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Deceptive New Tactics Give Advanced Attackers Free Reign Over Corporate NetworksIn today's hyper-connected world, it is no longer a question of if you will be attacked-but when. Symantec's (News - Alert) (Nasdaq:SYMC) Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), Volume 20, exposes a tactical shift by cyberattackers: They are infiltrating networks and evading detection by hijacking the infrastructure of major corporations and using it against them. "Attackers don't need to break down the door to a company's network when the keys are readily available," said Kevin Haley, director, Symantec Security Response. "We're seeing attackers trick companies into infecting themselves by Trojanizing software updates to common programs and patiently waiting for their targets to download them-giving attackers unfettered access to the corporate network." Attackers Succeed With Speed and Precision In a record-setting year for zero-day vulnerabilities, Symantec research reveals that it took software companies an average of 59 days to create and roll out patches-up from only four days in 2013. Attackers took advantage of the delay and, in the case of Heartbleed, leapt to exploit the vulnerability within four hours. There were 24 total zero-day vulnerabilities discovered in 2014, leaving an open playing field for attackers to exploit known security gaps before they were patched. Meanwhile, advanced attackers continued to breach networks with highly-targeted spear-phishing attacks, which increased a total of eight percent in 2014. What makes last year particularly interesting is the precision of these attacks, which used 20 percent fewer emails to successfully reach their targets and incorporated more drive-by malware downloads and other web-based exploits. Additionally, Symantec observed attackers:
Digital Extortion on the Rise Email remains a significant attack vector for cybercriminals, but they continue to experiment with new attack methods across mobile devices and social networks to reach more people, with less effort. "Cybercriminals are inherently lazy; they prefer automated tools and the help of unwitting consumers to do their dirty work," added Haley. "Last year, 70 percent of social media scams were shared manually, as attackers took advantage of people's willingness to trust content shared by their friends." While social media scams can provide cybercriminals with quick cash, some rely on more lucrative and aggressive attack methods like ransomware, which rose 113 percent last year. Notably, there were 45 tmes more victims of crypto-ransomware attacks than in 2013. Instead of pretending to be law enforcement seeking a fine for stolen content, as we've seen with traditional ransomware, the more vicious crypto-ransomware attack style holds a victim's files, photos and other digital content hostage without masking the attacker's intention. Secure It, Don't Lose It! As attackers persist and evolve, there are many steps businesses and consumers can take to protect themselves. As a starting point, Symantec recommends the following best practices: For Businesses:
For Consumers:
Symantec will host a webinar on this year's ISTR results on Wednesday, April 15, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. For more information or to register, please go here. About the Internet Security Threat Report The Internet Security Threat Report provides an overview and analysis of the year in global threat activity. The report is based on data from Symantec's Global Intelligence Network, which Symantec analysts use to identify, analyze and provide commentary on emerging trends in attacks, malicious code activity, phishing, and spam. About Symantec Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ:SYMC) is an information protection expert that helps people, businesses and governments seeking the freedom to unlock the opportunities technology brings -- anytime, anywhere. Founded in April 1982, Symantec, a Fortune 500 company, operating one of the largest global data-intelligence networks, has provided leading security, backup and availability solutions for where vital information is stored, accessed and shared. The company's more than 20,000 employees reside in more than 50 countries. Ninety-nine percent of Fortune 500 companies are Symantec customers. In fiscal 2014, it recorded revenues of $6.7 billion. To learn more go to www.symantec.com or connect with Symantec at: http://www.symantec.com/social/. NOTE TO U.S. EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States. Symantec, the Symantec logo and the Checkmark logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Any forward-looking indication of plans for products is preliminary and all future release dates are tentative and are subject to change. Any future release of the product or planned modifications to product capability, functionality, or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by Symantec, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by Symantec and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.
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