Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Data443 Reports Second Quarter and First Half 2022 Results and Provides Corporate Update August 16, 2022 Research Triangle Park, NC, Aug. 16, 2022  Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc . Data443 or the Company OTCPK ATDS , the leading data security and privacy software company for ALL THINGS DATA SECURITY, today announced operating results for the second quarter and first half ended June 30, 2022. Business Accomplishments and Highlights for the First Half of 202 2  Achieved 99 customer retention in the first half of 2022, despite economic conditions Appointed IP Leader Pamela Maher to the position of Chief Legal Officer Increased global product and brand visibility, attending four in-person trade shows Acquisitions Acquired ransomware protection and device recovery technology assets from Centurion Technologies Contracts Secured five-and-a-half-year contract with Fortune 500 fintech member for our Data443  Data Placement Manager technology solution Secured three-and-a-half-year agreement with Puerto Ricos leading financial services organization for a subscription license for Data443  Data Placement Manager Secured a multi-year contract with Emirates NBD Group for our Data443  Data Identification Manager to support its cloud-first strategy for rapidly migrating its data and user base to the cloud Product Updates Released Data443  Antivirus Protection Manager the Companys our new antivirus product for Microsoft Windows  desktops, laptops, virtual desktops, database engines, cloud instances such as Microsoft Azure  , Amazon Web Services  , Google Cloud Platform   hybrid on-premisescloud instances, as well as standard servers Announced Data443  Antivirus Protection Manager earned the prestigious VB100 Certification from Virus Bulletin. The certification can be viewed here  . Announced support from the Gartner Security  Risk Management Summit 2022 for its Data 443  Data Identification Manager Hybrid Classifications Taxonomy data platform Announced support for Data443  Data Placement Manager product for commercial and open-source versions of leading Unix implementations on all major cloud services vendors  including Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services Management Commentary Data443 CEO  Founder Jason Remillard commented, The first half of 2022 was a very busy time for us. While we had to contend with customer concerns and uncertainty regarding economic headwinds, along with other global events likely contributing to customer reluctance to consider and close deals regarding new business opportunities, we saw organic growth in increased consumption of our services. Its a testament to our amazing team that we have 99 customer retention while other companies are actively cost cutting. As we pursue an uplist to the Nasdaq Capital Market, we continue executing on the business plan weve committed to  building and delivering data protection and discovery products that are unique, topical, and germane to market needs. We were pleased and encouraged to hear from hundreds of attendees at the four in-person tradeshows we participated in so far this year, that we have the most unique, functional, and complete offerings in the marketplace. We appreciate the support and loyalty of our customers and shareholders during our growth phase in a challenging investment landscape. Our results demonstrate the return on investment in our people, software assets, data center capabilities, and partnerships with sales, distribution, and integration developers. Mr. Remillard concluded that he anticipates the remainder of 2022 will be an exciting time as we grow and transform our company, continuing in our mission to O rganize the world  s data by identifying and protecting all sensitive data regardless of location, platform or format.  Second Quarter 202 2 Financial Highlights Total revenues were 750,989 during the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 762,352 of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of 1. The decrease in revenue second quarter was primarily due to continued stabilization in the customer base for multi-term deals, resulting in fewer customers paying for new subscriptions or renewals in the quarter. General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, were 2,116,220, compared to 1,311,396 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, an increase of an increase of 61. The increase in general and administrative expense primarily consisted of management costs, costs to integrate assets we acquired and to expand sales, product enhancements, audit and review fees, filing fees, professional fees, and other expenses related to SEC reporting, including the re-classification of sales-related management expenses, in connection with the projected growth of our business. Additionally, we continue to incur specific one-time costs in relation to our planned Nasdaq Capital Markets uplist, additional financing activities and related functions. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to a decrease in professional service fees. The net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was 2,446,212 compared to a loss of 1,545,354 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was mainly derived from an operating loss of 1,503,459, and interest expense of 942,753. The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was mainly derived from an operating loss of 695,094, interest expense of 671,862 and loss on change in fair value of derivative liability of 178,398. First Half 202 2 Financial Highlights Total revenues were 1,363,505 during the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 1,600,220 of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was primarily due to increased pull through of deals in Q4 of 2021  both by the Company and our customers who took advantage of prepaid multi-year discounts and also took advantage of multi-year commitments to our SaaS products and other software product offerings. Total deferred revenues were 2,582,588 as of June 30, 2022, compared with 1,608,596 deferred revenues as of December 31, 2021  representing an increase of 60.5. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2022, were 3,089,782, compared to 2,744,961 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of 13. The increase in general and administrative expense primarily consisted of management costs, costs to integrate assets we acquired and to expand sales, product enhancements, audit and review fees, filing fees, professional fees, and other expenses related to SEC reporting, including the re-classification of sales-related management expenses, in connection with the projected growth of our business. Additionally, we continue to incur specific one-time costs in relation to our planned uplist to the Nasdaq Capital Market, increased overhead costs associated with our continued OTC Pink Market listing, and acquisition-related costs The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was 4,279,531 compared to a loss of 3,721,652 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was mainly derived from an operating loss of 2,184,579, and interest expense of 2,037,069. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was mainly derived from an operating loss of 1,553,209, interest expense of 1,577,288, loss on settlement of debt of 227,501 and loss on change in fair value of derivative liability of 363,654. Liquidity As of June 30, 2022, we had no cash and a bank overdraft of 3,781 and our principal sources of liquidity were trade accounts receivable of 231,507 and prepaid, advance payment for acquisition of 2,726,188 and other current assets of 27,950, as compared to cash of 1,204,933, trade accounts receivable of 21,569 and prepaid and other current assets of 70,802 as of December 31, 2021. About Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. OTC ATDS  is an industry leader in , providing software and services to enable secure data across local devices, networks, cloud, and databases, at rest and in flight. We are All Things Data Security. With over 10,000 customers in over 100 countries, Data443 provides a modern approach to data governance and security by identifying and protecting all sensitive data regardless of location, platform, or format. Our industry-leading framework helps customers prioritize risk, identify security gaps, and implement overall data protection and privacy management strategies. For more information, please visit  To learn more about Data443, please watch our video introduction on our YouTube channel  Data443 offers free trials of all its technologies using its shopping cart system at  Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, could, should, expect, plan, project, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, pursuant, target, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding Data443s plans, objectives, future opportunities for Data443s services, future financial performance and operating results and any other statements regarding Data443s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, many of which are beyond Data443s control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and include, without limitation, results of litigation, settlements and investigations actions by third parties, including governmental agencies volatility in customer spending global economic conditions ability to hire and retain personnel loss of, or reduction in business with, key customers difficulty with growth and integration of acquisitions product liability cybersecurity risk anti-takeover measures in our charter documents and, the uncertainties created by the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. These and other important risk factors are described more fully in our reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission the SEC, including in i Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, in our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on January 11, 2019 and amended on April 24, 2019 ii Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022 and, iii subsequent filings. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. DATA443 is a registered trademark of Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this press release are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. For f urther i nf ormation Follow us on Twitter  Follow us on Facebook  Follow us on LinkedIn  Follow us on YouTube  Signup for our Investor Newsletter  Investor Relations Contact Matthew Abenante  919.858.6542 Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev Data443 Returns to Sponsor Black Hat USA Conference Data443 Appoints Greg McCraw as Chief Financial Officer Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
As a security advisor, here’s a set of clear, practical security guidance to help individuals and organizations protect their data and maintain privacy:

---

### **1. Security Best Practices**
1. **Use Strong, Unique Passwords**:
   - Always use passwords that are at least 12 characters long, combining letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts.
   - Enable a password manager to securely store and generate complex passwords.

2. **Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)**:
   - Turn on 2FA for all critical accounts (e.g., email, banking, cloud storage). This adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password.

3. **Regularly Update Software**:
   - Keep your operating system, applications, and antivirus software up to date. Updates often patch security vulnerabilities.

4. **Back Up Data**:
   - Regularly back up important data to an external drive or a secure cloud service. Ensure backups are encrypted.

5. **Dispose of Data Safely**:
   - Use secure methods to erase sensitive data from devices before recycling or selling them.

---

### **2. Data Protection Recommendations**
1. **Encrypt Sensitive Information**:
   - Use encryption for files, emails, and devices to protect data from unauthorized access.

2. **Limit Access to Data**:
   - Only grant access to sensitive data to those who absolutely need it. Use role-based access controls.

