Coveware’s Ransomware Attacks Report for Q4 2020

🔍 Search Clicks Are Now Attack Surface

🔍 Employees searching payroll portals are being ambushed by SEO-poisoned sites that look authentic.

📱 The campaign targets mobile users – phones lack enterprise EDR and often never show up in SIEM logs.

🔗 Fake portals capture credentials and stream them to attackers via WebSocket – access is exploited in real time.

💸 Attackers then change payroll deposit details – money diverts before detection, and investigations look like human error.

⚙️ Defenses must include bookmarking official portals, conditional access with device posture checks, and behavioral monitoring for credential misuse.

📊 AUMINT.io simulates these search-based lures across mobile and desktop, exposing where your humans and tooling fail.

🚀 Want a hands-on checklist and a simulated test of your payroll pathway? Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #HumanFactor #PayrollSecurity #CISO #SOC #AUMINT

📱 Social Posts Could Trigger Your Next Breach

🔐 A simple “Like” or share on a work device can expose your entire network.

👥 Employees using WhatsApp, LinkedIn or Facebook at work are unwittingly feeding attackers entry points – platform design and social trust make it worse.

🔗 One misplaced click on a fraudulent ad or link can unleash malware or phishing across your organisation.

💸 The average breach cost in South Africa hit R53 million in 2024 – human error is the price tag.

🛡️ At AUMINT.io we simulate real-world social media use and messaging staffing-paths to surface your human risk surface and harden your defences.

🚀 Want to see where your weakest exposure is? Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #HumanFactor #SOC #CISO #SocialEngineering #AUMINT

🕵️‍♂️ Job-Seekers Are the New Frontline for Cyber Attacks

🔍 A threat group called BatShadow is targeting job-seekers and marketers with fake recruitment emails delivering a Go-based backdoor called Vampire Bot.

📧 The lure arrives as a ZIP file claiming to be a job description. Inside: a decoy PDF and a disguised “.pdf.exe” file that launches an infection chain.

💻 The malware profiles the host, captures screenshots, steals credentials, and connects to a remote attacker server – blending into normal traffic and staying hidden.

⚠️ Why it matters: your candidate pipeline may be your weakest human link. One compromised applicant or contractor can expose your network before formal onboarding begins.

📊 Use AUMINT.io to simulate recruitment-style attacks, train your team – and test your human firewalls.

🚀 Ready to find your weakest link before hackers do? Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #HumanFactor #SocialEngineering #RecruitmentRisk #CISO #AUMINT

🔐 Cyber Attacks Targeting Firms Skyrocket

🚨 Professional services firms are now prime targets for sophisticated cybercrime.

🕵️‍♂️ Attackers exploit human trust, impersonate vendors, and manipulate helpdesks to steal sensitive client data.

💰 Double extortion is skyrocketing – attackers steal data first, then demand multi-million-dollar ransoms. Mid-sized firms are most vulnerable.

⚠️ Standard IT controls are no longer enough. Employee awareness, strict MFA, and continuous monitoring are critical defenses.

📊 AUMINT.io simulations expose hidden vulnerabilities and train employees to act as a human firewall.

🚀 Protect your firm proactively and see your cyber resilience grow – Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #ProfessionalServices #CISO #LawFirmSecurity #AccountingSecurity #ConsultingSecurity

🐝 Honeypots Catch Attackers Cheap and Fast

🐝 Honeypots are decoys that legitimate users never touch – when they trigger, you know an attacker is inside your sightline.

🔍 Simple decoys like fake admin accounts, bogus API keys, or dummy repos produce high-fidelity alerts without the false-positive noise of costly SIEM setups.

⚠️ In one real case, planted OAuth tokens exposed a contractor trying to exfiltrate sensitive data in days – setup cost: a few hours.

🧭 For budget-constrained teams, honeypots change the detection game – you chase signals that should never exist, not faint anomalies buried in normal logs.

🛡️ They are not a cure-all – pair them with social engineering simulations, least-privilege policies, and continuous monitoring to close the human gaps attackers exploit.

📊 AUMINT.io simulates realistic human-targeted attacks and shows you where employees or vendors will likely fall for lures that lead attackers to your crown jewels.

