phishing incident response checklist

PDF Phishing - National Institute of Standards and Technology [CPG 2.B] [CPG 2.C]. Policy-oriented or technical assessments help organizations understand how they can improve their defenses to avoid ransomware infection: cisa.gov/cyber-resource-hub. Inside-out persistence may include malware implants on the internal network or a variety of living-off-the-land style modifications (e.g., use of commercial penetration testing tools like Cobalt Strike; use of PsTools suite, including PsExec, to remotely install and control malware and gather information regardingor perform remote management ofWindows systems; use of PowerShell scripts). Logging DNS traffic is no longer hard. Gather logs, memory dumps, audits, network traffic, and disk images. After an initial compromise, malicious actors may monitor your organizations activity or communications to understand if their actions have been detected. If ausers credentials (especially those used for remote access) are compromised, an attacker could come back and use legitimateaccess methods like OWA or the VPN. Focus Response Efforts with a Risk Assessment If you haven't done a potential incident risk assessment, now is the time. Since the initial release of the Ransomware Guide in September 2020, ransomware actors have accelerated their tactics and techniques. The email says your account is on hold because of a billing problem. For some cloud environments, separate duties when the account used to provision/manage keys does not have permission to use the keys and vice versa. All credentials stored anywhere on the local network (including those saved inside Web browsers and password managers) could be compromised and need to be changed. The email invites you to click on a link to update your payment details. Usually, DCs do not need direct internet access. Then run a scan and remove anything it identifies as a problem. Instead use modern federation protocols (e.g., SAML, OIDC or Kerberos) for authentication with AES-256 bit encryption. 4. Ensure you store your IT asset documentation securely and keep offline backups and physical hard copies on site. Refer to the best practices and references listed in this section to help prevent and mitigate ransomware and data extortion incidents. This includes best practices and network defense information regarding ransomware trends and variants as well as malware that is a precursor to ransomware. The authoring organizations strongly recommend responding by using the following checklist. Access the full range of Proofpoint support services. Episodes feature insights from experts and executives. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like its from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams | Consumer Advice This publication Cyber Security Infographic [GIF 802 KB] This should limit the possibility of eavesdropping and interception attacks. . Here is our list of 14 things you need to do when it happens: You do have a phishingincident response plan, right? Prioritize restoration and recovery based on a predefined critical asset list that includes information systems critical for health and safety, revenue generation, or other critical services, as well as systems they depend on. Endpoint modifications that may impair backups, shadow copy, disk journaling, or boot configurations. Find the information you're looking for in our library of videos, data sheets, white papers and more. Leverage an automated incident response platform. Ransomware Response Checklist: A Guide for CISOs Backup data often; offline or leverage cloud-to-cloud backups. Those of us in the security space like to say we have infosec spidey sense. But we didnt get this overnight; its a skill that wevepassively built up over time. Partners can use CTEPs to initiate discussions within their organizations about their ability to address a variety of threat scenarios. Upon voluntary request, or upon notification of partners, federal threat response includes conducting appropriate law enforcement and national security investigative activity at the affected entitys site; collecting evidence and gathering intelligence; providing attribution; linking related incidents; identifying additional affected entities; identifying threat pursuit and disruption opportunities; developing and executing courses of action to mitigate the immediate threat; and facilitating information sharing and operational coordination with asset response. CISA offers a no-cost Vulnerability Scanning service and other no-cost assessments: cisa.gov/cyber-resource-hub [CPG 1.F]. If an individual user needs administrative rights over their workstation, use a separate account that does not have administrative access to other hosts, such as servers. The phishing response playbook | Infosec Resources Were you "phished"? MSPs have been an infection vector for ransomware impacting numerous client organizations [CPG 1.I]. Attachments and links might install harmfulmalware. Isolate systems in a coordinated manner and use out-of-band communication methods such as phone calls to avoid tipping off actors that they have been discovered and that mitigation actions are being undertaken. See the National Council of ISACs for more information. Ensure the IRP and communications plan are reviewed and approved by the CEO, or equivalent, in writing and that both are reviewed and understood across the chain of command. Secure and limit access to any password managers in use and enable all