Halting Macro-virus Infections Immediately: A Guide
In today's digital landscape, email attacks have become a common threat for organizations. One such threat is macro-based malware, which is on the rise, even as older malware like UPATRE continues to persist [1]. To combat this, document sanitization has emerged as an effective solution.
Document sanitization is a process that strips out potentially dangerous macros and other malicious elements from documents, leaving behind the safe file content [2][4]. This proactive approach ensures that both known and unknown macro-based threats are neutralized before they can enter an organization [2][4].
The effectiveness of document sanitization lies in its active content removal strategy. By focusing on stripping macros, a common vector for malware in documents, this technique neutralizes a significant attack method [2][4]. Furthermore, technologies such as Votiro's Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) treat every incoming file as potentially malicious and sanitize it proactively, preventing malware delivery without the need for reactive detection or quarantine [4].
Document sanitization complements other email security measures such as Secure Email Gateways (SEG), sandboxing, and behavioral AI analysis to enhance overall email security against advanced threats [1][2]. Once sanitized, the documents are reconstructed to retain usability, ensuring security without disrupting workflows [2][4].
Recent demonstrations by OPSWAT researchers, such as the one using the Adnel malware sample, have shown the effectiveness of document sanitization in neutralizing macro-based threats [3]. Even when anti-malware engines fail to detect a threat, like the Adnel malware on January 23rd, 2015, document sanitization can be used to neutralize it [3].
Employees should also be aware of social engineering tactics that may induce them to enable macros in documents. Training users to identify documents from trusted sources can help organizations take a step towards better email security practices [5].
A good email security policy within an organization should include proper employee training to avoid opening malicious email attachments or enabling macros in documents from unknown sources. Metascan Online, for instance, showed that detection of Adnel grew from zero anti-malware engines to 28 anti-malware engines between January 23, 2015, and March 31, 2015 [3]. However, even before this detection, document sanitization could have been used to neutralize the threat.
In conclusion, document sanitization significantly reduces the risk of macro-based malware in emails by proactively disarming suspicious content, making it a robust component of modern email security strategies.
Sources:
- Tony Berning, Sr. Manager at OPSWAT, on the effectiveness of document sanitization in preventing macro-based malware
- Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR): A Comprehensive Guide
- OPSWAT Demonstrates the Effectiveness of Document Sanitization Against Macro-Based Malware
- Votiro: The Future of Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR)
- Social Engineering: What is it and How to Protect Against it
- In the realm of modern email security strategies, technology like Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) plays a pivotal role in neutralizing macro-based malware, demonstrating how cybersecurity and finance intertwine as organizations invest in advanced solutions to safeguard their digital assets.
- As employees serve as crucial lines of defense against email threats, understanding the dangers of macro-based malware and social engineering tactics becomes crucial in the finance-technology nexus, where cybersecurity awareness training equips employees to make informed decisions that safeguard their organizations.
