Securing Business Emails Against Malware

 Chances are you've heard about the dangers of malware that's designed to significantly harm a computer system. But do you have a solid understanding of how a malware attack is carried out? For starters, malicious software or malware for short? Is a file or code that contains programming language, commanding it to cause harm by either stealing or blocking access to data or damaging the computer system.

Repercussions of a successful malware attack often include system compromise. Data theft, financial loss, significant downtime ,and reputation damage. Businesses that experience a malware attack lose 50 days of productivity on average. So as you can see, this email-born threat is no joke. Let Guardian Digital educate you on the anatomy of a malware attack so you are better prepared to recognize it.

And protect against this malicious threat, phase one. Entry: 92% of malware is delivered via a phishing email designed to trick users into falling for a scam. This is done with the use of spoofing, creating a sense of urgency and social engineering tactics designed to manipulate human psychology attackers to trick their victims into clicking on a malicious link or attachment.

In a fraudulent email, phase two initial compromise. Once cyber criminals have tricked a victim into clicking on a malicious link and sharing sensitive account credentials or downloading a malicious attachment on their device, they are then able to gain access to the target organizations internal network through a Compromise system.

Or account a particular stealthy and dangerous type of malware known as Fless Malware, does not leverage malicious files, and instead runs in a computer's random access memory. Ram and exploit existing trusted system applications to install and run malicious code on target systems.

Having an email security solution capable of identifying. And intercepting malware attacks and other malicious threats in real time can mitigate risk and provide you and your organization with peace of mind. Guardian Digital OnGuard Cloud email security makes email safer business leveraging technology.

That proactively learns and distributes defenses for the specific threats targeting your company along with the expert ongoing system management required to keep your business secure.

Phase three, is command and control. Once they have compromised the victim's device and infiltrated the target organization's internal network, malicious actors use the Compromise device.

As a way to get in and out of the target organization's network, typically attackers will download and install a remote access Trojan to establish persistent remote access to the target environment that can go undetected for months. Phase four lateral movement. Once a connection has been established to the internal network, cyber criminals seek to compromise additional systems and accounts within the target organization to maximize both their reward and the damage they will impose on the organization.

Phase five, exfiltration or corruption. Now, multiple systems and accounts within the target organization have likely been compromised, and it is time for the attackers to reap the rewards of their malicious efforts. Attackers execute the final aspects of their mission, corrupting critical systems, stealing sensitive data that could be monetized for personal gain.

And disrupting business operations. In the case of ransomware, a dangerous type of malware is designed to block access to a victim's computer system by encrypting critical files until a ransom payment is made to the attacker. Malicious actors often receive hefty payments made in untraceable Bitcoin from frantic businesses that are desperate to regain access to their critical documents.