Cybersecurity is an essential concern for every business, and no organization can disregard it. Malware is evolving and becoming easier to operate, which broadens the scope of cybercrime. The first step in safeguarding your business is knowing the potential dangers. Here are the top five cyber threats that your company needs to keep in mind.
1. Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are a prime example of how attackers use social engineering to manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. In these attacks, cybercriminals often send fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from reputable sources, such as banks, government agencies, or even colleagues.
These messages typically contain a sense of urgency, asking the recipient to take immediate action, such as clicking on a link or downloading an attachment. The links often lead to fake login pages designed to steal user credentials, while the attachments can contain malware that infects the recipient’s device when opened.
Attackers can also use social engineering to personalize their emails, making them more convincing. Such attacks are called spear phishing. This can involve researching the target on social media or other public sources to gather information that can be used to make the email seem more legitimate. For example, an attacker might reference a recent event or use the name of a colleague to trick the recipient into believing the email is genuine.
Example
To expose phishing emails, you can upload them or their contents (URLs and attachments) to a free malware sandbox like ANY.RUN. This cloud service lets you check if a certain file or link poses a threat to your device and organization.
Thanks to ANY.RUN’s interactive virtual environment, you can manually engage with the analyzed samples just like on a standard computer but with no risk to your infrastructure.
Here’s an analysis of a typical phishing email.
We can see how this email contains a suspicious archive, a common way for attackers to hide malware.
After downloading and opening this archive it becomes clear that it contains an .exe file, another common indicator of a phishing attack.
To see if this is actual malware, we run it right inside the sandbox, which instantly detects the presence of Formbook, a widespread data stealing malware.
2. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s data, rendering it inaccessible. The attackers then demand a ransom, typically in the form of cryptocurrency, in exchange for the decryption key needed to restore the data.
In some cases, cybercriminals can also steal data before encrypting it. They then can threaten to release the stolen data publicly if the ransom is not paid. This adds another layer of pressure on the victim, as the potential public release of sensitive data could lead to further financial losses, regulatory fines, and damage to reputation.
The best protection against ransomware attacks is prevention. One of the core practices here is analyzing all suspicious files in a sandbox.
Example
Here is an analysis of a file that leads to the infection with Lockbit, one of the most persistent ransomware threats that has been used to extort millions of dollars from victims since 2019.
The attackers behind this malware keep a record of their victims on a separate website and release stolen data to the public if a company refuses to pay them.
LockBit ransomware analyzed in ANY.RUN
The sandbox allows us to safely detonate a LockBit sample and observe what it does to the system.
In seconds after launching our analysis session, the service notifies us about this malicious software with the corresponding tags “LockBit” and “ransomware”.
We can also see that the desktop wallpaper has been changed to a picture that tells victims to open a document with instructions on further steps.
By running files like this in a sandbox, instead of on your computer, you can protect your organization from suffering significant financial and reputational losses.
3. Remote Access Trojans
Remote Access Trojans (RATs) allow cybercriminals to gain remote control over a victim’s computer or device. Once installed, RATs can provide attackers with a wide range of capabilities, including the ability to steal sensitive data, install additional malware, modify system settings, and even use the compromised device to launch attacks on other systems.
They operate covertly, making it difficult for the victim to detect their presence. Most RATs are even designed to evade detection by antivirus software and other security solutions. The sensitive data targeted by such malware includes login credentials, financial information, and intellectual property.
Example
Check out this analysis of AsyncRAT, a malware family used extensively in attacks on organizations from different industries.
After uploading it to ANY.RUN, the service detects the malware in seconds and flags it as “Malicious activity”.
We can also download a detailed report on this analysis session. Among other things, it contains a set of indicators of compromise (IOCs) that can be used to enrich Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) to detect the threat automatically.
4. Infected Drives
Not all cyber threats originate from the internet. Sometimes, employees can unknowingly bring infected drives to their workplace. When such a drive is connected to a computer or network, the malware can automatically execute and propagate, exploiting vulnerabilities and compromising system security.
This can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and disruption of operations. In some cases, infected drives can also result in the installation of persistent threats, allowing attackers to maintain a foothold in the system and carry out further malicious activities.
Example
Consider this analysis of Phorpiex, a malware known for its worm-like behavior, primarily spreading via infected removable and shared drives. 
The sandbox displays and highlights how Phorpiex modifies the system to ensure its persistence and disable security features.
5. IoT (Internet of Things) Attacks
With the increasing use of IoT devices in businesses, the risk of IoT-based attacks is also on the rise. These devices, which can range from smart routers to industrial control systems, often lack robust security features, making them easy targets for cybercriminals. Once compromised, these devices can be used to launch other attacks, steal data, or disrupt operations.
Example:
Mirai is a well-known botnet malware, mainly targeting Linux-based IoT devices. The key way Mirai infects devices is through brute forcing. This means trying to access a device using common or default passwords and usernames.
Once a device is compromised, it joins the group of hacked devices, called a botnet, allowing the attacker to launch large-scale DDoS attacks.
ANY.RUN makes it easy to detect Mirai and other malware affecting IoT products. By uploading its sample to the service, we immediately see that it is malicious. The built-in Suricata IDS also reveals additional details on the attack, namely, the version of Mirai, MooBot.
Use ANY.RUN Sandbox to Check Emails, Files, and Links
ANY.RUN is your best tool for exposing threats hiding in plain sight.
Just submit any file or URL to the service and in under 40 seconds, you will receive a conclusive verdict on its threat level.
The service offers a free plan with unlimited uploads and interactive Windows 10 virtual environment, allowing you to analyze the latest threats and get comprehensive reports with ease and speed.
Sign up for a free ANY.RUN sandbox account right now!
Conclusion
Cyber threats are a real and constant danger to businesses. By understanding these top five threats and implementing robust security measures like using a sandbox, businesses can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to a cyberattack.