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Multi-stage cyber attacks, characterized by their complex execution chains, are designed to avoid detection and trick victims into a false sense of security. Knowing how they operate is the first step to building a solid defense strategy against them. Let's examine real-world examples of some of the most common multi-stage attack scenarios that are active right now. URLs and Other Embedded Content in Documents Attackers frequently hide malicious links within seemingly legitimate documents, such as PDFs or Word files. Upon opening the document and clicking the embedded link, users are directed to a malicious website. These sites often employ deceptive tactics to get the victim to download malware onto their computer or share their passwords. Another popular type of embedded content is QR codes. Attackers conceal malicious URLs within QR codes and insert them into documents. This strategy forces users to turn to their mobile devices to scan the code, which then directs them to ph...

To defend your organization against cyber threats, you need a clear picture of the current threat landscape. This means constantly expanding your knowledge about new and ongoing threats. There are many techniques analysts can use to collect crucial cyber threat intelligence. Let's consider five that can greatly improve your threat investigations. Pivoting on С2 IP addresses to pinpoint malware IP addresses used by malware to communicate with its command and control (C2) servers are valuable indicators. They can help not only update your defenses, but also identify related infrastructure and tools belonging to threat actors.  This is done using the pivoting method, which lets analysts find additional context on the threat at hand with an existing indicator. To perform pivoting, analysts use various sources, including threat intelligence databases that store large volumes of fresh threat data and offer search capabilities. One useful tool is Threat Intelligence Lookup from AN...

IT leaders know the drill—regulators and cyber insurers demand regular network penetration testing to keep the bad guys out. But here's the thing: hackers don't wait around for compliance schedules. Most companies approach network penetration testing on a set schedule, with the most common frequency being twice a year (29%), followed by three to four times per year (23%) and once per year (20%), according to the Kaseya Cybersecurity Survey Report 2024 . Compliance-focused testing can catch vulnerabilities that exist at the exact time of testing, but it's not enough to stay ahead of attackers in a meaningful way. Why More Frequent Testing Makes Sense When companies test more often, they're not just checking a box for compliance—they're actually protecting their networks. The Kaseya survey also points out that the top drivers for network penetration testing are: Cybersecurity Control and Validation (34%) – ensuring the security controls work and vulnerabilities are minimized. Re...