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Malware based threats increased by 30% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to SonicWall’s 2024 Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report.
Malware attacks increased significantly from March to May, with a 92% year-on-year increase in May. The firm also observed an average of 526 new malware variants every day in H1 2024. 15% of the observed malware used software packing as the main MITRE TTP.
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The report discovered that attackers are using more advanced malware and delivery methods to make their attacks more successful. This includes techniques designed to bypass common security protocols.
PowerShell – A popular Windows automation tool used by developers is now exploited by more than 90% of malware families, including AgentTesla, GuLoader, AsyncRAT, DBatLoader, and LokiBot.
Additionally, several malware targeting Android systems have been upgraded to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) protocols.
Anubis: This banking trojan is now capable of bypassing MFA by capturing SMS messages with one-time passwords (OTPs)
AhMyth: This RAT targets Android devices by infecting apps on different stores. It performs keylogging, takes screenshots and intercepts MFA OTPs. Cerberus malware has SMS control, keylogging, and audio recording features. It intercepts OTPs and bypasses MFA for unauthorized transactions.
A 92% increase in encrypted threats shows that cybercriminals are using TLS-encrypted transfers more to spread malware and other threats.
IoT Attacks Rise by 107%:
SonicWall reported a massive 107% surge in attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) devices in H1 2024. Researchers think attackers are focusing on these devices more because they usually don’t have strong security measures.
The Chinese state-sponsored Volt Typhoon campaign in 2023 revealed a threat. They took control of many small office/home office routers in the US to create a botnet. This botnet helped hide their hacking activities, which targeted important infrastructure.
The TP-Link command injection vulnerability (CVE-2023-1389) was the most commonly attacked IoT device vulnerability in the first half of 2024. It affected 21.25% of small-to-medium sized businesses.
“Since IoT devices are often integral to critical infrastructure, successful attacks can be highly lucrative for cybercriminals,” wrote SonicWall.
Ransomware Prevalence Varies by Region:
The report highlighted a significant rise in ransomware attacks in North America (15%) and Latin America (51%) in H1 2024.
