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ESET earns high scores across AV-Comparatives H1 Business Security Test 2020

BRATISLAVA – ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, has earned high scores for its Endpoint Protection Advanced Cloud in the AV-Comparatives H1 Business Security Test 2020. AV-Comparatives, a leading independent testing organization, uses one of the largest collections of malware samples worldwide to create a real-world environment for highly accurate testing. In the report, a series of Real-World Protection, Malware Protection and Performance Tests were used to rate 19 vendors.

“If we weight and sum the positions achieved in all the particular tests, and take the resulting number as an indicator of the overall result, ESET performed the best by a large margin,” comments Jiří Kropáč, head of threat detection labs at ESET.

Real-World Protection Test
The AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test mimics online malware attacks that a typical business user might encounter when surfing the Internet. In its most recent edition, this test consisted of 767 test cases comprising URLs pointing directly to malware executables. The number of missed samples ranged from zero to 27, with six being the average number of misses, and the number of false alarms ranged from zero to 41. ESET Endpoint Protection Advanced Cloud & Cloud Administrator detected all but three cases and generated no false alarms.

Malware Protection Test
The Malware Protection Test considers the scenario in which the malware pre-exists on the disk or enters the test system via some other route rather than directly from the internet. In this test, ESET belonged to the group of four vendors with a 99.9% malware protection rate, the second-best score in the test, and again scored no false alarms.

Performance Test
The Performance Test ran under the recognized PC Mark benchmark, where the test machine, without any security software installed, was assigned a PC Mark score of 100 points. The scores in this test ranged between 98.9 and 92.5 points. ESET Endpoint Security was the second most lightweight security solution with a score of 98.7 points.

False Positives

ESET scored zero False Positives across all tests. As the report notes, false positives can cause as much trouble as a real infection, and avoiding them is a crucial element of any antivirus product. AV-Comparatives carried out extensive false-positive testing as part of the Malware Protection Test and the Real-World Protection Test.

Commenting on the results, Jiří Kropáč, head of threat detection labs at ESET, said: “ESET’s recognition from AV-Comparatives is testament to our dedication to our customers and our promise to always deliver the best in IT security solutions. We’re proud of achieving great results across the tests. We believe this is due to the careful design and balancing of all parameters in our technology, providing a lightweight solution that minimizes false positives while still weighted heavily in protection. We are happy to see the approach taken at ESET succeed not only in the wild, but also in testing.”

Read AV-Comparatives Business Security Test 2020 (March – June) for more information.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

ESET reaffirms ‘Champion’ position in global Cybersecurity Leadership Matrix 2020

BRATISLAVA – ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, has achieved Champion status for the second year in a row in the latest Cybersecurity Leadership Matrix 2020 from Canalys, improving upon 2019’s Matrix position with a focus on vendor growth and momentum beyond Europe.

Canalys is a leading global technology market analyst firm with a distinct channel focus that strives to guide clients on the future of the technology industry and to think beyond the business models of the past.

The Canalys Cybersecurity Leadership Matrix assessed 17 cybersecurity vendors on their global channel and market performance over the last 12 months. The Matrix combines partner feedback from Canalys’ Vendor Benchmark tool with an independent analysis of each vendor’s momentum in the channel based on their investments, strategy, market performance and execution.

ESET achieved the highest score benchmarks in the categories of product availability and supply, and ease of doing business. ESET’s improved position in the Matrix is reflective of the launch of an MSP enablement module to drive growth through 7,000 MSPs, as well as incorporating feedback from local Partner Councils on product roadmaps, technologies and customer needs. This collaborative approach ensures that regions across the globe are operating innovatively and efficiently and are tuned in to the pulse of the global cybersecurity landscape.

ESET was one of only seven vendors to be awarded Champion status, and one of four to reaffirm said status, alongside Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet. Champions have the highest scores in the Canalys Vendor Benchmark and exhibit common characteristics, including making improvements to and simplifying channel processes, and demonstrating a commitment to growing partner-generated revenue. Champions must also show that they are making sustainable investments in the future of their channel models, including channel programs and initiatives.


