Security News > 2020 > January > Emotet Malware Alert Sounded by US Cybersecurity Agency

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Wednesday warned that it's seen a surge in targeted attacks using a sophisticated strain of malware called Emotet.

"The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is aware of a recent increase in targeted Emotet malware attacks," its Emotet alert reads.

"Emotet is a sophisticated Trojan that commonly functions as a downloader or dropper of other malware. Emotet primarily spreads via malicious email attachments and attempts to proliferate within a network by brute-forcing user credentials and writing to shared drives. If successful, an attacker could use an Emotet infection to obtain sensitive information. Such an attack could result in proprietary information and financial loss as well as disruption to operations and harm to reputation."

CISA's alert points to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Emotet guidance issued in July 2018, which describes additional risks posed by the malware.

Security experts say that being able to block malware such as Emotet will protect an organization not just against banking Trojans, but also many of the top attack tactics being practiced by both today's more advanced cybercrime gangs as well as nation-state attackers.

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/emotet-malware-alert-sounded-by-us-cybersecurity-agency-a-13640