Talos Takes

We’ve been covering several different generic types of malware over the past few weeks. Next up, we’ve got our overview of remote access trojans (or tools), also known as RATs. What goes into a RAT, and how is it different than other types of malware? What are some of their inherent capabiliites? We/ve got the rundown here.

Don’t attackers know we need a break right now? Alas, they’re doing everything they can to capitalize on the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt with fake news, malicious advertisements and misleading information. In this Talos Takes episode, former journalist Jon Munshaw and researcher Nick Biasini discuss best practices for fact-checking, avoiding fake news and intaking the correct information during this trying time.

Yes, adversaries are always looking for new ways to make money. But what’s their No. 2 priority? Information. In this episode of Talos Takes, Nick Biasini and Earl Carter break down the basics of information-stealers and why they’re so important to keep out.

Talos Takes is finally back with its own feed and a new episode. Nick Biasini and Earl Carter discuss the best password practices. Should you use a password manager? What are some best practices? And what does all of this have to do with Disney Plus?

On this week’s episode, Edmund Brumaghin joins the show again to talk about a recent blog post on Salfram. This threat actor is spreading lots and lots of spam and using it to deliver a variety of malware. Here’s why this threat specifically caught our eye and how it’s evolving over time.

In this episode of Talos Takes, content manager Jon Munshaw sits down with researcher Joe Marshall to discuss the recently discovered EKANS/SNAKE malware. This is one of the first ransomware strains to specifically target ICS systems. And Joe, who has experiencing protecting the ICS space, discusses what’s unique about this family and what it means for the future of cyber security in the infrastructure field.

With the RSA conference just days away, notable vendors such as IBM and AT&T have withdrawn from the annual event over coronavirus concerns. The fast-spreading disease has captured headlines across the globe, and adversaries are trying to strike quickly. Continuing our look at attackers’ use of current events to spread malware, Nick Biasini and Earl Carter sit down to discuss malware campaigns that are hoping to scare victims into opening malicious emails and documents on coronavirus.

With the Equifax attack back in the headlines, we take a closer look at Big Game Hunting this week on Talos Takes. Why do threat actors look at these massive targets, and what do they hope to get out of it? Is there anything smaller organizations can learn from these high-stakes campaigns?

2019 was a huge year for ransomware. Cities across the U.S. had their government services attacked, and adversaries changed up their techniques in the hopes of making a larger profit and infecting more users. What other changes do we see coming to the ransomware space? Are adversaries’ motivations changing at all? And will defense techniques change along with them?

The holidays have come and gone, and so have the sales. Maybe you got a new drone, or a home AI assistant. So what should you do to make sure those new toys don’t turn against you? Nick Biasini and Earl Carter have some tips for you.