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ZeroFont Phishing Bypasses Office 365 Security

Posted: June 19, 2018 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Cloud Security, Malware, Data Breach

Microsoft is aware of the fact that Cybercriminals are targeting Office 365 customers via phishing emails, in which the hacker sends out emails pretending to be Microsoft.  In order to combat this scheme, Microsoft flags any illegitimate emails containing “Apple” or “Microsoft.” Smart. But the bad guys aren’t just lying down and taking the defense. According to Avanan, a cloud security company, the criminals are sending out new phishing emails using the aptly-named ZeroFont technique, in which the attacker sets the email content to be set to the zero-size font.  What happens is that, to the user, nothing seems amiss in the emails, and Microsoft is unable to flag the email because they are unable to read the word “Microsoft.” Additionally, hackers began splitting malicious URLs in an effort to circumvent Office 365’s Safe Links Security feature. “Where there is a will, there's a way.”  This applies to the good guys and the bad guys.  Remember not to click on any link that seems suspicious, and be sure to inspect the sender before opening any email.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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