Linux users beware - you'll be facing more cyber threats than ever before
Linux users are warned to up their security protection following new research which found the system might be facing a big rise in cyber threats.
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Researchers at Kaspersky have discovered an increase within the number of criminals targeting Linux, which is usually thought to be safer and safer than other operating systems.
But the corporate discovered an increase in attacks designed to specifically damage Linux systems as criminals follow bigger and bolder gains.
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Kaspersky says the trend in attacks is especially worrying as more organizations choose Linux for strategically important servers and systems over Windows.
However the corporate found Linux systems could potentially be in danger from advanced persistent threats (APTs) and targeted attacks from hackers that have created specifically Linux-focused tools.
Kaspersky says that over a dozen APT actors, including dangerous threat groups like Lazarus, are observed to use Linux malware or some Linux-based modules in recent years, diversifying their attacks across multiple operating systems during a bid to maximize returns.
The company notes that there's a myth that Linux, being a less popular OS, is unlikely to be targeted by malware. However, this is often not the case, with smaller, more targeted attacks becoming the norm, especially in systems using multiple operating systems, where access to an infected device could allow hackers into endpoints running Windows or macOS.
In the example of Lazarus, which is reportedly based in North Korea, the group used Linux malware to hold out widespread attacks and attempts to focus on multiple organizations within the US and Europe.
“The trend of enhancing APT toolsets was identified by our experts repeatedly within the past, and Linux-focused tools are not any exception," noted Yury Namestnikov, head of Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) in Russia.
"Aiming to secure their systems, IT and security departments are using Linux more often than before. Threat actors are responding to the present with the creation of sophisticated tools that are ready to penetrate such systems. We advise cybersecurity experts to require this trend under consideration and implement additional measures to guard their servers and workstations."
In order to remain safe, Kaspersky recommends maintaining an inventory of trusted software sources and avoid using unencrypted update channels, and not running binaries and scripts from untrusted sources.
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