Analysis of 1.3M Emails Unveils Hidden Threats Missed by Other Email Security Solutions
Analysis of 1.3M Emails Unveils Hidden Threats Missed by Other Email Security Solutions
Crypto Malware vs Ransomware: What Are the Main Differences?

Crypto Malware vs Ransomware: What Are the Main Differences?

Mining cryptocurrencies require extensive computational power and time. When the complexity of the mining becomes more intense, more energy is needed.

New cryptocurrencies were created to prevent ASICs from monopolizing the market. These new cryptocurrencies are best suited for general-purpose computers, not specialized ones. Malware mining has become widespread across the globe as cryptocurrencies become more popular.

Cryptocurrency mining is not illegal. Crypto malware (also known as crypto-jacking), however, is. When hackers use a website to mine cryptocurrencies without permission, that is the definition of crypto-jacking.

Crypto mining allows cyber-criminals to mine cryptocurrencies on both web servers and unsuspecting users’ devices without their knowledge. Miners use computational resources to perform calculations, which require them to iterate through billions of random inputs until they reach the desired output.

Because mining requires a lot of computing power, cybercriminals have found ways to trick people into mining for them. They can mine Bitcoin by infecting a vulnerable computer with miner malware. Each time a user loads a webpage containing malicious code, the browser downloads and executes the malicious script.

Opposites of Extreme

Both ransomware and crypto-malware are considered malware and can be spread just like any other malware. However, they both have opposite characteristics. 

Ransomware is a specific malware designed to encrypt the target’s device while demanding a ransom to decrypt the files.

Ransomware can employ many creative approaches and is growing in popularity and sophistication, therefore becoming a more difficult threat to detect and mitigate because it is constantly changing.

When an attacker implements a “ransomware attack” (by the injection of malware) and demands payment, there are a few other stages that a ransomware infection may go through before the threat spreads to the network.

Nowadays, many ransomware programs require payments in cryptocurrency which is sometimes called “crypto-ransomware”. Essentially, crypto-ransomware actors will keep the files hostage to get their crypto ransom in exchange for the decryption key needed to restore those encrypted files.

Ransomware malware is deemed successful when the attack becomes public (including the ransom demand). Whether or not the threat actors behind the attacks were able to extort money from the victims is irrelevant at this point.

Organizations notify the public in case of a cybersecurity breach within ten days in most states. The ransomware financial demands have become very public as well.

Crypto-jacking is more of a stealth attack seeking to be undiscovered. Users know they are affected by ransomware because a message will appear on their screens informing them of the breach and requesting a ransom demand.

If a user host is being used a crypto-mining machine, they should see the pact of performance of their appliance. Crypto-jacking is designed not to harm endpoint devices and can operate indefinitely on a system if undetected, while ransomware attacks are built to damage client data files and disrupt data access.

SecOps has tools designed to spot both attacks. The incident response team may leverage endpoint detection software designed to detect a rogue process executed on an internal machine.

Antivirus software has detected and removed ransomware from computers before it could encrypt files. The whole point of ransomware is to get noticed.

Cryptominers include multiple versions to account for different types of computers. Scripts check to ensure that devices aren’t already infected by other crypto-mining malware.

Cryptocurrency mining scripts do not cause any damage to computers or victims’ files (any file types). However, they do take up some processor resources. Some individual users may experience slowdowns due to crypto malware attacks. If an organization has many impacted systems, they may incur actual help desk and IT time costs.

When it comes to crypto-jacking, end-users should check their operating system, background processes, programs, or additional applications. Even though crypto-jackings are harder to detect, they’re easier to remove if you know where to look for them.

Once a machine is impacted by a ransomware attack, the SecOps and Netops teams will typically attempt to use a back and restore solution to recover the system and regain access to data.

Conti’s Backup-Obliteration Method

Using various attack methods, including pen testing, Conti hacker teams attempt a variety of threat vectors, including account takeover of privileged administration or any corporate accounts that have admin-level access to the backup platform.

Conti teams would exfiltrate the backup console to access the files and implant their ransomware to prevent the client from using the recovery feature to restore their files. Conti’s dual attack vector included encrypting the system while exfiltrating the backup.

