinar, presented 2022-04-07 about data compliance.

The webinar recording is published at the Hexnode website (and embedded below).
And the PDF version of the slide deck is published in full color and B/W print version on Slideshare, see links below.

PPT version available on request (send me a DM on LinkedIN).

Data is the new oil…

Whatever business you run…

.. it won’t run without data:

  • Business data
  • Management data
  • HR data
  • Technical data
  • Network data
  • Personal data (PII)
  • Communications
  • Mail data 
  • Financial data
  • Operational data
  • Intelligence
  • Intellectual Property (IP)
  • Ideas
  • …

Other businesses want your data as well…

There is a massive growth of digital business:

  • Direct marketing
  • Data brokers
  • Data Intelligence
  • Data analytics
  • Big data
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Health care, research & development
  • …

But also… the dark side wants your data.

And your data in the wrong hands.. is explosive.

Current state of crime

Company and user data, and personal data is an important target and leverage in cybercrime lik

  • Phishing
  • Ransomware
    • not only encryption
    • data leak extortion
  • Reconnaissance & Hacking
  • Data breaches 
  • Biometric data
  • Digital & Economical war
  • …

Now the question is… How do YOU get in control?

You can’t simply lock up your data… because data needs to flow. (You want to use it…)

Data management essentials to get grip

Ask yourself: how much €$ can you spend to protect your data? To answer that question, you’ll need to get grip of some basic data management principles, in relation to security:

  1. You can only protect what you know you have
  2. Without an owner there is no protection
  3. Nothing is stable, everything has a lifecycle
Data lifecycle

Data lifecycle

The start of the cycle is mostly

  • short,
  • easy to manage,
  • low security risk. (if the creation fails… you have no data to keep under control)

The end of the cycle is mostly

  • long, (there are various reasons why you need to keep the data for a while, eg in archive before you dispose of it..)
  • difficult to manage (if the process fails, it’s difficult to track or keep under control)
  • high security risk. (risk of losing ownership, risk of leakages, …)

What is risk?

Assets have

Vulnerabilities (weaknesses/properties) 

that can be exploited by 

Threats (activities)

with impact ($$ cost).

You need to balance the protection against the impact. You don’t want to over-spend or under-protect.

Your boss (or insurance, of CFO ) needs a budget, spreading cost over a year, or 2..3..4..5.

[Risk management is calculating impact over the rate of occurrence/frequency…]

How to get started

Know the external context

  • International regulations (GDPR, …)
  • National regulations (SOC, …)
  • Sector regulations (PCI-DSS, ..)
  • Contractual obligations
  • Enterprise vs PII/personal data requirements

Know the internal context

  • Know your business (what)
  • Know your organization (organigram)
  • Make an inventory of processes and interfaces
  • Assign business ownership
    • For each process
    • For each asset

Know the processes

  • Know the data flow 
  • Know your sources (IN)
  • Know the data processing
  • Know your receivers (OUT)

Know the data in the processes

  • Categorize your data – data types
    • Enterprise data
    • PII / Personal data (GDPR !)
    • Other ?

Categorization (define data classes)

  • Sensitivity = linked to business impact
  • Ask the owner : “What if data is …”
    • unavailable, 
    • changed,
    • destroyed,
    • leaked,
    • accessed unauthorized, illegally, unlawfully,
    • …
  • Categorize your data sensitivity
    • Enterprise data, for example
    • Unclassified, Official, Restricted, Confidential, Secret, Top Secret (NATO) 
    • Public, Company internal, Confidential, Strictly confidential  
    • TLP RED, TLP Amber, TLB Green, TLP White (public)

Classification (apply the labels)

  • Responsibility of owner
  • Label all data
  • Label containers if you can’t label the data
    • Folder or File share
    • Database
    • mailbox 
    •  …

Mind the lifecycle

  • Get started
  • Keep going
  • Start over again
  • Think about security when
    • creating new processes
    • changing processes
    • removing processes
    • recheck on a regular schedule (even when nothing changes)

Mind the business and legal requirements

  • Accountability & Responsibility 
  • Reporting & audit requirements (SOC I-II, …)
  • Incident management requirements
  • Data breach requirements (GDPR)
  • Subject rights 
  • …

Consequences of data management failure

  • Financial loss
  • Business loss
  • Reputation loss 
  • Contract SLA violation
  • Regulatory violations
  • Fines
  • Prosecution
  • Personal accountability
  • …

Think about

  • Direct and indirect impact
  • Short term and long term impact
  • How long can you survive a total breakdown?

TAKEAWAYS

  • Manage enterprise data like personal data
  • Keep the categories simple (<7)
  • 3 TLP (Red–Amber–Green) + 2 categories (public + highly critical)
  • Define and maintain ownership
  • Involve everyone
  • Evangelize internal & external stakeholders (incl. customers…)
  • Lead by example

Use business best practices

  • Use standards and frameworks
  • ISO (international)
  • NIST (US)
  • ENISA (EU)
  • COBIT (ISACA)
  • …

Classification and labeling

  • Force labeling
  • Aim to classify everything
  • Start with new data first
  • Update labels when you change documents
  • Set a default label for archived data that doesn’t change
  • DO NOT set “public” as default

Think about the support processes

  • Incident management (ISO 27035 & NIST)
  • Data breach management (GDPR & other …)
  • Business continuity (ISO22301)
  • Disaster recovery

Questions

How to identify regulations you should follow?

  • know and analyse the services you’re offering,
  • where is your data stored?
  • what kind of data you have (enterprise data, personal data, financial, …)
  • identify the local, national, regional, international regulations of sector legislations that apply to your business (check partners/competition, sector representatives, …)
  • …

Is there difference in regulation for small or large business?

  • very limited impact of size of company…
  • very likely some impact on financial and tax reporting,
  • some legislation only apply in large scale operations (eg GDPR only requires a DPO for certain type of operations, …)

Best place to start for SME/SMB?

Webinar recording by Hexnode

Hexnode webinar
https://www.hexnode.com/events/webinars/data-compliance-get-it-right-the-first-time/

Presentations

Full color

Black/White print

Note-to-self: Crowdstrike has published their 2021 Global Threat report

Crowdstrike has published their 2021 Global Threat report.

It’s always an interesting reference to see what the world in cybersecurity is about, certainly with the turbulent pandemic year.

They look at:

  • cybersecurity during COVID19
  • cybersecurity in health care
  • significant political, state based attacks
  • evolution of ransomware

And no one has to tell you, we’ve not seen the end yet.

Hang in, get ready, protect yourself for more bad stuff to come.

Keep patching your systems, all of them, all the time.

And by the way, don’t ay with your personal data for the download. Direct download is available at:

Click to access Report2021GTR.pdf