Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd., a renowned cybersecurity solutions provider, has unveiled its Global Threat Index for October 2023, shedding light on a disturbing surge in cyber threats.
The report highlights the rise of the Remote Access Trojan (RAT) NJRat, which has climbed from sixth to second place, with a significant focus on targeting government agencies and organizations in the Middle East and Africa.
This escalation in cyber threats has been particularly severe in Africa, with Mauritius ranking 6th, Nigeria 11th, Morocco 15th, and Kenya 25th in terms of being targeted and attacked. South Africa follows, ranking 55th globally.
The report also emphasizes the expanding reach of the sophisticated RAT AgentTesla, propelled by a new and intricate mal-spam campaign using corrupted email attachments. The education sector remains a prime target, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of this industry to cyber attacks.
According to Check Point Sales Engineer Rudi van Rooyen, “We cannot overlook the sophisticated tactics used by hackers to distribute malware, such as impersonating trusted brands or using malicious email attachments. As we enter the busy shopping season in November, it’s crucial to stay alert. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the increased online shopping activity, and no region, including Africa, is immune to these threats.”
Check Point’s research also revealed that the “Zyxel ZyWALL Command Injection (CVE-2023-28771)” was the most exploited vulnerability, impacting 42% of organizations globally, followed by “Command Injection Over HTTP” and “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal.”
The report further outlines the top mobile malware, with Anubis remaining in first place, followed by AhMyth and Hiddad. Anubis is a banking Trojan malware designed for Android mobile phones, while AhMyth is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) and Hiddad is an Android malware that repackages legitimate apps to display ads and gain access to key security details.
The ThreatCloud Map is powered by Check Point’s ThreatCloud intelligence, which provides real-time threat intelligence derived from hundreds of millions of sensors worldwide, over networks, endpoints, and mobiles.
The intelligence is enriched with AI-based engines and exclusive research data from Check Point Research, the intelligence and research arm of Check Point Software Technologies.
This comprehensive threat index provides valuable insights into the evolving cyber threat landscape and helps organizations and individuals stay informed and protected against emerging cybersecurity risks.
