{"id":42579,"date":"2023-06-07T16:04:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T08:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teampcheng.com\/blog\/?p=42579"},"modified":"2023-06-07T16:04:08","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T08:04:08","slug":"66-6-of-total-malware-is-delivered-through-pdf-files-attached-to-malicious-emails-palo-alto-networks-unit-42-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.teampcheng.com\/blog\/lifestyle\/66-6-of-total-malware-is-delivered-through-pdf-files-attached-to-malicious-emails-palo-alto-networks-unit-42-research\/","title":{"rendered":"66.6% of total malware is delivered through PDF files attached to malicious emails: Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Research"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

MANILA, PHILIPPINES \u2013<\/strong> Palo Alto Networks<\/a>, the global cybersecurity leader, recently released the Unit 42 Network Threat Trends Research Report Vol.2. <\/a>The report highlights the current trends in malware while providing a detailed analysis of the most common types of malware and their distribution methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the research, 66.6%<\/strong> of total malware is delivered through portable document format (PDF) files attached to malicious emails. PDF files are commonly used in a business environment, and victims are less likely to be wary of an expected file type, versus unexpected file types like EXEs. They could also simply be unaware that this type of file could be used for nefarious purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people are aware of warnings against clicking strange links in emails, so PDF phishing schemes could fly under their radar better than a text-based email with just a plain link. Naming conventions expected in a business context like invoice_AUG_4601582.pdf<\/em> or Updated Salary Evaluation<\/em> could lure unsuspecting targets into opening these attachments. The attachments themselves might contain a URL link to click, or a button that sends victims to a website with a malicious purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In countries like the Philippines where phishing<\/a> is one of the most prevalent scams, this trend emphasizes that Filipinos have to be familiar with social engineering tactics as these play a crucial role in making an attack successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Today’s threat actors are like shape-shifting masters, continuously adapting their tactics to slip through the cracks of our interconnected network. With a cunning blend of evasion tools and camouflage methods, the bad actors have weaponized the threats,\u201d says Steven Scheurmann, Regional Vice President, ASEAN at Palo Alto Networks. “They have become adept at exploiting vulnerabilities, and by the time security researchers and software vendors close the door on one vulnerability, cybercriminals have already found the next door to creak open. Organisations must, therefore, simultaneously guard against malware designed to exploit older vulnerabilities while proactively staying ahead of sophisticated new attacks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other key findings from the report include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n