Ignacio Sbampato, chief business officer at ESET, commented: “We have been a channel-focused company since the beginning of our existence and our channel partners know that, so this recognition of ESET as a ‘Champion’ two years in a row is a confirmation that we are doing a great work together based on an honest and straightforward approach towards building strong and long-lasting collaborations all over the world. We are constantly innovating and improving on our offerings, and it is extremely rewarding to know that our partners rate us highly, and our increased support for MSPs is valued. A safer internet experience for all is central to our core mission, the foundation of which is our strong relationships with our partners.”

To find out more about ESET’s offerings, visit our website.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

Trojanized Mac cryptocurrency app collects wallets and screenshots, ESET Research discovers

BRATISLAVA, MONTREAL – ESET researchers have recently discovered websites distributing trojanized cryptocurrency trading applications for Mac computers. These were legitimate apps wrapped with GMERA malware, whose operators used them to steal information, such as browser cookies, cryptocurrency wallets and screen captures. In this campaign, the legitimate Kattana trading application was rebranded – including setting up copycat websites – and the malware was bundled into its installer. ESET researchers saw four names used for the trojanized app in this campaign: Cointrazer, Cupatrade, Licatrade and Trezarus.

“As in previous campaigns, the malware reports to a Command & Control server over HTTP and connects remote terminal sessions to another C&C server using a hardcoded IP address,” says ESET researcher Marc-Etienne M.Léveillé, who led the investigation into GMERA.

ESET researchers have not yet been able to find exactly where these trojanized applications are promoted. However, in March 2020, the legitimate Kattana site posted a warning suggesting that victims are approached individually to lure them to download a trojanized app, thus pointing to social engineering. Copycat websites are set up to make the bogus application download look legitimate. The download button on the bogus sites is a link to a ZIP archive containing the trojanized application bundle.

In addition to the analysis of the malware code, ESET researchers have also set up honeypots (research computers) and lured GMERA malware operators to remotely control the honeypots. The researchers’ aim was to reveal the motivations behind this group of criminals. “Based on the activity we have witnessed, we can confirm that the attackers have been collecting browser information, such as cookies and browsing history, cryptocurrency wallets and screen captures,” concludes M.Léveillé.

For more technical details on the latest GMERA malicious campaign, read the full blogpost, “Mac cryptocurrency trading application rebranded, bundled with malware,” on WeLiveSecurity. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.

 

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

ESET discovers a chat app spying on users and leaking stolen data

BRATISLAVA – ESET researchers have discovered a new operation within a long-running cyber-espionage campaign in the Middle East, apparently with links to the threat actor group known as Gaza Hackers, or Molerats.

Instrumental in the operation is an Android app, Welcome Chat, which serves as spyware while also delivering the promised chatting functionality. The malicious website promoting and distributing the app claims to offer a secure chat platform that is available on the Google Play store. Both those claims are false; the claim of being “secure” couldn’t be further from the truth, according to ESET researchers.“

In addition to Welcome Chat being an espionage tool, its operators left the data harvested from their victims freely available on the internet. And the app was never available on the official Android app store,” says Lukáš Štefanko, the ESET researcher who conducted the analysis of Welcome Chat.

The Welcome Chat app behaves like any chat app downloaded from outside Google Play: it needs the setting “Allow installing apps from unknown sources” to be activated. After installation, it requests permission to send and view SMS messages, access files, and record audio, as well as requesting access contacts and device location. Immediately after receiving the permissions, Welcome Chat starts receiving commands from its Command and Control (C&C) server, and it uploads any harvested information. Besides chat messages, the app steals information such as sent and received SMS messages, history of calls, contact list, photos, phone call recordings and GPS location of the device.“

Unfortunately for the victims, the Welcome Chat app, including its infrastructure, was not built with security in mind. Transmitted data is not encrypted, and because of that, not only is it freely accessible to the attacker, but also to anyone on the same network,” comments Štefanko.