🚀 Want a step-by-step deployable plan this week? Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #SOC #CISO #Infosec #SecurityOps #Honeypots #AUMINT

🚨 Storm-2657 Payroll Pirates Target Universities

Microsoft warns of attacks hijacking employee accounts to steal salaries.

💡 HR SaaS platforms like Workday are being exploited with phishing and MFA bypass.

👥 Attackers use AiTM phishing links, enroll their own MFA devices, and hide email notifications to reroute payroll.

⚡ 11 accounts compromised across three universities sent phishing emails to nearly 6,000 targets.

✅ Adopt phishing-resistant MFA like FIDO2 keys.

✅ Review accounts for unknown MFA devices and malicious inbox rules.

✅ Educate staff to recognize phishing tactics.

AUMINT.io helps organizations detect hidden gaps through simulations and continuous monitoring – Book your session now
.

#CyberSecurity #MFA #Phishing #PayrollSecurity #HigherEducation #MicrosoftSecurity

🚨 Corporate Social Media – Your Hidden Security Threat

Marketing teams often control accounts, not IT.

💡 Shared credentials and disabled MFA leave dormant accounts open to attacks.

⚡ Attackers can post offensive messages, redirect ad spend, or distribute malware.

👥 MFA bottlenecks and social engineering create human factor vulnerabilities.

✅ IAM/IGA tools like Cerby centralize access, enforce MFA, and rotate passwords.

✅ Continuous monitoring prevents ghost accounts and unauthorized posts.

AUMINT.io simulates attacks and uncovers hidden risks before damage occurs – Book your session now
.

#CyberSecurity #SocialMediaSecurity #FraudPrevention #BrandProtection #CISO #ITSecurity

🔐 Neighbor Attack – Your Office Wi-Fi Could Be the Weak Link

🚨 A new cyber threat has emerged, exploiting the proximity of neighboring offices to infiltrate secure networks.

🕵️‍♂️ Attackers gain access to a neighboring office’s network, bridging the gap to your organization’s Wi-Fi, bypassing MFA protections.

💡 This highlights a critical oversight in traditional cybersecurity measures – assuming physical proximity doesn’t equate to network vulnerability.

🔒 Implementing strict network segmentation and continuous monitoring are essential defenses against such threats.

📊 AUMINT.io provides real-time threat detection and comprehensive security analytics to protect your organization from emerging cyber threats.

🚀 Stay ahead of cybercriminals – Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #NetworkSecurity #MFA #WiFiSecurity #AUMINT

🔐 Managers Doubt Employees’ Cyber Awareness – Here’s Why It Matters

🚨 A recent survey reveals that 80% of managers believe their employees lack basic cybersecurity awareness.

🤖 44% of managers fear their employees won’t recognize AI-driven attacks, highlighting the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.

📉 Despite acknowledging the importance of cybersecurity training, only 48% of managers are implementing regular programs.

🌍 In Israel, only 54% of employees view cybersecurity training positively, compared to 86% globally.

🔒 At AUMINT.io, we offer tailored training programs that simulate real-world attacks, helping employees recognize and respond to threats effectively.

🚀 Enhance your organization’s cybersecurity posture – Schedule your demo

#CyberSecurity #EmployeeAwareness #AIThreats #AUMINT

🔐 Microsoft Elevates Security to Core Priority – What It Means for the Industry

🚨 Microsoft has announced that starting in 2024, all employees will be evaluated based on their contributions to the company’s cybersecurity efforts.

📊 This move underscores the growing importance of security in the tech industry and sets a precedent for other organizations to follow.

🛡️ As part of this initiative, Microsoft has introduced a new performance evaluation system called “Connect,” requiring employees to document their security-related activities.

📈 Managers will assess these contributions when determining promotions, salary increases, and bonuses.

🌐 This approach aligns with Microsoft’s broader “Secure Future Initiative,” emphasizing the integration of security into every aspect of the company’s operations.

🔧 For organizations looking to emulate Microsoft’s security-first approach, it’s essential to implement similar initiatives that prioritize cybersecurity at all levels.

🚀 AUMINT.io offers solutions designed to help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

📅 Discover how AUMINT.io can support your organization’s cybersecurity goals – Book a Demo

#CyberSecurity #EmployeeEngagement #PerformanceManagement #AUMINT