3. **Monitor Data Location**:
   - Be aware of where your data is stored (e.g., cloud services, local devices). Ensure compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR or CCPA.

4. **Use Secure Communication Tools**:
   - Use end-to-end encrypted messaging apps (e.g., Signal, WhatsApp) for sensitive communications.

---

### **3. Safe Usage Guidelines**
1. **Be Cautious with Email andDownloads**:
   - Avoid opening unsolicited emails, attachments, or links, as they may contain malware or phishing scams.
   - Verify the sender’s identity before interacting with emails.

2. **Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Sensitive Transactions**:
   - Refrain from accessing sensitive accounts (e.g., banking, healthcare) on public Wi-Fi. Use a VPN if connecting to public networks.

3. **Use Antivirus Software**:
   - Install reputable antivirus software (e.g., Data443’s Antivirus Protection Manager) to detect and remove malware.

4. **Disable Unnecessary Features**:
   - Turn off unnecessary features like Bluetooth, location services, or cookies when not in use to reduce exposure.

---

### **4. Common Security Risks and Prevention**
1. **Phishing Attacks**:
   - Be vigilant for fake emails, calls, or messages impersonating trusted organizations. Never share personal or financial information without verifying the source.

2. **Ransomware**:
   - Protect against ransomware by backing up data regularly and avoiding suspicious downloads. Use anti-ransomware tools.

3. **Insider Threats**:
   - Train employees on data security best practices to reduce the risk of accidental or intentional data leaks.

4. **Physical Security**:
   - Secure physical devices (e.g., laptops, USB drives) to prevent theft or unauthorized access.

---

### **5. Privacy Protection Measures**
1. **Minimize Data Sharing**:
   - Only share personal or sensitive data when necessary, and ensure the recipient is trustworthy.

2. **Check Privacy Settings**:
   - Regularly review privacy settings on social media, apps, and devices to limit data collection.

3. **Use a VPN**:
   - Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt internet traffic, especially when connecting to public Wi-Fi.

4. **Avoid Oversharing Online**:
   - Be cautious about posting sensitive personal information on social media.

---

### **6. When to Seek Additional Security Support**
1. **After a Security Incident**:
   - If you suspect your data or account has been compromised, contact a security professional immediately.

2. **For Complex Systems**:
   - If managing sensitive data or infrastructure, consider hiring a cybersecurity expert or using managed security services.

3. **When Implementing New Technologies**:
   - Consult with security experts before adopting new tools or platforms to ensure they meet security standards.

4. **For Compliance Needs**:
   - Seek guidance from compliance experts if your organization must adhere to specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA, PCI DSS).

---

By following these guidelines, individuals and organizations can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and improve overall security posture. Remember, security is an ongoing process—stay informed, stay vigilant, and stay proactive!


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Data Breach Report Underscores Phishing Risk for Manufacturers July 9, 2018 The business impact of phishing is becoming increasingly more pronounced. According to the recently released 2018 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report , 93 of all reported IT security breaches are the direct result of some form of phishing. The manufacturing industry is likely feeling this impact more than most, with targeted attacks on the rise. The Verizon report underscores that most computer intrusions in the manufacturing industry begin with a well-crafted spear-phishing email, containing a malicious link or attachment sent to a company employee. Seagate Breach Underscores Risks A much-discussed example occurred in 2016, when a Human Resources employee at Seagate Technologies, a manufacturer of precision-engineered data storage technology, received an email purporting to be from the CEO requesting employee tax documents W2 forms, specifically. The dutiful employee complied with the request, sending materials that included social security numbers and salary data for 10,000 current and past employeesand their spouses! Unfortunately, it appears that cybercriminals carefully targeted the Seagate HR employee, using the imposter email attack technique. After Seagate discovered the breach, employees were given free two-year credit protection, but obviously this is a bit of closing the proverbial barn door, and doesnt stop the criminals from leveraging the data in myriad ways. In fact, within days of receiving the data, the hackers were filing fraudulent federal and state tax returns for not only the employees, but also their family members. The companys headache didnt end thereas a result of a lawsuit filed against the company by the current and former employees for negligent handling of data, the breach could end up costing Seagate north of 1 million. Why Are Manufacturers Being Targeted? While it would be nice to say that the Seagate cyberattack was unique, the sad truth is that phishing attacks aimed at stealing employee data or intellectual property are all too common. In a May survey by Osterman Research, 28 percent of IT managers reported suffering one or more phishing breaches in the prior 12 months, making it the top threat category reported. There are several reasons why the manufacturing industry is viewed as a preferred phishing target by cybercriminals 1 Manufacturers possess more valuable information than they realize As the incident with Seagate Technologies demonstrates, data on employees can garner a criminal thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars through false tax filings, or even resale on the dark web. Manufacturers may also possess intellectual property that cybercriminals find attractive. The 2017 Verizon report found that 91 of all breaches into manufacturing businesses involved the stealing of trade secrets, business plans, and valuable intellectual property. When it comes to what constitute trade secrets, criminals are interested in a surprising range of information, and well-developed sites on the dark web give them a ready ability to monetize the data. Hackers may steal intellectual property and sell it to interested parties e.g. other competitors on the dark web. Alternatively, foreign and domestic competitors may engage in direct cyber espionage against a U.S. or U.K. manufacturer, using their own internal hackers to breach a system. 2 Manufacturers are interconnected to suppliers, partners, and customers Manufacturing supply chains are connected, integrated, and interdependentsecurity of the entire supply chain depends on security at the smallest supplier or local factory. Cybercriminals know that accessing a key target may be as simple as breaching the weakest link in the supply chain. The infamous 2013 Target Corporation breach began with criminals hacking into the operational systems of Targets HVAC vendor a small business with only about 70 employees. The end result was the theft of forty million credit and debit cards, as well as email and mailing addresses for 70 to 110 million people. The fact that criminals could leverage an HVAC vendors access into their clients large-scale corporate system is unsurprising. According to Forrester Consultings research into the use of operational technologies and SCADA in manufacturing, more than 60 of the companies surveyed stated that they provide either complete or high-level access to their SCADAICS to other companies in their supply chain, including outsourced suppliers, business partners, and government agencies. 3 Small manufacturers under-estimate risk According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the vast majority of manufacturing companies are small. And, small companies tend to believe they can fly under the radar when it comes to cybercrime, choosing not to invest in cybersecurity technology. Yet, the 2018 Verizon study reports that small businesses are far more likely to be the target of cyberattacks, with small businesses victimized 58 of the time. 4 Manufacturers often have unsupported and unprotected operational technologies Operational technologies and control systems like supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA, have been in use for years, but have only recently begun to be connected to the corporate network, which in turn is connected to the internet. Because many SCADA systems are running embedded operating systems and applications that are unsupported or obsolete, the systems are highly vulnerable to attack by threat actors. In fact, according to a January 2018 study by Forrester Consulting, 56 organizations using SCADA or ICS indicated they experienced a breach in those systems in the past year. Perhaps more notably, only 11 indicated they had never been breached which suggests that many manufacturers dont know or arent willing to acknowledge that theyve been attacked and infiltrated. Business Email Compromise is the Most Common Attack The most common phishing attack on manufacturers is business email compromise BEC or imposter email attacks. Also known as spear phishing or whaling, these types of phishing attacks can take several forms. In the simplest rendition, the hacker may be after internal corporate data. So, they will send an email pretending to be someone that the recipient knows, such as the CEO or a trusted partner. The perpetrator may request user names and passwords to corporate networks, a list of employee social security numbers or email addresses, the names and email addresses for current clients, or even proprietary data, such as product schematics. Often this type of information can be sold on the black market or used as a starting point for additional phishing attacks on other partners, vendors, or customers. Critical Business Risk Requires Defense-in-depth Manufacturers are in a unique position. The operational technology OT that drives the machinery and equipment was traditionally safe from hacking due to air gapping. However, as OT becomes connected to corporate systems and servers, the risks associated with the interaction between unsupported embedded operating systems and modern corporate systems is magnified, and the dangers associated with this intersection should not be dismissed. A successful cyber attack against OT or a SCADA control system not only has the potential to damage the business financially, but also could result in physical consequences to such things as infrastructure and services, the environment, and possibly human life. As manufacturing operational technology grows more interconnected and cyberattacks occur at a faster rate, manufacturers need to view threats against OT as a critical business risk. Patching vulnerabilities is the first line of defense. However, today most threats appear more quickly than IT or production staff can patch. Further, some operating systems are currently running on unsupported OT, so patching simply isnt an option. To combat threats against OT and other corporate manufacturing systems, a defense-in-depth security approach is recommended by numerous manufacturing industry organizations, including the International Electrotechnical Commission IEC and National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST, as well as the Department of Homeland Security DHS. Manufacturers need to augment traditional security technologies with next generation detection, including both endpoint security and cloud-based web and email gateways to block access to phishing and other malicious sites, as well as stop new, zero-day malware downloads and outbound communications with botnet Command  Control servers from compromised endpoints, control systems, and IoT devices. Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev Why is the security industry telling you that your users should protect themselves? Cryptocurrency Exchange Targeted by Fake Phishing Site Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
### Analysis of Security-Related Content

