Malware-as-a-Service: The New Underground Business Model Driving Cybercrime

[johny899]

Have you wondered how cyberattacks are on the rise at an increasing rate? As I pondered that question, I discovered a surprising statistic. There is now an entire underground marketplace operated by criminals in order to sell malware. This new industry is known as Malware as a Service, or MaaS for short, and it represents a significant threat.

What Is Malware as a Service?​

MaaS operates on the principle of subscription-based access to malicious code that the criminal will develop (or, in some cases, use). In contrast to previous eras where only criminals with technical ability had access to hacking tools, with MaaS, anyone who possesses a credit card and an internet connection can launch against others.

Generally, when an individual purchases a subscription plan to MaaS, they will receive the following benefits:

• MaaS provides users with malware tools ready to use
• MaaS allows users to create a dashboard that enables them to control their attacks
• It offers customer support
• MaaS provides periodic updates and new features, much like you would receive from a legitimate technology company.

Why Criminals Like MaaS​

MaaS is appealing because it is accessible, affordable, and poses little danger to criminal users.

Reasons Malicious Actors Choose MaaS:

• No programming experience is necessary
• Cheaper to initiate (Some pricing tiers start at $50/month)
• Payments are made anonymously through cryptocurrency
• Lots of profit potential, especially from ransomware

Picture that; an average person, with no technical expertise, has the ability to hack into a large company from his or her house.

MaaS and Cybersecurity​

MaaS enables attacks on an unprecedented scale, significantly increasing their velocity and complexity. Many organizations face more challenges from this emerging technology each day.

Why MaaS is Dangerous​

• Constantly developing new attack types
• Rapidly spreading malware
• Many victims can be affected by the same attack simultaneously
• Legacy security tools are insufficient to guard against this level of attack

Preventing MaaS​

Preventing the occurrence of malware-as-a-service (MaaS) completely will likely be impossible; however, there are many ways we can improve our chances of preventing infections. The little things we do daily add up to make a big difference.

According to the recommendations of experts, we should:

• Implement high-quality antivirus and endpoint protection
• Ensure timely software updates
• Educate employees on the dangers of clicking potentially dangerous links

By taking these simple steps, you can prevent many attacks from happening.