For businesses that have any internet connectivity, whether that’s a web application or cloud storage, an attack is a very real concern. Recently, infostealer attacks have become more popular ways to infiltrate an organization’s security environment, which is a major problem for companies in both the short and long term due to the theft of log files in an infostealer attack. 

To defend against an infostealer attack, companies need to take their data risk management very seriously. Effective data visibility solutions and other data loss prevention strategies are essential to adequately defending stored files and ensuring that there is no sensitive information without encryption or other protections. 

Infostealer Attacks are on the Rise

Infostealers, a type of malware that steals data from a computer and sends it to an attacker, are becoming increasingly popular among the data thieving set. In an infostealer attack, the attacker uses fake websites or infected downloads to install the malware, and then the infostealer creates a log of the machine that contains sensitive data, authorized user credentials, and the occasional administrator credential or system information.

These logs can be sold on designated internet marketplaces, and reports indicate that the number of logs available for purchase, specifically on Russian markets, has grown 670% over the last two years. By February 2023, there were around 5 million logs for sale, and there is no reason to think that will decrease in the future. Rather, as infostealers become more sophisticated, it’s likely that the number will only grow more quickly. 

Additionally, the nature of infostealers makes them enticing for attackers whose skills are relatively low, meaning that protecting yourself against this type of attack should be a priority. If anyone can use an infostealer, there is a low barrier to entry. Infostealers are also installed via compromised downloads or phishing attacks, so they are not only simple for attackers to set up but also simple for your employees to mistakenly install. This combination could be dangerous for your long-term security. 

The Long-Term Threat of Infostealers

The tricky thing about infostealers is that they are not only focused on stealing your company’s files or sensitive data. Instead, they focus on less obvious targets, like information about your network or operating system. Installed applications and browser data are also targets, as are stored passwords and credit card information (one more reason not to store either of those things in your browser). All of these things can be found in the log files.

Log theft is a major long-term problem for companies because it provides attackers with insights into the system that are not immediately fixable. The applications you run on your computer, aside from their regular security patches and updates, are not going to change much after a security incident. Similarly, the likelihood that you will change your operating system is fairly low. So, if an attacker has a log of all of your system information, it is much easier to pinpoint your vulnerabilities and return to attack you again.

Consider the risks of open-source code. When developers use it, they save time often at the expense of security because attackers have access to much of the code that an application depends on. As a result, the attackers are more easily able to exploit the application. Similarly, an attacker who has a log of your network or computer systems can study or parse them to find vulnerabilities that can be exploited later. 

An infostealer attack usually compromises your login credentials, enabling attackers to return to your system at any time. Depending on the motivation of your attacker, your information will either be used to attack you or sold to someone else who will attack you. Either way, the goal is generally financial gain. Ransomware attacks sometimes follow infostealer attacks, further crippling companies still recovering from data theft. 

Managing the Infostealer Risk

When it comes to online security, it’s not possible to completely eliminate risk; however, you can manage your risk of infostealer attack by focusing on data visibility and DLP solutions. Adequately identifying, categorizing, and properly storing your data will help you understand what data needs to be encrypted due to high sensitivity. Adding an extra layer of protection to this data, which include log files, can help prevent a successful attack. If you can’t see your data or don’t know where it is stored, your odds of effective protection are low. 

For optimal data visibility, consider an automated solution that can save you time and security resources by filtering through your data and classifying the most sensitive. This takes less time and often catches more improperly stored files than a manual audit. DLP, or data loss prevention, combines data visibility with other automated solutions to reduce your risk of data breaches and theft. In addition to properly storing sensitive items like log files, DLP solutions help with vulnerability prioritization, privacy law compliance, and application security. 

As infostealer attacks become more common and more expensive to victims, you want your company to be protected. Because infostealer attacks can have more long-term impacts than the average malware infiltration, it’s important to prioritize taking measures against them. The best way to prevent an attack is to make your company a more challenging target, which you can do by implementing data loss prevention strategies including data visibility and application security.