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FlawedAmmyy RAT: Why Security Training Stops It

Posted: July 18, 2019 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Malware, Work from Home, Data Breach

Microsoft Security Intelligence has sent out a new set of Tweets outlining an attack strategy that uses a number of Windows toolsets to install a remote access trojan (RAT) malware onto victims' systems. The malware uses executables, tools, and scripts to avoid detection. According to KnowBe4, here’s how it works: The potential victim receives an email written in Korean containing an Excel spreadsheet as an attachment. Once opened, the Excel file runs the MSlexec.com macro which downloads a Microsoft Installer (MSI) file. The MSI file contains a digitally signed executable that decrypts and loads a second executable directly into memory. This second executable downloads another digitally signed file, wsus.exe, which runs and loads the malware "FlawedArmmy RAT" infection. All of this from a simple click to open a spreadsheet. This is a prime example of why Security Awareness Training is such a vital part of any cybersecurity strategy. Users who have undergone security awareness training are much less likely to open suspicious emails and attachments. This type of phishing attack would be fairly obvious to trained users.

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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.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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