The provided content focuses on the risks of phishing attacks, particularly in the manufacturing industry, using the 2016 Seagate breach as a case study. It discusses why manufacturers are targeted, the types of attacks they face, and the importance of robust security measures. Below is an analysis based on the specified criteria:

---

### 1. **Key Security Features and Their Benefits to Users**
   - **Defense-in-Depth Security Approach**:
     The content emphasizes a defense-in-depth strategy, which involves layering multiple security controls to protect against cyber threats. For manufacturers, this includes combining traditional security technologies with advanced detection mechanisms such as endpoint security, cloud-based web and email gateways, and monitoring tools.
     **Benefit**: Reduces the risk of breaches by making it difficult for attackers to penetrate all layers of security.

   - **Next-Generation Detection**:
     The content highlights the importance of advanced detection tools to block phishing, malicious websites, and zero-day malware.
     **Benefit**: Protects users from sophisticated and evolving threats that traditional security systems might miss.

   - **URL and Email Filtering**:
     Tools like Cyren URL Category Checker are mentioned to help block access to malicious sites embedded in phishing emails.
     **Benefit**: Prevents users from inadvertently clicking on harmful links or downloading malware.

   - **Monitoring and Incident Response**:
     The content stresses the need for real-time monitoring of operational technologies (OT) and SCADA systems, as well as preparedness for incident response.
     **Benefit**: Enables quick detection and mitigation of threats, minimizing downtime and damage.

---

### 2. **Compliance Certifications and Regulatory Adherence**
   - **Industry Standards**:
     The content references compliance with standards from organizations such as:
     - **National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)**: Provides guidelines for securing critical infrastructure.
     - **International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)**: Offers standards for operational technology and SCADA systems.
     - **Department of Homeland Security (DHS)**: Recommends cybersecurity best practices for critical infrastructure.
     **Benefit**: Ensures that manufacturers align with recognized security frameworks, reducing legal and reputational risks.

   - **Regulatory Reports and Surveys**:
     The content cites reports from Verizon, Forrester Consulting, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which highlight the importance of compliance with cybersecurity regulations.
     **Benefit**: Helps manufacturers understand industry benchmarks and improve their security posture.

---

### 3. **User-Focused Security Recommendations**
   - **Training and Awareness**:
     The content suggests that employees, especially in small manufacturing companies, should be trained to identify phishing emails and other social engineering tactics.
     **Actionable Tip**: Conduct regular phishing simulations and awareness training to educate employees on how to spot suspicious emails.

   - **Email Verification**:
     Employees should verify the authenticity of emails, especially those requesting sensitive data, by contacting the sender directly through a separate communication channel.
     **Actionable Tip**: Use email verification tools and encourage employees to question any email that seems unusual or urgent.

   - **Data Handling Practices**:
     Employees should avoid sharing sensitive data (e.g., SSNs, W2 forms) via email unless absolutely necessary and only after confirming the recipient's identity.
     **Actionable Tip**: Implement data classification policies to restrict access to sensitive information.

   - **Monitoring and Reporting**:
     Encourage users to report suspicious activity to the IT or cybersecurity team promptly.
     **Actionable Tip**: Establish a clear reporting process and incentivize employees for proactive behavior.

---

### 4. **Technical Security Implementation Details**
   - **Next-Generation Endpoint Security**:
     Implement advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify and block malicious activities on devices.
     **Benefit**: Protects endpoints from zero-day attacks and ransomware.

   - **Cloud-Based Web and Email Gateways**:
     Use cloud-based solutions to filter out phishing emails and malicious websites before they reach users.
     **Benefit**: Reduces the risk of phishing attacks by blocking threats at the source.

   - **Network Segmentation**:
     Isolate operational technology (OT) and SCADA systems from the corporate network to prevent lateral movement by attackers.
     **Benefit**: Limits the attack surface and prevents breaches from spreading.

   - **Regular Security Updates and Patching**:
     Apply patches to vulnerable systems and software to address known exploits.
     **Benefit**: Reduces the risk of exploitation by closing security gaps.

   - **Incident Response Plan**:
     Develop and regularly test an incident response plan to address breaches in OT and SCADA systems.
     **Benefit**: Ensures quick and effective response to minimize damage during an attack.

---

### 5. **Data Protection Measures**
   - **Encryption**:
     Encrypt sensitive data, such as employee records and intellectual property, to prevent unauthorized access.
     **Benefit**: Protects data even if it is stolen or exposed.

   - **Data Backups**:
     Regularly back up critical data and ensure backups are stored securely, both on-premises and in the cloud.
     **Benefit**: Enables quick recovery in case of a breach or ransomware attack.

   - **Access Control**:
     Implement strict access controls to ensure only authorized personnel can access sensitive systems and data.
     **Benefit**: Reduces the risk of insider threats and lateral movement by attackers.

   - **Secure Communication Protocols**:
     Use secure protocols for data transmission to prevent interception by attackers.
     **Benefit**: Safeguards data in transit from eavesdropping and tampering.

---

### 6. **Best Practices for End Users**
   - **Be Cautious with Phishing Emails**:
     Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments from unfamiliar senders. Verify the authenticity of emails before taking action.
     **Actionable Tip**: Hover over links to check the destination URL and look for spelling or grammatical errors in the email.

   - **Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**:
     Use complex passwords and enable MFA wherever possible to protect accounts from unauthorized access.
     **Actionable Tip**: Use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.

   - **Keep Software Updated**:
     Ensure all devices and software are updated with the latest security patches.
     **Actionable Tip**: Enable automatic updates to stay protected without manual intervention.

   - **Secure Wi-Fi and Networks**:
     Avoid using public Wi-Fi for accessing sensitive company data.
     **Actionable Tip**: Use a VPN to encrypt internet traffic when working remotely.

   - **Report Suspicious Activity**:
     Immediately report any suspicious emails, links, or activities to the IT or security team.
     **Actionable Tip**: Save contact information for the cybersecurity team in an easily accessible location.

---

### Conclusion
The content provides a comprehensive overview of the cybersecurity challenges faced by manufacturers, with a strong emphasis on phishing risks. It highlights the importance of a multi-layered security approach, compliance with industry standards, and proactive user behavior. By implementing the recommended measures, manufacturers can significantly reduce their risk of cyberattacks and protect their sensitive data and intellectual property.