This resulted in clients having to pay two ransoms off the same attack. Conti hackers secured their ransom demands by executing both attacks eliminating the client’s ability to restore their data.

Conti’s attack on the backup and recovery systems focused around controlling and exploiting the functionality within the Veeam admin console. The attack on the backup console blocked the client’s ability to self-restore their files during the ransomware breach.

Crypto Malware and Ransomware Through the Email Channel

Phishing email scams are a type of incursion where attackers send emails pretending to be from a legitimate company. An attacker might use a fake email address to lure you into downloading malicious software.

Social engineering is another popular hacking technique or method of spreading a malicious infection. Hackers pretend to belong to another group to gain access to our personal information. If you’re trying to log in to your bank account online, a hacker might pretend to be your bank customer support representative.

They may ask you for your user’s name and password. Cryptocurrency miners use old malware tricks to deliver the malicious program to the victim’s computer.

Although an individual phone doesn’t yield much processor power, criminals can build a botnet of infected devices and make them work together. They harness vast processor resources across a network of infected machines, stealing a small bandwidth from each device.

Detect, Remove, Protection, And Educate

Detecting ransomware and crypto malware through the email channel is still a challenge for the enterprise.

Malicious emails are the initial vector for at least some infections. Malicious files (Like an excel document for example) are is delivered to victims as an email attachment.

If the email recipient opens the malicious attachments, the backdoor is downloaded onto the target machine. The file opens a backdoor on infected machines and allows remote code execution on compromised computers.

Cryptojacking malware starts with an email. Victims receive a message in their inbox that looks like it comes from a legitimate source. Cybercrooks use this method to trick victims into downloading a file or visiting a website containing crypto-jacking malware.

Educating The End-Users

  • Offer That Seems Too Good to be True.
    Email scams can also lure you with huge discounts on appliances, smartphones or other mobile devices, and vacations.
  • Look for Grammatical and Spelling Errors.
    Phishing emails in the past were easily detectable because they were filled with spelling and grammar errors.
  • Never open an email that seems suspicious.
    If you receive an email with a subject line such as “Account Suspended and Funds on Hold,” disregard it.
  • Do not click on any links or attachments in the email.
    If you receive an alert from a bank or other institution, it is best not to click on the link or download the attachment because it may contain malware that can infect your PC.

How Does Trustifi’s Inbound Shield Protect You From Phishing Threats?

Trustifi provides advanced protection against cyber threats to an organization’s email system. Trustifi features the Inbound Shield that acts as an email filter.

As soon as Trustifi’s Inbound Shield is deployed to your company’s email system, sophisticated AI software begins scanning every email received by your server.

Each incoming email is placed in a sandbox where Inbound Shield’s multi-layered detection inspects everything about the email, including sender, email subject, content, links, and attachments. An email must pass all tests at each layer to be deemed safe.

The email is scanned in 3 parts and has a unique and advanced approach for each detail.

  • Email Content and Headers
    AI detects and classifies BEC, VEC, Spam, and GRAY. Header analysis detects spoofing and impersonation techniques.
  • Links – Advanced Methods to Catch the Most Sophisticated Phishing Sites
    Deep analysis based on content, metadata, and domain reputation. Proprietary method to catch zero-day phishing sites.
  • Files – Deep Scanning
    Detects and neutralizes links inside files. Searches zipped and archived files. Sandboxes all messages until they are determined safe.

Why Trustifi?

Trustifi is a cyber security firm featuring solutions delivered on software as a service platform. Trustifi leads the market with the easiest to use and deploy email encryption and security products, providing both inbound and outbound email security from a single vendor.

As a global cybersecurity provider of both inbound and outbound email protection, Trustifi currently supports customers from countries including the USA, Canada, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, the UK, the Netherlands, India, the UAE, China, Japan, Cyprus, the Philippines, and more.

The company has also developed “One-Click Compliance” capabilities that cater to world security regulations, including PDPO for Hong Kong, POPI for South Africa, GDPR for Europe, and LGPD for Brazil.

 

Request A Demo –  Trustifi: Email Security Solutions

 

Whether you’re looking for an extra layer of protection in your existing email environment or a complete suite solution, the expertise and simplicity Trustifi offers will exceed your expectations. Let’s talk about a customized email security plan that perfectly fits your needs.

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