GREYCORTEX MENDEL DETECTS BADRABBIT

GREYCORTEX is happy to report that it is able to detect the BadRabbit ransomware. This ransomware appeared in Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine) but has begun to spread across several countries including South Korea, Poland, the Baltic, and regions. It uses an NSA-based exploit known as “EternalRomance” to enter networks and spreads by SMB port.
MENDEL is able to detect this ransomware in two different ways:

  • MENDEL’s integrated ruleset includes a rule specifically detecting the BadRabbit ransomware.
  • Independent from this IDS rule, MENDEL’s advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning detects the ransomware’s anomalous port sweep activity.

This detection capability demonstrates that MENDEL can identify unknown threats before rules are created in rules-based security tools. MENDEL provides network security teams vital extra time to protect their networks.

“TALES FROM THE MALWARE LAB” IS LIVE!

Following the success of our video describing the WannaCry ransomware, we are happy to announce an ongoing series of YouTube videos: “Tales from the Malware Lab – Powered by GREYCORTEX.” In it, we will leverage our in-house malware lab, complete with the latest version of GREYCORTEX MENDEL to provide useful information about emerging network security threats in an easy-to-follow visual format.

 The videos will provide an overview of each threat’s activity within the network, and visualize these attacks from the network traffic analysis standpoint. We are releasing these videos as a public service to the greater network security community, which will benefit from this video-based approach to malware.

 The first video, addressing the “EternalRocks” malware, is available here: https://youtu.be/vI1lRi5e-SM

GREYCORTEX PROTECTS AGAINST WANNACRY

GREYCORTEX is happy to report that MENDEL, our network traffic analysis solution, affirmatively detects infection by the WannaCry ransomware, its possible variants/clones, and protects users more effectively than rule-based detection tools alone.

Because GREYCORTEX MENDEL uses advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis to identify network anomalies, it easily identifies threats like WannaCry, allowing network security teams to take rapid action and stop threats before they do damage.

In the case of WannaCry, GREYCORTEX tested the ransomware in our malware lab. It was found to engage in aggressive and anomalous practices, like port-scanning behavior on an SMB port (445), attempting to connect to over 4000 devices in 175 countries across the Internet in five minutes, and downloading TOR network software. All of these behaviors were identified by MENDEL’s advanced network behavior analysis.

MENDEL users are better protected from malware like WannaCry and its variants/clones than users of firewall, IDS, or other rule-based security solutions alone. Rule-based security solutions require a known malware signature in order to create a rule. This means an attack must happen before the signature of the attack can be added as a rule. MENDEL doesn’t need a signature to identify the attack. It’s network behavior analysis features detect the attack’s symptoms before it harms the network. This means security teams have the peace of mind to know that should an attack happen, they will see it, and be able to stop it before it does damage.

If you are concerned about malware attacks, either from WannaCry or from other ransomware or malware, you may benefit from a 30 day Proof of Concept (PoC) from GREYCORTEX. During the PoC, MENDEL automatically learns your network to identify threats which may exist, including ransomware which is lying dormant in your network, or unpatched applications, which may leave you vulnerable. Do not hesitate to contact your network security professional, or GREYCORTEX  directly to arrange a PoC.