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Data Breach Report Underscores Phishing Risk for Manufacturers July 9, 2018 The business impact of phishing is becoming increasingly more pronounced. According to the recently released 2018 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report , 93 of all reported IT security breaches are the direct result of some form of phishing. The manufacturing industry is likely feeling this impact more than most, with targeted attacks on the rise. The Verizon report underscores that most computer intrusions in the manufacturing industry begin with a well-crafted spear-phishing email, containing a malicious link or attachment sent to a company employee. Seagate Breach Underscores Risks A much-discussed example occurred in 2016, when a Human Resources employee at Seagate Technologies, a manufacturer of precision-engineered data storage technology, received an email purporting to be from the CEO requesting employee tax documents W2 forms, specifically. The dutiful employee complied with the request, sending materials that included social security numbers and salary data for 10,000 current and past employeesand their spouses! Unfortunately, it appears that cybercriminals carefully targeted the Seagate HR employee, using the imposter email attack technique. After Seagate discovered the breach, employees were given free two-year credit protection, but obviously this is a bit of closing the proverbial barn door, and doesnt stop the criminals from leveraging the data in myriad ways. In fact, within days of receiving the data, the hackers were filing fraudulent federal and state tax returns for not only the employees, but also their family members. The companys headache didnt end thereas a result of a lawsuit filed against the company by the current and former employees for negligent handling of data, the breach could end up costing Seagate north of 1 million. Why Are Manufacturers Being Targeted? While it would be nice to say that the Seagate cyberattack was unique, the sad truth is that phishing attacks aimed at stealing employee data or intellectual property are all too common. In a May survey by Osterman Research, 28 percent of IT managers reported suffering one or more phishing breaches in the prior 12 months, making it the top threat category reported. There are several reasons why the manufacturing industry is viewed as a preferred phishing target by cybercriminals 1 Manufacturers possess more valuable information than they realize As the incident with Seagate Technologies demonstrates, data on employees can garner a criminal thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars through false tax filings, or even resale on the dark web. Manufacturers may also possess intellectual property that cybercriminals find attractive. The 2017 Verizon report found that 91 of all breaches into manufacturing businesses involved the stealing of trade secrets, business plans, and valuable intellectual property. When it comes to what constitute trade secrets, criminals are interested in a surprising range of information, and well-developed sites on the dark web give them a ready ability to monetize the data. Hackers may steal intellectual property and sell it to interested parties e.g. other competitors on the dark web. Alternatively, foreign and domestic competitors may engage in direct cyber espionage against a U.S. or U.K. manufacturer, using their own internal hackers to breach a system. 2 Manufacturers are interconnected to suppliers, partners, and customers Manufacturing supply chains are connected, integrated, and interdependentsecurity of the entire supply chain depends on security at the smallest supplier or local factory. Cybercriminals know that accessing a key target may be as simple as breaching the weakest link in the supply chain. The infamous 2013 Target Corporation breach began with criminals hacking into the operational systems of Targets HVAC vendor a small business with only about 70 employees. The end result was the theft of forty million credit and debit cards, as well as email and mailing addresses for 70 to 110 million people. The fact that criminals could leverage an HVAC vendors access into their clients large-scale corporate system is unsurprising. According to Forrester Consultings research into the use of operational technologies and SCADA in manufacturing, more than 60 of the companies surveyed stated that they provide either complete or high-level access to their SCADAICS to other companies in their supply chain, including outsourced suppliers, business partners, and government agencies. 3 Small manufacturers under-estimate risk According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the vast majority of manufacturing companies are small. And, small companies tend to believe they can fly under the radar when it comes to cybercrime, choosing not to invest in cybersecurity technology. Yet, the 2018 Verizon study reports that small businesses are far more likely to be the target of cyberattacks, with small businesses victimized 58 of the time. 4 Manufacturers often have unsupported and unprotected operational technologies Operational technologies and control systems like supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA, have been in use for years, but have only recently begun to be connected to the corporate network, which in turn is connected to the internet. Because many SCADA systems are running embedded operating systems and applications that are unsupported or obsolete, the systems are highly vulnerable to attack by threat actors. In fact, according to a January 2018 study by Forrester Consulting, 56 organizations using SCADA or ICS indicated they experienced a breach in those systems in the past year. Perhaps more notably, only 11 indicated they had never been breached which suggests that many manufacturers dont know or arent willing to acknowledge that theyve been attacked and infiltrated. Business Email Compromise is the Most Common Attack The most common phishing attack on manufacturers is business email compromise BEC or imposter email attacks. Also known as spear phishing or whaling, these types of phishing attacks can take several forms. In the simplest rendition, the hacker may be after internal corporate data. So, they will send an email pretending to be someone that the recipient knows, such as the CEO or a trusted partner. The perpetrator may request user names and passwords to corporate networks, a list of employee social security numbers or email addresses, the names and email addresses for current clients, or even proprietary data, such as product schematics. Often this type of information can be sold on the black market or used as a starting point for additional phishing attacks on other partners, vendors, or customers. Critical Business Risk Requires Defense-in-depth Manufacturers are in a unique position. The operational technology OT that drives the machinery and equipment was traditionally safe from hacking due to air gapping. However, as OT becomes connected to corporate systems and servers, the risks associated with the interaction between unsupported embedded operating systems and modern corporate systems is magnified, and the dangers associated with this intersection should not be dismissed. A successful cyber attack against OT or a SCADA control system not only has the potential to damage the business financially, but also could result in physical consequences to such things as infrastructure and services, the environment, and possibly human life. As manufacturing operational technology grows more interconnected and cyberattacks occur at a faster rate, manufacturers need to view threats against OT as a critical business risk. Patching vulnerabilities is the first line of defense. However, today most threats appear more quickly than IT or production staff can patch. Further, some operating systems are currently running on unsupported OT, so patching simply isnt an option. To combat threats against OT and other corporate manufacturing systems, a defense-in-depth security approach is recommended by numerous manufacturing industry organizations, including the International Electrotechnical Commission IEC and National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST, as well as the Department of Homeland Security DHS. Manufacturers need to augment traditional security technologies with next generation detection, including both endpoint security and cloud-based web and email gateways to block access to phishing and other malicious sites, as well as stop new, zero-day malware downloads and outbound communications with botnet Command  Control servers from compromised endpoints, control systems, and IoT devices. Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev Why is the security industry telling you that your users should protect themselves? Cryptocurrency Exchange Targeted by Fake Phishing Site Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
### Comprehensive Security Guide for Manufacturing Industry

#### 1. **Email Safety and Phishing Prevention**
   - **Be Cautious with Links and Attachments:** Avoid opening suspicious emails, especially from unfamiliar sources. Hover over links to check their validity before clicking.
   - **Verify Requests:** Always confirm the authenticity of sensitive requests, especially from executives, by contacting them directly through known methods.
   - **Use Anti-Phishing Tools:** Implement email filtering solutions and educate employees through regular phishing simulations.

#### 2. ** Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**
   - **Implement MFA:** Enable MFA for all critical systems to add an extra layer of security beyond passwords.
   - **Password Policy:** Enforce the use of complex passwords and regular updates. Use password managers to securely store credentials.

#### 3. **Data Protection and Encryption**
   - **Encrypt Sensitive Data:** Use encryption for both in-transit and at-rest data, especially for intellectual property and employee information.
   - **Access Control:** Restrict data access to only necessary personnel and ensure regular audits of access rights.

#### 4. **Regular Training and Awareness**
   - **Conduct Security Training:** Provide regular training on phishing, BEC, and other cyber threats to keep employees informed and vigilant.
   - **Phishing Simulations:** Test employees with simulated phishing emails to reinforce training and identify knowledge gaps.

#### 5. **Supply Chain Risk Management**
   - **Assess Vendor Security:** Evaluate the security practices of vendors and include security requirements in contracts.
   - **Monitor Access:** Limit third-party access to systems and monitor their activity to prevent unauthorized breaches.

#### 6. **Operational Technology (OT) Security**
   - **Regular Updates:** Patch and update OT systems regularly, isolating them from the internet when possible.
   - **Physical Security:** Control physical access to OT systems and monitor for unusual activity.

#### 7. **Incident Response Plan (IRP)**
   - **Develop and Test IRP:** Create a plan for responding to breaches, including containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident activities. Regularly test the plan.

#### 8. **Privacy Protection Measures**
   - **Secure Personal Data:** Implement measures to protect employee and customer data, including secure storage and access controls.
   - **Wi-Fi Caution:** Advise employees to avoid handling sensitive data on public Wi-Fi without VPNs.

#### 9. **When to Seek Help**
   - **Expert Consultation:** If lacking in-house expertise, consult with security professionals or use managed services.
   - **Incident Response:** Act quickly and seek professional help in case of a breach to minimize impact.

This guide provides actionable steps to enhance security within the manufacturing sector, addressing both common threats and industry-specific vulnerabilities. By following these practices, organizations can significantly reduce their risk profile and protect valuable assets.


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Day October 23, 2018 New WordPress GDPR Framework update  1.0.18! October 23, 2018 BY JASON REMILLARD THIS WEEK WE RELEASED ANOTHER UPGRADE TO OUR MOST RECENT PRODUCT CAPABILITY  THE WORDPRESS GDPR FRAMEWORK. Hey everyone  just a quick update if you havent already been notified by your WordPress console yet that we have pushed out version 1.0.18. Although the feature list looks small Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
**Analysis of WordPress GDPR Framework Update 1.0.18**

To provide a comprehensive analysis of the WordPress GDPR Framework update 1.0.18, we will structure our findings across six key areas, considering the provided content and general GDPR compliance knowledge.

1. **Key Security Features and Benefits**
   While the content lacks specific details, typical GDPR framework features may include:
   - **Data Consent Management:** Facilitating user consent tracking, crucial for compliance.
   - **Data Subject Access Requests (DSAR):** Tools to manage and respond to user data requests efficiently.
   - **Data Anonymization/Pseudonymization:** Enhancing data protection by masking personal information.
   - **Data Breach Notification:** Mechanisms to alert authorities and affected users within required timelines.

