Each and every day we are seeing newly planned cyberattacks, though perpetrators are giving old threats a new twist.Today is no different, but the attackers have modified an older method of cyberattack. This time it is a change to what we have experienced in the past and it These attacks combines a physical real-world contact via the phone in order to gather, update and/or confirm information about their target.
I am sure most, if not all, of the readers are aware of a type of spear-phishing which in some cases referred to as whaling, which is when cyberattackers target company executives or those in C-suites. If you are not familiar with those terms, you had better brush up and quickly. These older techniques have recently increased grown in current usage — up 55 percent from last year — and combined with actual involve phone calls that attempt to collect information to increase and complete the an individual’s stolen profile. Once the call this is completed, carefully constructed emails are sent that contain malicious links or attachments to all of those that have been investigated, profiled and targeted.
INTEL: One individual received two suspicious phone calls in one day and two days later received a phishing email that was identified as a cybersecurity threat.
INTEL: One recent study found that spear-phishing accounted for 17 percent of targeting executives and finance personnel in many cases.
There are multiple targets that have been identified in this latest string of phishing attacks. One specific target is company management, specifically those that are in the, including company executives or those in C-suites and the FBI recently warned defense contractors about cyber threats. Some cybersecurity experts have expressed concerns that the information gathering may be the precursor to a wave of ransomware attacks. Some attacks have are even designed to leverage mobile/smartphones as the medium by which to infect their targets.
INTEL: Current research indicates that targeted spear-phishing campaigns experienced a 55 percent increase last year.
INTEL: Just recently the FBI warned defense contractors about cyber threats. (http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/news/local-military/fbi-warns-area-defense-contractors-of-cyber-threat/nq9m4/)
Just this year one cybersecurity organization ranked phishing attacks as the top cyber threat. That is why all oThe FBI recently warned defense contractors about cyber threats, but all organizations should immediately alert their executives, administrative staff and others to phishing and whaling these threats. This is particularly needed in the critical infrastructure, military, defense and aerospace industries given the sensitive information that is routinely handled by their executives, as well as most of their other employees.