ESET researchers tried to establish whether Welcome Chat is an attacker-trojanized version of a clean app, or a malicious app developed from scratch. “We did our best to discover a clean version of this app, to make its developer aware of the vulnerability. But our best guess is that no such app exists. Naturally, we made no effort to reach out to the malicious actors behind the espionage operation,” explains Štefanko.

The Welcome Chat espionage app belongs to the very same Android malware family and shares infrastructure with a previously documented espionage campaign named BadPatch, which also targeted the Middle East. BadPatch has been attributed to the Gaza Hackers, aka Molerats, threat actor group. Based on this, we believe that this cyber-espionage campaign comes from the same threat actors.

While the Welcome Chat-based espionage operation seems to be narrowly targeted, ESET strongly discourages users from installing apps from outside the official Google Play store – unless it’s a trusted source, such as the website of an established security vendor or some reputable financial institution. On top of that, users should pay attention to what permissions their apps require and be suspicious of any apps that require permissions beyond their functionality – and, as a very basic security measure, users should run a reputable security app on their mobile devices.

For more details about Welcome Chat spyware, read the full blog post “Secure chat platform? Nothing could be further from the truth for Welcome Chat” on WeLiveSecurity. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

ESET Research dissects Evilnum Group as its malware targets online trading

BRATISLAVA, MONTREAL – ESET researchers are releasing their in-depth analysis into the operations of Evilnum, the APT group behind the Evilnum malware. According to ESET’s telemetry, the targets are financial technology companies – for example, platforms and tools for online trading. Although most of the targets are located in EU countries and the UK, ESET has also seen attacks in countries such as Australia and Canada. The main goal of the Evilnum group is to spy on its targets and obtain financial information from both the targeted companies and their customers.

“While this malware has been seen in the wild since at least 2018 and documented previously, little has been published about the group behind it and how it operates,” says Matias Porolli, the ESET researcher leading the investigation into Evilnum. “Its toolset and infrastructure have evolved and now consist of a mix of custom, homemade malware combined with tools purchased from Golden Chickens, a Malware-as-a-Service provider whose infamous customers include FIN6 and Cobalt Group,” he adds.

Evilnum steals sensitive information, including customer credit card information and proof of address/identity documents; spreadsheets and documents with customer lists, investments and trading operations; software licenses and credentials for trading software/platforms; email credentials; and other data. The group has also gained access to IT-related information, such as VPN configurations.

“Targets are approached with spearphishing emails that contain a link to a ZIP file hosted on Google Drive. That archive contains several shortcut files that extract and execute a malicious component, while displaying a decoy document,” elaborates Porolli. These decoy documents seem genuine, and they are continuously and actively collected in the group’s current operations as they try to compromise new  victims. It targets technical support representatives and account managers, who regularly receive identity documents or credit cards from their customers.

As with many malicious codes, commands can be sent to Evilnum malware. Among those are commands to collect and send Google Chrome saved passwords; take screenshots; stop the malware and remove persistence; and collect and send Google Chrome cookies to a command and control server.

“Evilnum leverages large infrastructure for its operations, with several different servers for different types of communication,” concludes Porolli.

For more technical details about the Evilnum malware and the APT group, read the full blog post “More evil: a deep look at Evilnum and its toolset” on WeLiveSecurity. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.


About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

As with many malicious codes, commands can be sent to Evilnum malware. Among those are commands to collect and send Google Chrome saved passwords; take screenshots; stop the malware and remove persistence; and collect and send Google Chrome cookies to a command and control server.

“Evilnum leverages large infrastructure for its operations, with several different servers for different types of communication,” concludes Porolli.

For more technical details about the Evilnum malware and the APT group, read the full blog post “More evil: a deep look at Evilnum and its toolset” on WeLiveSecurity. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.


About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.