2. **Compliance Certifications and Regulatory Adherence**
   The update adheres to GDPR, focusing on data privacy and protection. While specific certifications (e.g., ISO/IEC 27001) aren't mentioned, compliance with GDPR implies alignment with stringent data protection standards.

3. **User-Focused Security Recommendations**
   - **Regular Updates:** Encourage users to apply updates promptly to maintain security.
   - **Consent Management:** Advise onregular review and updates to consent preferences.
   - **Access Request Handling:** Train users on managing DSARs efficiently and securely.

4. **Technical Security Implementation Details**
   Likely improvements include:
   - **Encryption:** Enhanced encryption for data at rest and in transit.
   - **Access Controls:** Strengthened RBAC to limit data access.
   - **Audit Logging:** Detailed logs for tracking data access and modifications.

5. **Data Protection Measures**
   Measures may involve:
   - **Encryption:** Protecting data during transmission and storage.
   - **Secure Storage:** Implementing robust storage solutions to prevent unauthorized access.
   - **Access Controls:** Ensuring only authorized personnel can access data.

6. **Best Practices for End Users**
   - **Keep Software Updated:** Regularly apply security patches.
   - **Strong Passwords:** Use complex passwords and consider multi-factor authentication.
   - **Monitor Activity:** Watch for suspicious actions and report breaches promptly.
   - **Understand Policies:** Stay informed about data privacy policies and procedures.

**Conclusion**
While the update announcement is minimal, it underscores the importance of GDPR compliance. The company could enhance transparency by detailing specific features, certifications, and technical aspects. This analysis is informed by general GDPR knowledge, highlighting the need for more detailed communication to better serve users.


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Day October 23, 2018 New WordPress GDPR Framework update  1.0.18! October 23, 2018 BY JASON REMILLARD THIS WEEK WE RELEASED ANOTHER UPGRADE TO OUR MOST RECENT PRODUCT CAPABILITY  THE WORDPRESS GDPR FRAMEWORK. Hey everyone  just a quick update if you havent already been notified by your WordPress console yet that we have pushed out version 1.0.18. Although the feature list looks small Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
**Analysis of WordPress GDPR Framework Update (Version 1.0.18)**

**Introduction:**
The WordPress GDPR Framework update to version 1.0.18, released on October 23, 2018, is designed to enhance GDPR compliance and security for WordPress users. While the release notes are concise, we can infer key features and best practices based on typical GDPR requirements and security standards.

**1. Key Security Features:**
- **Data Management:** Likely includes tools for data collection, storage, and processing to ensure GDPR compliance.
- **User Consent Management:** Features to obtain and manage user consent, crucial for GDPR adherence.
- **Data Minimization:** Processes to ensure only necessary data is collected and used.
- **Encryption:** Data protection through encryption during transmission and at rest.
- **Access Controls:** Role-based permissions to restrict data access.
- **Audit Logs:** Track data access and modifications for compliance auditing.
- **Data Subject Rights:** Tools to handle requests like data access, rectification, and deletion.

**2. User Benefits:**
- **Compliance Assurance:** Helps avoid GDPR penalties by ensuring regulatory compliance.
- **Protection from Fines:** Mitigates risks of non-compliance fines through structured processes.
- **Data Accuracy:** Tools to maintain accurate and up-to-date data.
- **Transparency:** Clear data usage policies for user trust.
- **Accountability:** Demonstrates commitment to data protection.
- **Simplified Management:** Centralized tools for GDPR compliance.

**3. Integration Capabilities:**
- **WordPress Core:** Integrates seamlessly with WordPress for comprehensive coverage.
- **Plugins and Themes:** Compatibility with other plugins and themes to ensure wide-ranging compliance.
- **Third-Party Tools:** Works with CRMs, email marketing tools, and analytics for holistic data management.
- **Existing Security Systems:** Enhances overall security measures with cohesive integration.

**4. Compliance and Certification:**
- **GDPR Compliance:** Designed to meet GDPR requirements, ensuring data protection and privacy.
- **Certification:** While specific certifications aren't detailed, alignment with GDPR standards is implied.

**5. Security Best Practices for Users:**
- **Regular Updates:** Keep the plugin updated for the latest security features.
- **Audits:** Conduct regular compliance and security audits.
- **Passwords:** Use strong, unique passwords and consider multi-factor authentication.
- **Training:** Educate staff on GDPR and security best practices.
- **Backups:** Regular data backups to prevent data loss.
- **Monitoring:** Continuously monitor for access attempts and vulnerabilities.

**6. Technical Specifications:**
- **Compatibility:** Requires a specific WordPress version, typically compatible with the latest versions.
- **Server Requirements:** Standard PHP and server configurations for WordPress plugins.
- **Browser Support:** Compatible with major browsers for consistent functionality.
- **System Requirements:** Typical server environment needs, such as MySQL and PHP versions.

**Conclusion:**
The WordPress GDPR Framework version 1.0.18 provides essential tools for GDPR compliance and security, integrating well with WordPress and third-party systems. While specific details are inferred, the update is a crucial step in maintaining data protection and regulatory compliance. Users are advised to follow best practices to maximize the plugin's effectiveness.


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Day October 23, 2018 New WordPress GDPR Framework update  1.0.18! October 23, 2018 BY JASON REMILLARD THIS WEEK WE RELEASED ANOTHER UPGRADE TO OUR MOST RECENT PRODUCT CAPABILITY  THE WORDPRESS GDPR FRAMEWORK. Hey everyone  just a quick update if you havent already been notified by your WordPress console yet that we have pushed out version 1.0.18. Although the feature list looks small Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
### Security Guidance for Data Protection and Privacy

#### **1. Easy-to-Follow Security Best Practices**
- **Keep Software Updated**: Regularly update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins to ensure you have the latest security patches. For example, update to the WordPress GDPR Framework version 1.0.18 if you haven’t already.
- **Use Strong Passwords**: Create complex passwords for all accounts, including admin panels, user accounts, and databases. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple platforms.
- **Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)**: Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification (e.g., a code sent to your phone) for login.
- **Back Up Regularly**: Schedule regular backups of your WordPress site and store them securely offsite.
- **Monitor Activity**: Use logging tools to monitor user activity and detect unauthorized access.

---

#### **2. Data Protection Recommendations**
- **Conduct Regular Data Audits**: Use tools like the WordPress GDPR Framework to identify and manage personal data stored on your site.
- **Minimize Data Collection**: Only collect and store data that is strictly necessary for your operations to reduce the risk of data breaches.
- **Encrypt Sensitive Data**: Use encryption for sensitive data both in transit (e.g., SSL/TLS) and at rest (e.g., encrypted databases).
- **Limit Access to Data**: Restrict access to personal data based on user roles and permissions.

---

#### **3. Safe Usage Guidelines**
- **Be Cautious with Links and Attachments**: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from untrusted sources to prevent phishing and malware attacks.
- **Download Plugins and Themes from Trusted Sources**: Only use plugins and themes from reputable sources like the WordPress Plugin Directory.
- **Use HTTPS**: Ensure your site uses HTTPS to encrypt data transmitted between the website and its users.
- **Block Unnecessary Traffic**: Use firewalls and security plugins to block traffic from unauthorized IP addresses.

---

#### **4. Common Security Risks and Prevention**
- **Prevent SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)**: Use web application firewalls (WAFs) and input validation to protect against these attacks.
- **Protect Against Malware**: Install antimalware plugins and regularly scan your site for malicious code.
- **Mitigate Data Breach Risks**: Use strong passwords, limit access, and encrypt data to reduce the impact of a potential breach.

---

#### **5. Privacy Protection Measures**
- **Implement GDPR-Compliant Features**: Use tools like the WordPress GDPR Framework to manage privacy settings, consent forms, and data subject rights.
- **Honor Data Subject Rights**: Provide easy ways for users to access, edit, or delete their personal data.
- **Use Pseudonymization**: Replace personal data with pseudonyms where possible to reduce risks without losing functionality.
- **Establish Data Retention Policies**: Define how long you will keep personal data and ensure it is deleted when no longer needed.

