Websense News & Views
all posts insights blog investor blog news releases media coverage accolades
Websense Threat Report – Advanced Malware Invading, Stealing Data
Published Tuesday, May 22, 2012 1:58 PM by Tom Clare

 

We recently released findings on the current state of security in Canada. If you’ve read that piece, you may now be wondering how that compares with the rest of the world. The Websense Security Labs recently released our 2012 Threat Report exploring the biggest threats, trends, and themes collected by the Websense ThreatSeeker Network and investigated by our security lab research teams.

 

 2011 redefined the way many think of and view internet and corporate security. 2012 is continuing this trend. From high profile targeted attacks, hacktivism, data theft and the leverage of exploit kits to selectively deliver malware dropper files when vulnerabilities are detected on user systems, the year forced everyone to think, “Am I next?”

 

 In the report, the Websense Security Labs looks closely at:

 

 

  • The trifecta that is driving epidemic levels of data theft: 1) extremely effective lures in web, social media and email; 2) evasive and hard-to-detect infiltration of malware in targeted attacks; and 3) sophisticated exfiltration of confidential data.
  • Advanced threats can be described in six stages: lures, redirects, exploit kits, dropper files, call-home communications, and data theft.

 

We’ve looked at the ways these steps are morphing and being used to propagate attacks. While we definitely see an increase in targeted attacks, the mass compromise continues to occur on a regular basis. What has changed is the way these criminals are luring their victims to click. And, it is often involving more social media lures.

Other key findings include:

  • 82 percent of malicious websites are hosted on compromised hosts.
  • 55 percent of data-stealing malware communications are web-based.
  • 43 percent of Facebook activity is streaming media, including viral videos. That's more than five times the next largest category of news and media within Facebook. The streaming media percentage is important because web lures (like videos, fake gift offers, surveys, and scams) prey on human curiosity and have moved onto the social network. Websense has partnered with Facebook to scan all clicked Facebook web links so that Websense researchers have unprecedented visibility into the social network's content.

The Websense Security Labs Threat Report provides metrics and practical advice for IT Security professionals. Take a read and let us know if you have any questions about the findings.

 

...
with no comments
Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,
Canada’s Cybercrime Report Card: Better or Worse in 2012?
Published Thursday, May 10, 2012 1:05 AM by Patrik Runald

Last May 2011, we conducted an analysis of Canada’s cyber security risk profile, which led to the discovery of a disturbing trend. Canada had become the newest breeding ground of cybercriminal activity.

In the hopes that things would get better, we conducted an exact comparison of the same cybersecurity stats one year later. And we were even more disturbed to see that in Q1 2012, hackers are still taking advantage of Canada’s “squeaky clean” cyber reputation and remotely controlling Canadian servers to carry out their criminal attacks.

Across the board, we’re seeing all types of malicious content coming out of the Great White North. For example...

...
with no comments
Filed under: ,
What’s The Real Mobile Security Threat? And, is Canada Prepared?
Published Wednesday, May 02, 2012 4:54 AM by Fiaaz Walji

 

With only a few days remaining until SC Congress Canada 2012, I've been thinking again about what keeps IT security professionals up at night. Every time I ask my customers, I get a common response: mobility. The Bring Your Own Device phenomenon is weighing heavily on the minds of Canadian’s IT security elite. And they have a good reason to be concerned.

By 2014, 1.1 billion smartphones will be in use. Today, the average mobile worker has three devices:  smartphone, tablet, and laptop. Companies are allowing these devices to connect to their networks, despite their better judgment and the security risks. So, what’s the REAL mobile threat? Why is this a big deal?

New technology drives productivity, but it also increases risk.

Sensitive data on mobile devices travels – physically and electronically – from the office to home and other off-site locations. In addition, we expect to see targeted mobile-device attacks from malware, spyware, malicious downloads/mobile apps, phishing, and spam. That’s why some security experts see smartphones and other mobile devices as one of the most serious new threat vectors to an organization.

...
with no comments
Filed under: , , ,
Websense Wins Best Security Management Award at SC Magazine Awards Europe 2012
Published Monday, April 30, 2012 1:55 AM by Talia James

Websense has continued its worldwide winning streak at the 2012 SC Magazine Awards Europe. Earlier this year Websense won three awards in the SC Magazine Awards US 2012. And last week, Websense won Best Security Management for Websense Web Security Gateway Anywhere.

The SC Awards Europe are widely recognized as the most coveted and prestigious awards for the European information security industry. This year’s organizers reported that they received a record number of entries this year.

Winning the Best Security Management Award recognizes the power and effectiveness of Websense solutions in an ever-changing world with more social networks, an increasingly mobile workforce, and sophisticated modern malware.

...
Filed under: , , , ,
TechWeekEurope: London Marathon Faces ICO Investigation
Published Friday, April 27, 2012 10:26 PM by Talia James

“Organisations need to be able to identify sensitive information and make sure it remains safe,” commented Carl Leonard, senior manager at Websense Security Labs. “Accidents happen, so protecting confidential data is essential if you don’t want to risk cybercriminals running away it…”

http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/london-marathon-faces-ico-investigation-74666

...
Filed under: , , , , , , ,
The Inquirer: London Marathon website leaks runners' personal details
Published Wednesday, April 25, 2012 10:24 PM by Talia James

Carl Leonard, senior manager at Websense Security Labs told The INQUIRER, "Data is everywhere and its value is growing exponentially with huge volumes of new content being created and shared every second. As organisations manage this data, the challenge is that much of it is sensitive and theft is a major concern…”

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2169808/london-marathon-web-site-leaks-runners-personal-details

...
Filed under: , , , , ,
SC Magazine UK: Detection of Mac malware to expand, as realities of mobile malware are laid bare
Published Tuesday, April 24, 2012 10:13 PM by Talia James

“Websense Security Labs' 2012 Threat Report said that while exploit kits and advanced methods to attack Windows systems and the software that reside on this platform exist against the large surface area, new rogue anti-virus dropper files are surfacing for Mac OS as it continues to increase in popularity…”

http://www.scmagazineuk.com/detection-of-mac-malware-to-expand-as-realities-of-mobile-malware-are-laid-bare/article/237392/

...
Filed under: , , , , , , , ,
Websense Reports Record First Quarter Billings on Strong TRITON Performance
Published Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:05 PM by News Release Archive
- First quarter revenues of $89.5 million, up one percent year-over-year - First quarter billings of $80.6 million, up five percent year-over-year - First quarter TRITON billings of $49.0 million, up 42 percent year-over-year SAN DIEGO, April 24, 2012...
PC World: Infected WordPress Blogs Blamed for Mac Flashback Trojan
Published Monday, April 23, 2012 2:06 PM by Talia James

“Websense has estimated the number of infected WordPress sites to be 30,000, with others putting the number as high as 100,000 but what matters is that the overwhelming majority - 85 percent - were based in the US…”

 http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/.../infected_wordpress_blogs_blamed for_mac_flashback_trojan.html

...
Filed under: , , , , ,
InfoSecurity Magazine: Websense report discusses the life-cycle of an advanced attack
Published Friday, April 20, 2012 8:06 PM by Talia James

 “Traditional defenses just aren't working any more,” said Charles Renert, vice president of research and development for Websense. “Organizations need real-time defenses with multiple detection points that deeply analyze both the inbound content of each website and email as well as the outbound transmission of sensitive data…”

http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/25291/websense-report-discusses-the-lifecycle-of-an-advanced-attack

...
Filed under: , , , , , ,
More Posts Next page »

follow us

contact public relations

we want to hear from you >