security features available on the product in use, such as MFA. Use continuous simulation and training. If theres one constant among scammers, its that theyre always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. Implement SMB encryption with Universal Naming Convention (UNC) hardening for systems that support the feature. Properly configure the tools and route warnings and indicators to the appropriate personnel for action. Phishing Incident Response: 14 Things to Do | Proofpoint US Use automation to detect common issues (e.g., disabling features, introduction of new firewall rules) and take automated actions as soon as they occur. Incident Response Process & Procedures - AT&T Consider using business transaction loggingsuch as logging activity related to specific or critical applicationsfor behavioral analytics, learn.cisecurity.org/ms-isac-registration, learn.cisecurity.org/ei-isac-registration, Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs), Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals, National Conference of State Legislatures: Security Breach Notification Laws, Public Power Cyber Incident Response Playbook, Mitigating New Technology Local Area Network (LAN) Manager (NTLM) Relay Attacks on Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), Macros from the internet will be blocked by default in Office, Block macros from running in Office files from the Internet, Cloud Infrastructure Security Configuration & Hardening, Microsoft Office 365 Security Recommendations, Keeping PowerShell: Security Measure to Use and Embrace, Best Practices for Securing Active Directory, Securing Active Directory Administrative Groups and Accounts, Mitigating NTLM Relay Attacks on Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS), cisa.gov/resources-tools/services/cisa-tabletop-exercise-packages, Institute for Security + Technology (IST) Blueprint for Ransomware Defense, Cloud Security Technical Reference Architecture, Secure Cloud Business Applications (SCuBA) Project, Mitigations and Hardening Guidance for MSPs and Small- and Mid-sized Businesses, Protecting Against Cyber Threats to Managed Service Providers and their Customers. Report the phishing attempt to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Escalate to senior management upon discovery of systems that do not allow MFA, systems that do not enforce MFA, and any users who are not enrolled with MFA. This can include applying patches, upgrading software, and taking other security precautions not previously taken. Consider enabling version control to keep multiple variants of objects in storage. Theres a reason, after all, that high schools put wrecked cars out front of their buildings during prom season. Privacy Policy Todays cyber attacks target people. Some accounts offer extra security by requiring two or more credentials to log in to your account. To maintain relevancy, add perspective, and maximize the effectiveness of this guide, the following changes have been made: Added FBI and NSA as co-authors based on their contributions and operational insight. Deliver Proofpoint solutions to your customers and grow your business. Document lessons learned from the incident and associated response activities to inform updates toand refineorganizational policies, plans, and procedures and guide future exercises of the same. If the answer is No,it could be a phishing scam. Conduct extended analysis to identify outside-in and inside-out persistence mechanisms. Cyber Security Guidance Material | HHS.gov This article contains the following sections: Doing so can highlight evidence of additional systems or malware involved in earlier stages of the attack. The primary purpose of any risk assessment is to identify likelihood vs. severity of risks in critical areas. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. Official websites use .gov The authoring organizations recommend using a centrally managed antivirus solution. It is also important to repeat security awareness training regularly to keep your staff informed and vigilant. Enabling DNS logging in BIND is not hard either. Teach users to identify the 13 Email Threat Types. Monitor indicators of activity and block malware file creation with the Windows Sysmon utility. It should be carried out only if it is not possible to temporarily shut down the network or disconnect affected hosts from the network using other means. Keep in mind you will likely need to search DHCP logs as well to see what workstation had the IP when the DNS lookup happened. Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) guides asset owners and operators through a systematic process of evaluating operational technology (OT) and IT. Learn about the human side of cybersecurity. SLTT and private sector organizations: CISA.JCDC@cisa.dhs.gov. Potential signs of data being exfiltrated from the network. Signs of any unexpected usage of remote monitoring and management (RMM) software (including portable executables that are not installed). People: Create a security culture. Set the storage size permitted for both logs to as large as possible. The CPGs provide a minimum set of practices and protections that CISA and NIST recommend all organizations implement. It also gives extensive recommendations for enhancing an organization's existing incident response capability so that it is better prepared to handle malware incidents, particularly widespread ones. Develop a cyber IRP. Use Windows PowerShell Remoting, Remote Credential Guard, or