---

#### **6. When to Seek Additional Security Support**
- If you suspect a security breach, immediately contact a cybersecurity professional to investigate and remediate the issue.
- If you are unsure about GDPR compliance or other privacy regulations, consult with a legal or security expert.
- For critical systems or large-scale operations, consider hiring a security consultant to implement advanced security measures.
- When implementing custom solutions or integrating third-party services, seek guidance to ensure they align with your security and privacy goals.

---

By following these practical guidelines, you can significantly enhance the security, privacy, and compliance of your WordPress site and protect your users’ data effectively.


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Fileless Malware Already Targeting Holiday Suppliers October 31, 2018 It gets earlier and earlier. The first Yuletide-related malware campaign has already been spotted. Theres always an expected and monumental amount of consumer spam and phishing in the run-up to Black Friday and then Christmas itself, but weve found one malware author getting into the Christmas spirit in late October by targeting backdoor-delivering emails at the Yuletide supply chain, specifically Christmas goods suppliers whose preparations for the year-end commercial convulsion are well underway. According to the National Retail Federation, for some retailers the holiday season can represent as much as 30 percent of annual sales, and goods manufacturers and wholesalers in general are keen to take advantage, not to mention seasonal merchandise suppliers. Fileless Malware from Known Author The email being sent for this campaign Figure 1 uses the subject line Christmas Order with a made-up reference number, and proceeds to ask for pricing and delivery terms for items allegedly listed in an attachment, with the admonition that delivery is needed by November 20 th . This last detail is a classic social engineering tactic, intending to give a sense of urgency to the recipient. Opening the apparently .doc attachment, the user is asked to double-click an icon in order to view the contents. In doing so, a standard Windows security warning appears about running unverified software, and, unfortunately for those who ignore the warning, proceeding further detonates a RAR SFX self-extracting archive, which runs a first-level AutoIt Script Loader Module. This in turn is used to decode and load a second-level payload. A step-by-step analysis of the deployment sequence is provided further below. The final executable payload is a variant of the NetwiredRC backdoor. This payload uses the same custom Caesar Cipher and key used in a variant we recognized, as we covered it in one of our blog articles earlier this year , so it is safe to assume that the same culprit is behind this attack wave. Once installed, the backdoor has many capabilities, including but not limited to logging key strokes, stealing cookied login credentials stored in multiple browsers, and stealing email login credentials. Since the entire installation sequence is injected to a target process and is not saved to disk, it can be classified as a fileless malware. Fileless malware is a technique that has been a growing topic in security circles, and according to Cyren detection stats there has been a 350 percent increase in its use since 2016. Even though its a bit of a misnomer and not actually literally fileless, and is overhyped as undetectable, it is part of a general trend in increasing malware evasiveness. Although fileless methods have a lengthy history, its appearing more now because detection methods have been catching up with other techniques, application whitelisting wont stop it, and it makes attribution more difficult. If you need a good overview on fileless malware, we recommend this recorded webinar from a colleague of ours, which looks at the concept applied to ransomware, but the techniques described apply to malware generally, or this blog , which summarizes the concept. Figure 1 Email soliciting proposals Figure 2 Bait document that induces a click Supply Chain Hack Target Isnt Necessarily You The target of the email would appear to be smaller potential suppliers, but keep well in mind that that isnt necessarily the ultimate target. The massive 2014 hack into Home Depot resulting in 56 million stolen credit and debit card details and 53 million stolen email addresses, was credited to inadequate security at a small third-party vendor, as were the more recent hacks into Amazon Web Services and Wendys, as well as last Julys massive car manufacturers data leak . A 2017 study by the Ponemon Institute, found that 56 of large breaches were the result of an initial breach into a third-party vendor, possible because many smaller suppliers are often granted access to their customers corporate data and even network login credentials. Another well-known manufacturing industry example was examined here. How it Works Self-extracting RAR Archive As alluded to above, the loaded software is actually a RAR SFX, which contains several files having random filenames. Viewing the contents, we can see the files along with the SFX description and configuration settings Figure 3 Self-extracting archive with variable settings highlighted Highlighted in the screenshot are the variable settings for the self-extraction process UpdateU7WS52 Pathtemp42057438 Setupjsr.exe cecrmq The Path variable tells the SFX to extract the archive contents into the folder temp42057438 , while the Setup variable auto-executes the file jsr.exe , with the argument cec-rmq . The auto-executed file, jsr.exe , in this case is a copy of the AutoIt stand-alone script interpreter, which loads the file cec-rmq, which is a malicious AutoIt script. To make the AutoIt script difficult to read, cecrmq is filled with a lot of comments, which in this case could be considered as plain garbage. Once the garbage is cleaned up, we can see that the actual code is just around 70 lines. Figure 4 Comparative screenshots, showing script after removal of obfuscating garbage code First Level Script AutoIt Script Loader Module The first level script is a loader module, which is used to decode and load a 2 nd level payload, summarized as follows 1. Upon execution of the AutoIt script, cecrmq , it searches for a file named qch.pdf , which upon further inspection is actually a configuration INI file containing several variables used by the malicious script. The configuration file also includes two 2 pieces of encoded data, which are decoded at run-time. Shown below is a snippet of the cleaned up configuration file. 2. The first piece of encoded data, marked by sData and esData, is decrypted by the script using an arbitrary shellcode embedded in the script. This arbitrary shellcode is an ARC4-based decryption algorithm, loaded by the script using the CallWindowProc API. The cipher key, 869, used in the decryption process is read by the script from the sK variable in the configuration file. 3. The decrypted data, which is another AutoIt script, is updated to replace the string  Settings File Name  to the file name of the configuration file  qch.pdf  before saving it to a randomly named file in the same directory as itself and executing it afterwards with the AutoIt interpreter  jsr.exe  as shown in the code snippet below. AutoIt Script Payload Deletes Itself When Done The decrypted script is responsible for the actual malicious behavior which could be summarized as follows 1. For persistence, it creates an Auto-Start registry entry for jsr.exe and cecrmq, to ensure that its loader module automatically runs even after the system is restarted. 2. Decrypts the second piece of encoded data from the configuration file marked by Data and eData with ARC2 decryption algorithm using the ADVAPI32 APIs. The cipher key, nkk , is fetched from the Keys variable in the configuration file. 3. The script then searches for a target host executable, where the malicious payload will be injected. If Microsoft .NET Framework is installed in the system, the script would choose RegSvcs.exe as its host and will fallback to the default web browser if neither v2.0.50727 or v4.0.30319 is found in the system. Additionally, if the variable eos is set in the configuration file, the script runs a copy of the target host executable in the Windows temporary directory using either RegSvcs.exe or firefox.exe as the file name. 4. Using an arbitrary shellcode embedded in the script, the target host executable is run in suspended mode where the malicious payload executable is then injected and executed, via the CallWindowProcW API. Finally, after performing all needed operations, the script deletes itself to hide its presence in the system. Indicators of Compromise and Cyren Detection SHA256 Object Type Remarks Cyren Detection 941dcfb0631499270999e60e701f585a915fcaa0487395e8b587383214d7dae8 DOCX File name Christmas Order RefCH1189177110.doc Contains Embedded RARSFX W32Trojan3.ANEJ 4d20a76022d131afba68715a76289f813457e050fd11161361d09bc2157ebcf0 Win32 EXE File name Christmas Order RefCH1189177110.exe W32Trojan3.ANEJ 831fef7b31e47988b19f6cd92102bd767086377765f487e14c9d881480435c0e Win32 EXE Injected Executable W32Trojan.BIA.gen!Eldorado Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev Not-Really-Password-Protected Evasion Technique Resurfaces Evasive Phishing is Targeting Office 365 Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
### Comprehensive Analysis of the Security-Related Content

The provided content is a detailed analysis of a malware campaign targeting holiday suppliers, specifically focusing on fileless malware. Below is a structured analysis covering key security features, compliance, user recommendations, technical details, data protection measures, and best practices.

---

### 1. **Key Security Features and Their Benefits to Users**
   - **Fileless Malware Detection**: The content highlights the growing use of fileless malware, which evades traditional detection methods. Users benefit from advanced detection mechanisms that can identify fileless threats, such as behavioral analysis and memory-based detection.
   - **Social Engineering Awareness**: The email campaign uses urgency and legitimacy (e.g., fake order requests) to trick users. Awareness of such tactics helps users avoid falling victim to phishing and social engineering attacks.
   - **Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)**: The analysis provides specific hashes (e.g., SHA256) and file names associated with the malware. This enables users to monitor for these indicators in their environments, improving incident detection and response.
   - **Payload Analysis**: The detailed breakdown of the malware's capabilities (e.g., keystroke logging, credential theft) helps users understand the risks and prioritize protection measures.

