PDF is one of the commonly-used file formats that we receive or use to share documents via email or other electronic communication platforms. One of the primary reasons behind this is that the format is highly compatible and is also easy to handle with its relatively small size. It is also the format that we get most of our banking, educational and other documents in. However, it seems that you need to be extra careful with these files. According to a report from Palo Alto Networks, a global cybersecurity firm, “PDFs are the most popular file type for delivering malware as email attachments.” The report claims the number to be as high as 66.6% of all attachments. This means that more than 6 out of every 10 PDF file attachments shared via emails contain some kind of malware and can hack into your PC/laptop.
“As millions of people use ChatGPT, it’s unsurprising that we see ChatGPT-related scams, which have exploded over the past year, as cybercriminals take advantage of the hype around AI. But, the trusty email PDF is still the most common way cybercriminals deliver malware,” says Sean Duca, VP and Regional Chief Security Officer at Palo Alto Networks. “Cybercriminals, no doubt, are looking at how they can leverage it for their nefarious activities, but for now, simple social engineering will do just fine at tricking potential victims. Organisations must therefore take a holistic view of their security environment to provide comprehensive oversight of their network and ensure security best practices are followed at every level of the organisation.”
Palo Alto Networks in its recent threat trend report has highlighted that most common types of malware and their distribution methods based on comprehensive analysis of global telemetry data collected from Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), Cortex Data Lake, Advanced URL Filtering, and Advanced Wildfire.
What users can do to stay protected
* Avoid downloading attachments from unknown senders.
* Most web browsers come with built-in security features, enable them to improve your browsing security.
* Use a trusted antivirus program on your computer
* Keep your computer’s operating system always updated.
“As millions of people use ChatGPT, it’s unsurprising that we see ChatGPT-related scams, which have exploded over the past year, as cybercriminals take advantage of the hype around AI. But, the trusty email PDF is still the most common way cybercriminals deliver malware,” says Sean Duca, VP and Regional Chief Security Officer at Palo Alto Networks. “Cybercriminals, no doubt, are looking at how they can leverage it for their nefarious activities, but for now, simple social engineering will do just fine at tricking potential victims. Organisations must therefore take a holistic view of their security environment to provide comprehensive oversight of their network and ensure security best practices are followed at every level of the organisation.”
Palo Alto Networks in its recent threat trend report has highlighted that most common types of malware and their distribution methods based on comprehensive analysis of global telemetry data collected from Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), Cortex Data Lake, Advanced URL Filtering, and Advanced Wildfire.
What users can do to stay protected
* Avoid downloading attachments from unknown senders.
* Most web browsers come with built-in security features, enable them to improve your browsing security.
* Use a trusted antivirus program on your computer
* Keep your computer’s operating system always updated.
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