Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Research; Majority of Malware Delivered via PDF Files in Malicious Emails
Palo Alto Networks, a global cybersecurity company, has released its newest Unit 42 Network Threat Trends Research Report Vol.2, which provides an in-depth analysis of malware trends and distribution tactics. According to the research, 66.6% of the malware is supplied via PDF files attached to phishing emails.
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| Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Research; Majority of Malware Delivered via PDF Files in Malicious Emails |
Because of their widespread use in commercial settings, PDF files are frequently regarded as less suspicious than other file types, such as EXE files. Many people are unaware that PDF files can be used for nefarious reasons. As a result, PDF phishing techniques are more likely to go undetected than emails containing suspicious links.
Business-related name conventions such as "invoice_AUG_4601582.pdf" or "Updated Salary Evaluation" are frequently used by cybercriminals to trick targets into opening infected documents. These attachments may include URL links or buttons that send people to malicious websites.
Individuals must become aware of social engineering strategies that contribute to the success of cyberattacks in nations such as the Philippines, where phishing is a common fraud. Palo Alto Networks' Regional Vice President, ASEAN, Steven Scheurmann, warns that "threat actors are like shape-shifting masters, continuously adapting their tactics to slip through the cracks of our interconnected network."
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Among the report's other vital conclusions are:
The exploitation of vulnerabilities has increased by 55% since 2021.
- An increase in Linux malware aimed against cloud workload devices
- Monthly registrations for domains associated with ChatGPT, both benign and malicious, have increased by 910%.
- In 2022, crypto miner traffic will more than double.
- Threat actors are more likely to target individuals visiting adult (20.2%) and financial services (13.9%) websites using newly registered domains (NRDs).
- Between 2021 and 2022, there was a 238% increase in malware attacks per firm in the manufacturing, utilities, and energy industries.
Sean Duca, VP and Regional Chief Security Officer at Palo Alto Networks, states, "Organizations must take a comprehensive view of their security environment to provide oversight of their network and ensure security best practices are followed at every level of the organization."
The Unit 42 Network Threat Trends Research Report Vol.2 is based on worldwide telemetry data collected by Palo Alto Networks' Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), Cortex Data Lake, Advanced URL Filtering, and Advanced Wildfire.