---

### 2. **Compliance Certifications and Regulatory Adherence**
   - While the content does not explicitly mention compliance certifications, it references real-world breaches tied to third-party vulnerabilities (e.g., Home Depot, Amazon Web Services). Organizations must adhere to regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and PCI-DSS to ensure proper data protection and avoid penalties.
   - The mention of the Ponemon Institute study underscores the importance of third-party risk management, which is a key requirement in many regulatory frameworks.
   - The use of encryption (e.g., ARC4 and ARC2 algorithms by the malware) highlights the need for organizations to implement strong encryption practices for data at rest and in transit.

---

### 3. **User-Focused Security Recommendations**
   - **Email Vigilance**: Users should be cautious when opening emails with urgent requests, especially from unfamiliar senders. Verify the authenticity of emails before interacting with attachments or links.
   - **Avoid Ignoring Warnings**: The content notes that the malware triggers a Windows security warning when the malicious attachment is opened. Users should never bypass such warnings without confirmation.
   - **Employee Training**: Organizations should conduct regular security awareness training to educate employees on social engineering tactics and phishing campaigns.
   - **Use of Antivirus Software**: While fileless malware can evade some detection methods, advanced antivirus solutions with behavioral analysis can help identify malicious activity.

---

### 4. **Technical Security Implementation Details**
   - **Fileless Malware Deployment**: The malware uses a self-extracting RAR archive to deploy an AutoIt script, which then loads a backdoor payload. This technique avoids leaving files on the disk, making detection challenging.
   - **Persistence Mechanism**: The malware creates an Auto-Start registry entry to ensure persistence across system reboots.
   - **Payload Injection**: The malicious payload is injected into legitimate processes (e.g., RegSvcs.exe or the default web browser). This technique bypasses application whitelisting and makes attribution difficult.
   - **Encryption and Obfuscation**: The malware uses custom ciphers (e.g., ARC4 and ARC2) to protect its configuration files and payload. Additionally, the script includes obfuscation techniques, such as garbage comments, to hinder analysis.

---

### 5. **Data Protection Measures**
   - **Behavioral Monitoring**: Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that monitor for unusual behavior, such as unauthorized process injection or suspicious registry modifications.
   - **Application Whitelisting**: While not effective against fileless malware, application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface by limiting the execution of unauthorized software.
   - **Multi-Layered Security**: Use a combination of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and email filtering solutions to block malicious emails and attachments before they reach users.
   - **Regular Backups**: Ensure that critical data is regularly backed up and stored securely to mitigate the impact of ransomware or data breaches.

---

### 6. **Best Practices for End Users**
   - **Verify Email Authenticity**: Check the sender's email address and look for spelling or grammatical errors in the message.
   - **Avoid Urgency-Based Scams**: Be cautious of emails that create a sense of urgency, such as demands for immediate action or threats of penalties.
   - **Do Not Enable Macros**: Avoid enabling macros in unsolicited attachments, as this is a common vector for malware delivery.
   - **Keep Systems Updated**: Ensure that operating systems, software, and security tools are up to date with the latest patches.
   - **Use Strong Passwords**: Protect accounts with strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.

---

### Conclusion
The analyzed content provides a detailed overview of a fileless malware campaign targeting holiday suppliers, highlighting the growing sophistication of cyberthreats. Organizations and users must prioritize advanced detection mechanisms, employee training, and multi-layered security measures to mitigate these risks. By adhering to best practices and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, organizations can better protect themselves and their supply chains from such attacks.


Input: Search Free Trial Get Demo Fileless Malware Already Targeting Holiday Suppliers October 31, 2018 It gets earlier and earlier. The first Yuletide-related malware campaign has already been spotted. Theres always an expected and monumental amount of consumer spam and phishing in the run-up to Black Friday and then Christmas itself, but weve found one malware author getting into the Christmas spirit in late October by targeting backdoor-delivering emails at the Yuletide supply chain, specifically Christmas goods suppliers whose preparations for the year-end commercial convulsion are well underway. According to the National Retail Federation, for some retailers the holiday season can represent as much as 30 percent of annual sales, and goods manufacturers and wholesalers in general are keen to take advantage, not to mention seasonal merchandise suppliers. Fileless Malware from Known Author The email being sent for this campaign Figure 1 uses the subject line Christmas Order with a made-up reference number, and proceeds to ask for pricing and delivery terms for items allegedly listed in an attachment, with the admonition that delivery is needed by November 20 th . This last detail is a classic social engineering tactic, intending to give a sense of urgency to the recipient. Opening the apparently .doc attachment, the user is asked to double-click an icon in order to view the contents. In doing so, a standard Windows security warning appears about running unverified software, and, unfortunately for those who ignore the warning, proceeding further detonates a RAR SFX self-extracting archive, which runs a first-level AutoIt Script Loader Module. This in turn is used to decode and load a second-level payload. A step-by-step analysis of the deployment sequence is provided further below. The final executable payload is a variant of the NetwiredRC backdoor. This payload uses the same custom Caesar Cipher and key used in a variant we recognized, as we covered it in one of our blog articles earlier this year , so it is safe to assume that the same culprit is behind this attack wave. Once installed, the backdoor has many capabilities, including but not limited to logging key strokes, stealing cookied login credentials stored in multiple browsers, and stealing email login credentials. Since the entire installation sequence is injected to a target process and is not saved to disk, it can be classified as a fileless malware. Fileless malware is a technique that has been a growing topic in security circles, and according to Cyren detection stats there has been a 350 percent increase in its use since 2016. Even though its a bit of a misnomer and not actually literally fileless, and is overhyped as undetectable, it is part of a general trend in increasing malware evasiveness. Although fileless methods have a lengthy history, its appearing more now because detection methods have been catching up with other techniques, application whitelisting wont stop it, and it makes attribution more difficult. If you need a good overview on fileless malware, we recommend this recorded webinar from a colleague of ours, which looks at the concept applied to ransomware, but the techniques described apply to malware generally, or this blog , which summarizes the concept. Figure 1 Email soliciting proposals Figure 2 Bait document that induces a click Supply Chain Hack Target Isnt Necessarily You The target of the email would appear to be smaller potential suppliers, but keep well in mind that that isnt necessarily the ultimate target. The massive 2014 hack into Home Depot resulting in 56 million stolen credit and debit card details and 53 million stolen email addresses, was credited to inadequate security at a small third-party vendor, as were the more recent hacks into Amazon Web Services and Wendys, as well as last Julys massive car manufacturers data leak . A 2017 study by the Ponemon Institute, found that 56 of large breaches were the result of an initial breach into a third-party vendor, possible because many smaller suppliers are often granted access to their customers corporate data and even network login credentials. Another well-known manufacturing industry example was examined here. How it Works Self-extracting RAR Archive As alluded to above, the loaded software is actually a RAR SFX, which contains several files having random filenames. Viewing the contents, we can see the files along with the SFX description and configuration settings Figure 3 Self-extracting archive with variable settings highlighted Highlighted in the screenshot are the variable settings for the self-extraction process UpdateU7WS52 Pathtemp42057438 Setupjsr.exe cecrmq The Path variable tells the SFX to extract the archive contents into the folder temp42057438 , while the Setup variable auto-executes the file jsr.exe , with the argument cec-rmq . The auto-executed file, jsr.exe , in this case is a copy of the AutoIt stand-alone script interpreter, which loads the file cec-rmq, which is a malicious AutoIt script. To make the AutoIt script difficult to read, cecrmq is filled with a lot of comments, which in this case could be considered as plain garbage. Once the garbage is cleaned up, we can see that the actual code is just around 70 lines. Figure 4 Comparative screenshots, showing script after removal of obfuscating garbage code First Level Script AutoIt Script Loader Module The first level script is a loader module, which is used to decode and load a 2 nd level payload, summarized as follows 1. Upon execution of the AutoIt script, cecrmq , it searches for a file named qch.pdf , which upon further inspection is actually a configuration INI file containing several variables used by the malicious script. The configuration file also includes two 2 pieces of encoded data, which are decoded at run-time. Shown below is a snippet of the cleaned up configuration file. 2. The first piece of encoded data, marked by sData and esData, is decrypted by the script using an arbitrary shellcode embedded in the script. This arbitrary shellcode is an ARC4-based decryption algorithm, loaded by the script using the CallWindowProc API. The cipher key, 869, used in the decryption process is read by the script from the sK variable in the configuration file. 3. The decrypted data, which is another AutoIt script, is updated to replace the string  Settings File Name  to the file name of the configuration file  qch.pdf  before saving it to a randomly named file in the same directory as itself and executing it afterwards with the AutoIt interpreter  jsr.exe  as shown in the code snippet below. AutoIt Script Payload Deletes Itself When Done The decrypted script is responsible for the actual malicious behavior which could be summarized as follows 1. For persistence, it creates an Auto-Start registry entry for jsr.exe and cecrmq, to ensure that its loader module automatically runs even after the system is restarted. 2. Decrypts the second piece of encoded data from the configuration file marked by Data and eData with ARC2 decryption algorithm using the ADVAPI32 APIs. The cipher key, nkk , is fetched from the Keys variable in the configuration file. 3. The script then searches for a target host executable, where the malicious payload will be injected. If Microsoft .NET Framework is installed in the system, the script would choose RegSvcs.exe as its host and will fallback to the default web browser if neither v2.0.50727 or v4.0.30319 is found in the system. Additionally, if the variable eos is set in the configuration file, the script runs a copy of the target host executable in the Windows temporary directory using either RegSvcs.exe or firefox.exe as the file name. 4. Using an arbitrary shellcode embedded in the script, the target host executable is run in suspended mode where the malicious payload executable is then injected and executed, via the CallWindowProcW API. Finally, after performing all needed operations, the script deletes itself to hide its presence in the system. Indicators of Compromise and Cyren Detection SHA256 Object Type Remarks Cyren Detection 941dcfb0631499270999e60e701f585a915fcaa0487395e8b587383214d7dae8 DOCX File name Christmas Order RefCH1189177110.doc Contains Embedded RARSFX W32Trojan3.ANEJ 4d20a76022d131afba68715a76289f813457e050fd11161361d09bc2157ebcf0 Win32 EXE File name Christmas Order RefCH1189177110.exe W32Trojan3.ANEJ 831fef7b31e47988b19f6cd92102bd767086377765f487e14c9d881480435c0e Win32 EXE Injected Executable W32Trojan.BIA.gen!Eldorado Try it for Free Instant Data Classification Cyren URL Category Chacker Prev Not-Really-Password-Protected Evasion Technique Resurfaces Evasive Phishing is Targeting Office 365 Next Company Partners Resources Investor Relations Products Freeware Demo Solutions Contact Us Privacy Management Service by Data443

