Categories: NewsSecurity

Exploit Kits Are No Longer Popular Among Cyber Criminals

It is never a bad sign when criminal activity on the internet is seemingly quieting down. The number of cyber attacks driven by exploit kits has almost dried up over the past few weeks, although no one knows for sure why that is the case. Rest assured this does not mean exploit kits are no longer being used, though.

A Lull In Exploit Kit Usage Is Worrisome

Security researchers are – rightfully – concerned over this lull in exploit kit usage by cyber criminals. Since these kits have facilitated the distribution of Trojans, malware, ransomware, and various other nefarious software types over the past, it is rather unusual to notice exploit kits are not used as often as before. This does not mean the number of cyber attacks will go down in the process, though.

Angler, Neutrino, and Nuclear exploit kits have been on the radar of security researchers for quite some time now. However, it appears none of them are actively deployed for cyber attacks these past few weeks, which is quite puzzling. Considering how the number of cyber attacks has not decreased by any means, criminals must be using a different attack method.

To be more specific, the use of exploit kits has dropped by nearly 300% between January and December of 2016. Interestingly enough, distribution of malware and ransomware has increased during the same period. Over the past few months, remote access trojans have been deployed to infiltrate systems before infecting them with malicious software, which could explain the drop in exploit kit usage.

Related Post

That being said, the mystery regarding the disappearance of exploit kits needs to be solved. Several notorious cyber criminals have been arrested throughout 2016, although that should not necessarily affect the popularity of these tools. In the case of the Angler exploit kit, most of the people responsible for creating and maintaining the exploit kit’s infrastructure have been put behind bars. This does hinder the usefulness of the Angler exploit kit, yet doesn’t explain why no one is using Neutrino or Nuclear right now.

Speaking of Neutrino, the exploit kit saw its popularity dwindle during September of 2016. Thanks to a joint operation between Cisco and Godaddy, malvertising campaigns spreading this exploit kit were shut down. Then again, criminals often find a few ways to keep their business alive and kicking. For some reason, that does not seem to be the case right now, although it is possible, the researchers have not discovered this new method of distribution just yet.

Even though exploit kits are no longer the flavor of the month for criminals right now, it is expected they will make a comeback over the next few months. Criminals are far from ready to throw in the towel, and alternative delivery mechanisms are being explored as we speak. Office macros are becoming the primary distribution method for malware and

ransomware right now. Once that method of distribution becomes less successful, cyber criminals will try to a new tactic. The gangs responsible for creating exploit kits are biding their time and making modifications, that much is evident.

If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.

JP Buntinx

JP Buntinx is a FinTech and Bitcoin enthusiast living in Belgium. His passion for finance and technology made him one of the world's leading freelance Bitcoin writers, and he aims to achieve the same level of respect in the FinTech sector.

Share
Published by
JP Buntinx

Recent Posts

Ethereum Down While Bitcoin, Solana, and JetBolt Skyrocket In End November 2024

Ethereum stumbles as Bitcoin surges past $97K, Solana eyes new highs, and JetBolt’s presale shakes…

3 hours ago

Top 5 Best Crypto Presales to Grab Now: Don’t Miss These December Week 1 Gems

The crypto market is a buzz with promising presales as 2024 draws the curtains. With…

3 hours ago

Cheems Surge On BSC Network: A Rising Star With Growing Market Value

The Cheems token on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) is gaining significant momentum, surging by…

11 hours ago

Lester Token Crashes 40% Following Official Announcement

The value of $LESTER plummeted by 40% in the past 24 hours, leaving its market…

11 hours ago

From $30K To Millions: The Wild Journey Of $Quant And Xiaohaige’s Memecoin Stunts

In a bizarre turn of events, a young live-streamer known as Xiaohaige created the memecoin…

11 hours ago

Whale “convexcuck.eth” Makes Bold $CVX Move, Nets Significant Profit Amid Price Surge

The crypto whale known as "convexcuck.eth" has made waves in the DeFi world, spending $2…

11 hours ago