RDP with restricted Admin Mode as feasible when establishing a remote connection to avoid direct exposure of credentials. Note: This step will prevent your organization from maintaining ransomware infection artifacts and potential evidence stored in volatile memory. Look for phishing messages and corrupt downloads and permanently delete them to avoid reinfection. Prioritize timely patching of internet-facing serversthat operate software for processing internet data, such as web browsers, browser plugins, and document readersespecially for known exploited vulnerabilities. Malicious actors often name Cobalt Strike Windows processes with the same names as legitimate Windows processes to obfuscate their presence and complicate investigations. Get proactive! Have you ever received an email and thought, Theressomething not quite right with this? Read the latest press releases, news stories and media highlights about Proofpoint. and see if any host on your network did a lookup on them. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Fake calls from Apple and Amazon support: What you need to know, The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it, Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items, Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items, Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items, Money-Making Opportunities and Investments, Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items, Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items. Cyber exercises evaluate or help develop a cyber incident response plan in the context of a ransomware incident scenario: cisa.gov/resources-tools/services/cisa-tabletop-exercise-packages. Breaches often involve mass credential exfiltration. Take any URLs, attachments, etc., towww.virustotal.comor any of the other sandbox and lookup sites out there. Back up the data on your phone, too. For more information, refer to Microsoft. Use Splunk or Elasticsearch/Logstash/Kibana (ELK). SLTTs can implement the no-cost MDBR service. Test backup procedures on a regular basis. Protect your accounts by using multi-factor authentication. Incident response is a plan for responding to a cybersecurity incident methodically. This publication provides guidelines for incident handling, particularly for analyzing incident-related data and determining the appropriate response to each incident. (I personally likewww.hybrid-analysis.com.) A quick reaction to a phishing threat can mean the difference between a massive breach or a fast fix. Implement zero trust access control by creating strong access policies to restrict user to resource access and resource-to-resource access. For example, many ransomware infections are the result of existing malware infections, such as QakBot, Bumblebee, and Emotet. Audit Active Directory (AD) for excessive privileges on accounts and group memberships. For breaches involving electronic health information, you may need to notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), andin some casesthe media. Report the phishing attempt to the FTC at, How To Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks, What To Do if You Suspect a Phishing Attack, What To Do if You Responded to a Phishing Email, How to recognize a fake Geek Squad renewal scam. Report the incident toand consider requesting assistance fromCISA, your local FBI field office, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or your local U.S. Secret Service field office. PDF Guide to Malware Incident Prevention and Handling for Desktops - NIST So, what do you do if you suspect or know there was a successful phishing attack against your organization? Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages: Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. 2. Review file types in your filter list at least semi-annually and add additional file types that have become attack vectors. to see if there was any traffic leaving your network going to those IPs. The attack will lure you in, using some kind of bait to fool you into making a mistake. For more information, refer to Microsofts. The .gov means its official. NIST Special Publication (SP 800-125A Rev.1): Security Recommendations for Server-based Hypervisor Platforms. In some cases, ransomware deployment is the last step in a network compromise and is dropped to obscure previous post-compromise activities, such as business email compromise (BEC). Here are signs that this email is a scam, even though it looks like it comes from a company you know and even uses the companys logo in the header: While real companies might communicate with you by email, legitimate companies wont email or text with a link to update your payment information. Disarm BEC, phishing, ransomware, supply chain threats and more. Refer to the best practices and references below to help manage the risk posed by ransomware and support your organizations coordinated and efficient response to a ransomware incident. The application of both tactics is known as double extortion. In some cases, malicious actors may exfiltrate data and threaten to release it as their sole form of extortion without employing ransomware. Malicious actors will sometimes use this access to exfiltrate data and then threaten to release the data publicly before ransoming the network to further extort the victim and pressure them into paying. ], secretservice.gov/contact/field-offices/ [Enter your USSS field office POC phone number and email address. Most IR plans are technology-centric