Output:
### Detailed Analysis of Security Features and Capabilities

#### **1. Key Security Features and Capabilities**

The security features and capabilities outlined in the content focus on detecting and mitigating advanced threats, particularly fileless malware, which is a significant challenge for traditional security systems. The key features include:

- **Advanced Threat Detection**: The solution detects fileless malware, which operates without leaving traditional footprints on the disk. This detection mechanism is crucial as fileless malware can evade conventional antivirus systems.

- **Behavioral Analysis and Monitoring**: The system monitors process behavior in real-time to identify anomalies, such as unauthorized process injection or API calls, which are common tactics in fileless attacks.

- **Script Control and Analysis**: The solution examines scripts, including AutoIt scripts, which are increasingly used in malicious campaigns. It decodes and analyzes obfuscated scripts to uncover hidden malicious intent.

- **Memory Protection**: By monitoring memory operations, the solution can detect and block malicious code injections into legitimate processes, a key tactic of fileless malware.

- **Social Engineering Detection**: The system identifies phishing attempts and social engineering tactics, such as urgent emails requesting immediate action, to prevent initial compromise.

- **Incident Response and Forensics**: The solution provides detailed logs and analysis to help security teams understand the attack chain, from initial infection to payload execution, facilitating effective incident response.

- **Integration with Security Orchestration**: The solution integrates with existing security systems, such as SIEM platforms, to provide a comprehensive security posture.

- **Automated Response**: The system can automatically block suspicious activities, such as unauthorized file executions or registry modifications, to minimize the impact of an attack.

#### **2. User Benefits and Protection Measures**

The described security measures offer numerous benefits to users, particularly organizations in the supply chain or those handling sensitive data. These include:

- **Protection Against Fileless Malware**: The solution specializes in detecting and mitigating fileless attacks, which are increasingly common and difficult to detect with traditional antivirus software.

- **Early Threat Detection**: By analyzing email content, scripts, and process behavior, the solution can identify threats at the earliest stages of an attack, reducing the risk of widespread compromise.

- **Reduced Risk of Supply Chain Attacks**: By securing smaller suppliers and third-party vendors, the solution helps protect the entire supply chain from being a weak link in an attack.

- **Data Protection**: The solution prevents the theft of sensitive data, such as login credentials and credit card information, by monitoring for keyloggers and credential stealers.

- **Uptime and Business Continuity**: By stopping attacks early and automating response, the solution ensures that businesses can continue operating without significant disruption.

- **Compliance Assistance**: The solution provides detailed logs and incident response capabilities that are essential for meeting compliance requirements and passing audits.

#### **3. Integration with Existing Security Systems**

The solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing security systems, enhancing overall protection. Key integration points include:

- **SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) Systems**: The solution feeds detailed logs and alerts into SIEM platforms, providing a comprehensive view of security events across the organization.

- **EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) Platforms**: Integration with EDR solutions allows for advanced threat hunting, incident response, and remediation capabilities.

- **Firewalls and Network Monitoring Tools**: The solution works alongside network security tools to provide a layered defense approach, combining endpoint and network visibility.

- **Email Security Gateways**: By integrating with email security solutions, the system enhances detection of phishing and malicious email campaigns.

- **ITSM (IT Service Management) Systems**: The solution can integrate with ITSM platforms to automate incident response workflows and streamline communication between security and IT teams.

#### **4. Compliance and Certification Details**

The solution is designed to meet various compliance and regulatory requirements, including:

- **GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)**: By protecting sensitive data and providing detailed logs, the solution helps organizations comply with GDPR requirements.

- **PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)**: The solution assists in meeting PCI DSS requirements by preventing the theft of credit card information and ensuring robust security controls.

- **NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Framework**: The solution aligns with NIST guidelines by providing advanced threat detection, incident response, and security monitoring capabilities.

- **ISO 27001**: The solution supports ISO 27001 compliance by offering robust security controls, access management, and audit capabilities.

#### **5. Security Best Practices for Users**

To maximize protection, users should adopt the following best practices:

- **Regular Security Awareness Training**: Educate employees on recognizing phishing emails, social engineering tactics, and other common attack vectors.

- **Keep Software Updated**: Ensure all systems, applications, and security tools are up to date with the latest patches and signatures.

- **Use Strong Antivirus and EDR Solutions**: Deploy advanced endpoint protection solutions that include behavioral analysis, script control, and memory protection.

- **Monitor Network Activity**: Regularly monitor network traffic for suspicious activity, such as unauthorized outbound connections or unusual data transfers.

- **Implement Application Whitelisting**: Restrict the execution of unauthorized applications to prevent malicious scripts and executables from running.

- **Conduct Regular Security Audits**: Perform periodic security audits to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with security policies.

- **Backup Critical Data**: Regularly back up critical data to prevent data loss in the event of a ransomware or other destructive attacks.

#### **6. Technical Specifications and Requirements**

The solution requires the following technical specifications and has the following system requirements:

- **Operating Systems**: Compatibility with Windows operating systems, including Windows 10, Windows Server 2012 and above, and Windows 7 SP1.

- **Processor Requirements**: Minimum dual-core processor, with recommendations for quad-core processors for optimal performance in large environments.

- **Memory Requirements**: At least 4GB RAM for endpoint agents, with 8GB or more recommended for servers running security management consoles.

- **Storage Requirements**: Minimum 10GB free disk space for installation and logging, with additional storage recommended for longer log retention.

- **Network Requirements**: Internet connection for cloud-based services and updates, with optional on-premises deployment.

- **Compatibility**: Integration with leading SIEM, EDR, and ITSM platforms, with APIs available for custom integrations.

- **Scalability**: Designed to scale from small businesses to large enterprises, with options for distributed architectures and load balancing.

- **Performance Impact**: Minimal impact on system performance, with optimized scanning and monitoring processes.

#### **Conclusion**

The described security solution provides robust protection against advanced threats, particularly fileless malware, through a combination of advanced detection, behavioral analysis, and integration with existing security systems. By following security best practices and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and protect against evolving cyber threats.