Proofpoint Q2 Threat Report – Ransomware Returns, Growth in Social Engineering and Email Fraud

According to Proofpoint Q2 Threat Report, the malicious message volume increased by 36% in the second quarter of 2018 and the ransomware returns back with new versions of GandCrab, Sigma, and GlobeImposter campaigns. Banking Trojans remained the top payload in the second quarter of 2018

Social engineering schemes such as fake antivirus and browser plugins and cryptojacking spiked in the second quarter of 2018. Support fraud grows by 38% and 30% increase in phishing links on social media.

Email Based Threat Report

The Q2 report says the malicious email message volume increased by 36% when compared to Q1 of 2018, with the second quarter mostly the campaign relies on the URLs instead of attachments.

The return of ransomware which is absent in the Q1 of 2018 and returns to more regular campaign within the second quarter. The remote access Trojans doubled their footprints in the second quarter of 2018.

Banking trojans as the top payload accounted for around 42% and it has been decreased by 17% as the ransomware campaign picks up.

Email fraud campaigns increased over 87% in the second quarter and it targets industries such as industries such as retail, healthcare, and government.

Subject lines also have been changed with the recent campaigns by attackers to increase the click-through rate. In 2018 14.2 percent of spam that delivered in the inbox are clicked.

Web-based Threat Report

Neutrino and RIG exploit kits continue to dominate and the RIG kit started using combinations of both phishing and malware attack to infect machines.

Neutrino and RIG exploit kits continue to dominate and the RIG kit started using combinations of both phishing and malware attack to infect machines.

The fake antivirus and browser plugins continue to grow rapidly in the second quarter. Attackers continue to inject coinhive scripts into a number of websites to mine cryptocurrency.

Social Media Threat Report

Social media threats continue to grow rapidly in the second quarter, attackers attempt to insert themselves in legitimate conversations to pass spoofed links and the tech support scams. Support scam activities have grown by 38% in Q2, but starting from June there is a seasonal dip.

Proofpoint researchers also detected a 30% increase in phishing links on social media. Social media accounts continue to be propagation channel for these kinds of threats, for Worldcup itself more than 250 accounts created representing the brands.

Proofpoint published the report and you can access the threat report here.

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