What are weaponised documents?
Weaponised documents are seemingly ordinary documents, such as invoices, resumes, presentations, or spreadsheets, that have been maliciously modified to deliver cyber attacks. They exploit vulnerabilities in software or human psychology to gain unauthorised access to systems, steal data, or disrupt operations.
How weaponised documents work_
Attackers use various techniques to weaponise documents:
- Malicious macros: Macros are embedded scripts within the document that can download malware, steal data, or manipulate the system when the document is opened.
- Social engineering: Weaponised documents may be disguised as legitimate communications, tricking users into opening them and unknowingly triggering the attack.
- Exploiting software vulnerabilities: Attackers may take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities in document processing software to execute malicious code when the document is opened.
Impact of weaponised documents_
Weaponised documents pose a significant threat because they can bypass traditional security measures like firewalls. Here’s how they can impact organisations:
- Data breaches: Weaponised documents can be used to steal sensitive data like financial information, intellectual property, or personal details.
- Malware infection: Malicious code hidden within the document can infect a system with malware, allowing attackers to gain remote access or disrupt operations.
- Ransomware attacks: Weaponised documents may be used to deliver ransomware, which encrypts an organisation’s data and demands a ransom payment for decryption.
Protecting yourself from weaponised documents_
- Enable macro security: Most document processing software allows you to disable macros by default. Only enable macros from trusted sources.
- Be cautious of attachments: Don’t open attachments from unknown senders or if you’re unsure of the content.
- Verify sender information: Double-check the sender’s email address and be wary of spoofing attempts.
- Keep software updated: Ensure your document processing software and operating system are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
- Implement security awareness training: Train employees to identify suspicious emails and attachments and to avoid clicking on embedded links or enabling macros from unknown sources.
Microsoft offers several features and tools to help protect against weaponised documents:
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: This endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution can detect and block malicious macros and other threats embedded in documents.
- Application Guard: A feature within Microsoft Defender for Endpoint that can isolate untrusted documents in a virtual environment, preventing them from harming your system.
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus: Scans downloaded files for malware, including those potentially hidden within documents.
- Security Awareness Training: Microsoft offers security awareness training resources to help users identify and avoid phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics used to deliver weaponised documents.
Weaponised documents remain a prevalent threat in today’s cybersecurity landscape. By understanding the risks, implementing security best practices, and leveraging Microsoft security solutions, organisations and individuals can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these attacks.
