Outdated Malware Threats that are Still Impacting Businesses

It can be surprising sometimes how even old bugs can cause havoc on your network. There are several malware threats that are still damaging businesses and leaking data on a widespread scale today. While it’s important to stay current in your security updates, and work to anticipate the new hacks that cybercriminals will attempt in the future, don’t forget these 4 malware threats still doing harm today.

Confiker

Confiker was first discovered in 2008, but it’s still doing damage particularly in systems with poor patching. The original worm exploited unpatched flaws on Windows machines, and it continues to impact organizations at roughly the 600,000 level globally for the last five years. Clearly, what worked once in 2008 is still something worth fighting against, so make sure your software is as up to date as possible and patched as frequently as necessary to maintain your own security.

Cryptolocker

Ransomware is a more familiar foe in the present day realm of cybercrime, but It’s not as fresh as it was back in 2013, when CryptoLocker ransomware was first released. This ransomware attack is spread through email attachments and prevents users from accessing files unless a ransom is paid. System restore works occasionally, but the majority of the victims of this attack lose any files that were not backed up or archived in some way. While CryptoLocker is officially dead, it’s code has appeared in several newer versions of the computer virus, including mimics such as Crypt0Locker, CryptoLocker V3, and CryptoGraphic Locker.

Zeus

The Zeus Trojan horse malware was in its heyday between 2007 and 2009, where it stole banking details through man-in-the-browser keystroke logging and form grabbing. Some big names fell victim to this complex hack, including the U.S. Department of Transportation. Zeus continues to cause mayhem for French banks in its new form, known as Atmos.

Duqu

Duqu, while originally discovered in late 2011, has been revitalized into Duqu 2.0. This new version is actually said to be even worse than the original and believed by many to be the most sophisticated malware ever. Duqu 2.0 has been found on the networks of European hotels used by participants in the Iranian nuclear negotiations, which shows the dramatic level of security concerns that are unleashed by attacks such as this. Duqu has also been identified on the networks of telco operators and electronics companies.

Targeted attacks like these are not meant to be one-off hacks. They are designed to linger in systems that have not been updated with modern security systems. Slow moving governmental networks, business networks, and even personal accounts are all at risk in the modern era of heightened cybersecurity. As the hackers continue in their ongoing effort to build and release better and more sophisticated attacks, it’s up to the business community and individuals to do their best to keep up and protect their own data.

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