By Ben Potaracke, Vice President of IT, Locknet Managed IT

Businesses today face a multitude of cybersecurity threats that can compromise sensitive data. Infostealers, a type of malware designed to collect and transmit confidential information, are one of these threats and are on the rise. Unlike ransomware, which locks up data until a ransom is paid, infostealer attacks occur quietly in the background, siphoning off critical data to be sold on the dark web. The financial and personal data of you and your clients is at risk, so understanding and mitigating this threat is crucial.

What are Infostealers?

Infostealers are malware engineered to infiltrate systems and extract sensitive data, such as login credentials, financial records, and business information. This stolen data is then either published or sold on the dark web. The more high-value data your company handles, the more likely you are to be a target.

How do Infostealers operate?

Infostealers use various techniques to infiltrate systems, including:

  • Phishing emails: Malicious emails trick employees into downloading malware.
  • Drive-by downloads: Simply visiting a compromised website can trigger an automatic download of the malware.
  • Exploiting vulnerabilities: Infostealers can leverage software flaws to gain unauthorized access.

Once inside, these programs use techniques like keylogging (tracking keystrokes), form grabbing (capturing data entered in web forms), and memory scraping (extracting data stored in memory) to collect sensitive information. Infostealers operate broadly, casting a wide net for valuable credentials, which are later sorted and sold to the highest bidder.

Risks Infostealers pose to businesses

For businesses, the consequences of an infostealer attack can be severe:

  • Data breaches: Client and corporate data, from account details to sensitive business information, can be exposed.
  • Financial loss: Stolen financial data can lead to fraudulent transactions and unauthorized access to accounts.
  • Reputational damage: Breaches erode customer trust and can result in lost business.
  • Regulatory penalties: Non-compliance with data protection regulations can result in fines and sanctions.
  • Operational disruption: Malware infection can cripple daily operations, causing costly downtime.

The stakes are high as Infostealers are a threat to more than you’re your data. They jeopardize trust and operational continuity.

How can your business protect itself?

To safeguard against infostealers, businesses should adopt a multi-layered security approach:

  • Employee training: Educate employees about phishing and online safety.
  • Email security: Use email filtering tools to block phishing emails before they reach inboxes.
  • Regular software updates: Ensure that all software is regularly updated to patch known vulnerabilities.
  • Antivirus and anti-malware: Deploy real-time scanning and threat detection.
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Add extra security for critical systems and data.
  • Network segmentation: Limit the spread of malware by segmenting your network.
  • Data encryption: Protect sensitive information both in storage and during transmission.
  • Browser hardening: Enhance browser security settings to protect against online threats.

Final thoughts

Infostealers are a growing concern, but with the right defenses, businesses can safeguard their operations and protect their data. Strengthening your cybersecurity measures is not just a technical necessity – it’s a business imperative.