Ever wonder how macros pose a cybersecurity risk? Do you want to strengthen your organization? If you do, you have landed on the right spot. Cybersecurity is crucial for any business, no matter how huge or small. If left unprotected, an organization can face massive breaches and cyber-attacks, losing sensitive data. This article will show how macros can pose a malicious cybersecurity risk to companies. Let’s dig deeper into the world of cybersecurity.
What Are Macros?
Macros are written sequenced automated processes, repetitive task applications, and data flow, like Microsoft Office Suite documents, called embedded codes. They allow users to generate shortcuts for special tasks by sorting unmerging cells and worksheets alphabetically and making all rows and columns viable. The users must sign a certificate to confirm how a macro is created. Organizations can verify and prove these macros trustworthy and utilize them as needed.
Surprisingly, macros can be generated not only by professional administrators but also by a well-trained threat actor to pose a threat. They can create malicious macros and enter them into your documents, which can later be transmitted to your organization through a phishing attack. Moreover, malicious macros can be dangerous as they can compromise your application and affect the whole system.
Nevertheless, companies are really concerned about cybersecurity, and now, in the new software of Microsoft Office, macros are directly blocked by default settings from the Internet to stop them. These threats can get into your system through email attachments, but with the latest updates, you don’t need to worry about them. Here are five things you should take care of to fight against malicious macros.
1. Look for Potential Threats
Your application might look normal at first, but a threat actor can install a macro into your system through an email, and you won’t be able to find out. This risk doubles when you source macros through internal or external sources. It can lead to disruptions of sensitive data and information. Once a threat actor enters your system using a malicious threat, he will gain complete access to your system.
For instance, phishing emails are the most common form of cyberattack. They often use malicious macros to attach files or messages. The threat imposer will try to convince you to install the malicious macro on your device through email, which will spread throughout the system.
2. Watch out For an Insider Attack
A person who has information and access to your system can cause a major accident for your organization knowingly, so you need to take care of it. That’s why cybersecurity is very crucial. An Insider attack can happen for several reasons; here is what you need to know:
- If someone can code sensitive information passwords or make copies of unverified external sources
- Spread macros through documents
- Spread macros through emails
- Forward documents through unverified organizations or unverified external sources.
- Spread malicious macros through cloud components
3. Security Measures
You might wonder how you can protect your system from malicious macros. Take cybersecurity measures. Here are a few security measures that you need to take.
Start by deactivating the default macros that are not used or required for the organization.
- Ensure that users do not reactivate deactivated macros anytime, as it can cause a threat.
- Checking whether personal information has been added to your macros is compulsory. If so, you should remove it.
- Administration changes and development of macros should be audited through the organization’s users.
- Educating your staff properly is essential to ensuring they are fully aware of phishing and macro security.
- Try to update and patch your system frequently.
- Scan your device regularly for viruses using a secure anti-virus.
Taking these cybersecurity measures will help you in the long run.
4. Get a Trustworthy Macros
An organization can trust a macro to use if only it fulfills all the terms, which are as follows:
- Maintain your macros internally by developing your macros at the organization.
- Set new policies that only approve macros with verified sources, such as those developed through your organization’s sources.
- Do not source your documents from external sources; it is better to use internal sources.
5. Find Cybersecurity Alternatives
If you deactivate macros, you can still automate them in another way. Try to find new alternatives. Here are a few alternatives that you can consider to automate your tasks:
- Use off-shelf commercially available software applications such as office productivity suites.
- A cybersecurity service such as SaaS can be used to automate the workflow data flow.
- Create custom applications that support business processes safely.
Macros aren’t inherently malicious, yet sometimes phishing attacks and a lack of cybersecurity measures can cause danger. Use a macro security feature from Microsoft Word. If you find any document instructing you to obstruct using a macro security feature, you should take caution immediately. Malicious macros are mostly sent through emails, so you should work on an email security system. It is crucial to double-check and verify each email for a cyberattack or threat before opening it, even if it’s from a trusted source.
Conclusion
Macros have become a major issue in an organization’s growth. It is always recommended to get assistance from an expert. If you need someone to help you find malicious macros and take care of all your cybersecurity systems, then Rogue Logics is the best place for you. At Rogue Logics, a dedicated team of experts takes care of your security system so you don’t have to panic when you see a phishing email with malicious macros.