and address issues like malware detection, data theft and service outages. Implement phishing-resistant MFA for all services, particularly for email, VPNs, and accounts that access critical systems [CPG 2.H]. Use infrastructure as code (IaC) to deploy and update cloud resources and keep backups of template files offline to quickly redeploy resources. ], For SLTTs, email soc@msisac.org or call (866) 787-4722. Keep in mind that some attacker command and control domains will change their IPs every few minutes. DMARC protects your domain from being spoofed but does not protect from incoming emails that have been spoofed unless the sending domain also implements DMARC. Assessments include no-cost Vulnerability Scanning. Operators of these advanced malware variants will often sell access to a network. The economic and reputational impacts of ransomware and data extortion have proven challenging and costly for organizations of all sizes throughout the initial disruption and, at times, extended recovery. You have done an IR tabletop to test how smoothlythingsgo, right? Based on the breach or compromise details determined above, contain associated systems that may be used for further or continued unauthorized access. Learn about our relationships with industry-leading firms to help protect your people, data and brand. Follow notification requirements as outlined in your cyber incident response and communications plan to engage internal and external teams and stakeholders with an understanding of what they can provide to help you mitigate, respond to, and recover from the incident. How to Create a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan As such, you will want to search your DNS logs (you are logging all DNS requests, arent you?) For example, disable ports and protocols that are not being used for business purposes (e.g., Remote Desktop Protocol [RDP]Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] Port 3389) [CPG 2.X]. If you see them, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real , If you think a scammer has your information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, go to. Logs from Windows PowerShell prior to version 5.0 are either non-existent or do not record enough detail to aid in enterprise monitoring and incident response activities. Enable tools to detect and prevent modifications to IAM, network security, and data protection resources. As a general rule of thumb, youll need to change the affected users passwords even if you are pretty sure thatnothing serious happened. Identify the systems and accounts involved in the initial breach. As these attacks become more and more prevalent, there's an increased need for prevention and response plans. 1. Disable saving passwords to the browser in the Group Policy Management console. The audience for this guide includes information technology (IT) professionals as well as others within an organization involved in developing cyber incident response policies and procedures or coordinating cyber incident response. Ensure all on-premises, cloud services, mobile, and personal (i.e., bring your own device [BYOD]) devices are properly configured and security features are enabled. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Corner: This platform provides a range of resources chosen based on the needs of the small business community. a template for an incident response plan that your organization can customize. Train your users to be smart skeptics. Implement a privileged access management (PAM) solution on DCs to assist in managing and monitoring privileged access. Take care not to re-infect clean systems during recovery. Before we wrap up, we wanted to leave you with a CSIRP checklist in 7 steps: Conduct an enterprise-wide risk assessment to identify the likelihood vs. severity of risks in key areas. Consider the risk management and cyber hygiene practices of third parties or managed service providers (MSPs) your organization relies on to meet its mission. Identify and prioritize critical systems for restoration on a clean network and confirm the nature of data housed on impacted systems. Cobalt Strike is a commercial penetration testing software suite. Dont sidestep the end user! Use immutable storage with caution as it does not meet compliance criteria for certain regulations and misconfiguration can impose significant cost. These updates could give you critical protection against security threats. Here are four ways to protect yourself from phishing attacks. Prioritize isolating critical systems that are essential to daily operations. Maintain and regularly update golden images of critical systems. The designated IT or IT security authority declares the ransomware incident over based on established criteria, which may include taking the steps above or seeking outside assistance. Consider using a multi-cloud solution to avoid vendor lock-in for cloud-to-cloud backups in case all accounts under the same vendor are impacted. This includes maintaining image templates that have a preconfigured operating system (OS) and associated software applications that can be quickly deployed to rebuild a system, such as a virtual machine or server [CPG 2.O]. Assistance in conducting a criminal investigation, which may involve collecting incident artifacts, including system images and malware samples. You do have a list of every remote accessmethod, dont you? The site is secure. Table 1: Incident response plan checklist; Table 2: Guidelines for your recovery