Imagine that your employees are using a VPN for remote access to your company's secure network. You must be aware of the latest threats that are aimed at enterprises. Researchers have found that malicious software is released as VPN services to trick users into downloading the malicious version of an established VPN program.


Researchers discovered that cybercriminals were launching malware using a fake VPN service posing as Palo Alto GlobalProtect. This product provides secure remote access, including endpoint security and advanced threat prevention. But the fake version causes havoc, stealing data from the device and downloading and uploading documents, as well as running unauthorized PowerShell commands.


How to Spread this Malware


Even though this malware masquerading as VPNs is currently targeting mostly Middle Eastern companies, businesses worldwide should be aware of the danger.


Researchers believe that the VPN exploit is spread primarily by phishing campaigns targeting specific businesses. The criminals could also target victims through instant messaging.


This malware attack may have been triggered by SEO poisoning. Cybercriminals trick users by using malicious search and advertising tactics. Palo Alto GlobalProtect, a popular VPN option, is a great way for cybercriminals to trick users into downloading malware.


Once the victim has encountered the fake VPN, they will receive a prompt.exe that is virtually identical to legitimate software. This file launches GlobalProtect.exe – the malicious VPN exploit. Malware can be hidden by sophisticated coding, which circumvents behavioral analysis and sandboxing.


Avoid Cyber Attacks


To protect your business from cyber threats such as malware that is disguised as VPN services, you need to be diligent and educated. Implementing phishing protection is a must, as this threat comes mainly from phishing.


Education is the first step. The first step is education. Verifying the sender’s name and address, carefully examining the message’s content, and checking for legitimacy can help prevent major data breaches and other problems.


To protect yourself from phishing, it is important to learn how to recognize suspicious links and attachments. Malware links can have misspellings or unusual letter substitutions. They may also contain oddities in the company name. You should always confirm a link before you open it. Use a link scanner to look for any issues.


While sandboxing and behavioral analysis can help to prevent phishing, this latest malware threat disguised as VPN is so sophisticated that it will evade detection. Education and training are key, along with strict policies about the tools that your employees may use and how they can obtain them. You can avoid issues by providing a VPN that has been vetted from a reliable provider.

author avatar
Lacy Moore