Cyber Signals offers Three Methods for avoiding Ransomware

The “as a service” business model has become increasingly popular since customers are now able to receive important services from third-party suppliers thanks to increased cloud use like cyber signals. Given the ease and adaptability of service offers, it may not be a surprise that cybercriminals use the “as a service” concept for bad intentions.

Cybercriminals can buy and sell access to ransomware payloads, leaked data, RaaS “kits,” and some other tools on the dark web when they use ransomware as a service (RaaS). In the second installment of Cyber Signals, Microsoft’s quarterly brief that highlights threat topics based on its 43 trillion signals of data and research by more than 8,500 security experts, we discuss this subject. It’s one of the numerous tools offered on the Microsoft Security Insider website, where you can also access the most recent cybersecurity insights and threat intelligence updates.

Microsoft has been keeping an eye on the rise of human-operated malware. These threats are very damaging and destructive to organizations because they are led by people who make decisions at every step of the attack. RaaS operations, like REvil and the now-defunct Conti, have the infrastructure for malware attacks and even the organizational data that is needed to run ransomware operations. They then charge a fee to access these tools on the dark web. These RaaS kits are purchased by affiliates, who then use them in corporate settings. RaaS may include bundled offers, user review forums, and customer service assistance just like legitimate “as a service” offerings.

Cyber Signals: Ransomware as a service: Attractive to hackers, difficult for businesses

Cybercriminals used simple configuration problems in software and hardware, which can be fixed by following security best practices, in more than 80% of ransomware attacks. Therefore, ransomware developers are not utilizing any cutting-edge methods. A difference can be made in an organization’s resilience to these attacks by following the same advice regarding timely patching, credential hygiene, and a careful review of changes to software and system settings and configurations. The fact that some hackers have chosen to remove the malware payload presents another difficulty. By threatening to release or sell the target organization’s data on the dark web, they extort money while stealing their data.

Because of this, businesses that focus only on searching for the ransomware payload run the danger of experiencing a successful attack and extortion. Finally, RaaS is very likely to continue to be a concern for enterprises all over the world due to how simple it is for cybercriminals.

Cybercriminals can get some benefits from using ransomware as a service, including:

• These ransomware kits make it possible for persons with little or no technical knowledge to install malware, they lower the entrance barrier for cybercriminals interested in carrying out ransomware attacks.
• Anyone with a laptop and a credit card can access the dark web, buy RaaS kits, and participate in the gig economy using RaaS, it helps to conceal the identity of the cybercriminals who carried out the attack. Governments, law enforcement, the media, security researchers, and defenders will therefore have a harder time identifying the perpetrator of the assaults.

Cyber Signals: Actions are taken by Microsoft to share threat intelligence insights

Microsoft analyzes more than 43 trillion threat signals per day and makes use of the special expertise of more than 8,500 experts—threat hunters, forensics investigators, malware engineers, and researchers supporting our threat intelligence community and customers—to gain deep insights into the constantly changing threat landscape and threat actors. These professionals have specialized knowledge in particular fields, including vulnerabilities, threat actors, ransomware, supply chain risk, social engineering, and geopolitical challenges, and cyber signals.

To fully comprehend the end-to-end scope of these cybercriminals’ attacks and activities, Microsoft focuses on obtaining knowledge about their behaviors, strategies, tools, and approaches. We think cybersecurity information should be widely circulated. Our analysis is available on Security Insider, our source for threat intelligence and advice, in our security intelligence blogs, the Microsoft Digital Defense Report, and Cyber Signals, our quarterly briefing.

We recognize that managing the numerous tasks required to expand a business leaves organizations with very little time to keep up with the most recent security threats, much less to anticipate and stop extortion threats. To assist enterprises in securing their staff, clients, and partners, we are committed to spreading the cyber signals threat insights we have collected to the cybersecurity community. We are all defenders of cybersecurity. We can overcome these threats if we work together.

Ways to keep your business safe

Companies may assist in preventing attacks by investing in integrated threat protection across devices, identities, apps, email, data, and the cloud because hackers rely on security breaches they can exploit. Here are three key tactics for defending your surroundings against RaaS attacks:

1. Prepare to defend and recover: Adopt a zero-trust strategy, which entails completely authenticating, approving, and encrypting every access request before providing it. Using this strategy also entails taking precautions to protect your data and backups.
2. Protect identities from compromise: Protect network credentials and stop attackers’ use of lateral movement to avoid detection as they move across your organization looking for assets to steal or damage.
3. Prevent, detect, and respond to threats: Utilize integrated security information and event management (SIEM) with extended detection and response to provide full prevention, detection, and response capabilities (XDR). This entails being aware of common attack vectors, such as remote access, email and collaboration, endpoints, and accounts, and taking measures to prevent attackers. And, most significantly, make sure that you are performing inside-out protection that is concentrated on data security, information protection, and insider risk management in addition to outside-in protection.

Knowing the threat landscape is the first step in developing a strong security posture. Microsoft is still strongly committed to working with our entire community to share intelligence and create a safer environment for everyone.

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