plan; Table 3: Immediate response checklist - detection, analysis, containment, and eradication; . Scammers who send emails like this one are hoping you wont notice its a fake. RMM software is commonly used by malicious actors to maintain persistence. A ransomware infection may be evidence of a previous, unresolved network compromise. Update Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core to the latest version and uninstall all earlier PowerShell versions. Implement Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) policy and verification to lower the chance of spoofed or modified emails from valid domains. The message says theres something wrong with Its Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. These logs should be checked on a regular basis to confirm whether the log data has been deleted or logging has been turned off. If NTLM must be enabled: Enable Extended Protection for Authentication (EPA) to prevent some NTLM-relay attacks. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Ransomware is a form of malware designed to encrypt files on a device, rendering them and the systems that rely on them unusable. The information you give helps fight scammers. Learn about how we handle data and make commitments to privacy and other regulations. Engaging with peer organizations and CISA enables your organization to receive critical and timely information and access to services for managing ransomware and other cyber threats. PDF CISA Cyber Essentials Starter Kit Create, maintain, and regularly exercise a basic cyber incident response plan (IRP) and associated communications plan that includes response and notification procedures for ransomware and data extortion/breach incidents [CPG 2.S]. Incident response resources This article provides guidance on identifying and investigating phishing attacks within your organization. Check for configuration drift routinely to identify resources that were changed or introduced outside of template deployment, reducing the likelihood of new security gaps and misconfigurations being introduced. One of my former bosses was also a former pilot, and so of course, we had a checklist for everything. Incident Response Steps and Frameworks for SANS and NIST Apply these practices to the greatest extent possible pending the availability of organizational resources. Newer versions of Windows Server OS have more security features, including for Active Directory, integrated. Ensure tools are properly configured to escalate warnings and indicators to notify security personnel. Measures should be taken to ensure that LM and NTLM responses are refused, if possible. Elections Organizations - learn.cisecurity.org/ei-isac-registration. Block both inbound and outbound connections on common RMM ports and protocols at the network perimeter. The authoring organizations recommend turning on these two Windows Event Logs with a retention period of at least 180 days. Draft cyber incident holding statements. it could be a phishing scam. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. The email claims something is very wrong with your account, and they need you to log in and fix the problem immediately. has become commonplace is phishing, which is using deceptive computer-based means to trick . Care must be taken to identify such dropper malware before rebuilding from backups to prevent continuing compromises. ThreatSim was acquired by Wombat Security in October 2015. Security incidents - GSA Part 1 provides guidance for all organizations to reduce the impact and likelihood of ransomware incidents and data extortion, including best practices to prepare for, prevent, and mitigate these incidents. Power down devices if you are unable to disconnect them from the network to avoid further spread of the ransomware infection. Use automatic updates for your antivirus and anti-malware software and signatures. This is called multi-factor authentication. Consider filling out Table 1 for use should your organization become affected by ransomware. Use Windows Defender Remote Credential Guard and restricted admin mode for RDP sessions. SP 800-61 Rev. 2, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide | CSRC Specific guidance to help evaluate and remediate ransomware incidents. It can be done! If several systems or subnets appear impacted, take the network offline at the switch level. Conduct regular vulnerability scanning to identify and address vulnerabilities, especially those on internet-facing devices, to limit the attack surface [CPG 1.E]. This guide includes two primary resources: Part 1: Ransomware and Data Extortion Prevention Best Practices, Part 2: Ransomware and Data Extortion Response Checklist. Threat actors also often gain access by exploiting virtual private networks (VPNs) or using compromised credentials. Have you heard about it? Learn about the technology and alliance partners in our Social Media Protection Partner program. Read how Proofpoint customers around the globe solve their most pressing cybersecurity challenges. Maintain and back up logs for critical systems for a minimum of one year, if possible. Set thesoftware to update automaticallyso it will deal with any new security threats. One of those scams was 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle, which touted a proven business model and told Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. There are a lot of threat intel and lookup sites out there.
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