Using Threat Intelligence to Enhance Phishing Defense Strategies

No matter what the weather looks like outside, it's always phishing season inside the World Wide Web—and your best phishing defense against constant cyber security threats is comprehensive threat intelligence.

First, what exactly is phishing? Phishing is a social engineering scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing ransomware. Cybercriminals begin by saving and modifying a website login page, carefully engineering it to appear legitimate.

Once the desired page is set up (often using throw-away or compromised domains), all that's left is for the potential victim to browse the page and submit their information. Email is the primary delivery method for phishing links, but it is possible to stumble upon phishing pages while web browsing. This is an incredibly common attack vector, mostly because it works.

To combat this cyber security threat, consider the power of threat intelligence as a proactive phishing defense strategy. Implement threat intelligence to immediately transform raw data into actionable intelligence. Threat Intelligence products can be deployed to facilitate the management of cyber threat intelligence and correlate it to associated entities, such as actors, campaigns, incidents, signatures, bulletins, and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

Harnessing Threat Intelligence for Phishing Defense

Threat intelligence lies at the core of a proactive phishing defense. The process involves continuously gathering, analyzing, and distributing information about potential or ongoing cyber security threats. Security professionals leverage various sources to gather intelligence, including internal security data, external threat feeds, and industry reports.

By analyzing this information, they can identify attacker TTPs, understand attacker motivations, and predict future attack methods. Enabling organizations to reinforce their defenses proactively allows them to prepare for potential threats before they manifest.

Accelerate the time to detect and respond to cyber security threats with a TIP that provides continuous insight into adversary TTPs. Products like Anomali's ThreatStream recognize emerging phishing tactics by analyzing previous attack patterns. A Threat Intelligence product is defined by its capability to perform four key functions:

1. Aggregation of intelligence from multiple sources
2. Curation, normalization, enrichment, and risk scoring of data
3. Integrations with existing security systems
4. Analysis and sharing of threat intelligence

Access to real-time data to preempt cybercriminals is a necessity in threat intelligence. ThreatStream automates the collection and processing of raw data and transforms it into actionable threat intelligence for security teams.

Keep in mind that intelligence-sharing networks and collaborations offer enhanced threat data. ThreatStream fosters collaboration among a community of analysts through the Trusted Circles feature, which enables two-way sharing between organizations with a mutual interest in keeping each other informed on the latest threats they've seen in their industries.

For example, if an adversary attempts to breach the defenses of one large bank, it is in everyone’s interest to know about the breach so they can plan against it - even if the banks are competitors, if one is attacked, they all suffer since adversaries are likely to try to breach another. You can foster this kind of information exchange and share intelligence with Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) peers using Anomali Trusted Circles. Through collaboration, ThreatStream can pull from diverse data sources, including dark web insights, further contributing to a rounded threat perspective.

Customizing Defenses with Targeted Intelligence

Threat Intelligence allows organizations to customize security measures to address specific phishing risks. Security teams can identify attackers' most common tactics by analyzing intelligence reports on phishing campaigns targeting their industry or region. This knowledge allows them to adapt their defenses proactively.

For example, phishing emails often impersonate popular cloud storage providers. Security teams can leverage this intelligence to adjust their filtering rules to identify and block emails that mimic these providers' branding and language. Here's how integrating ThreatStream's latest threat intelligence tools into security measures can strengthen defenses:

• Threat monitoring lets you know your adversaries' TTPs, leverage insights from peers via ISAC sharing, and plan your defense proactively.
• Intelligence lifecycle management automates intel workflows, collecting, curating, analyzing, prioritizing, publishing, and assessing.
• Enhanced security control efficacy automates intel distribution to current security controls to proactively stop breaches.
• Enriched SecOps workflows accelerate triage and response with attacker insights, TTPs, attack flows, and related observables.
• Accelerated incident response also provides insight into your adversaries, allowing you to predict their next steps and stop breach impacts.

Integrating automated threat intelligence feeds is vital to maintaining up-to-date defense mechanisms. For example, Anomali Premium Digital Risk Protection gives analysts the automated threat intelligence they need to respond to attacks quickly and effectively. ThreatStream enhances security by importing compromised credentials and identified domains, offering teams enriched intelligence for asset protection and operational efficiency.

Strengthening Teams with Intelligence-Driven Education

Phishing awareness training is crucial, but its effectiveness hinges on the quality of information it delivers. By incorporating the latest threat intelligence, organizations can design training programs that directly address the phishing tactics employees are most likely to encounter.

One powerful way to leverage threat intelligence is through simulation exercises. Security teams can craft scenarios that mimic real-world phishing attempts identified through intelligence reports. Enabling employees to practice the identification of phishing red flags in a secure environment enhances their capabilities in detecting and reporting suspicious emails.

It is essential to implement strategies for building a company culture that prioritizes continuous learning and vigilance against phishing. Leadership should prioritize cybersecurity awareness among employees and promote proactive behaviors through information technology training and phishing exercises.

For example, your organization could host a yearly cybersecurity training that gives a refresher course on identifying phishing tactics. Your IT department could take that training further and randomly send fake malicious emails to see if employees catch the phishing attempt or fall for the scam. If employees do fall for it, this becomes an opportunity for them to return to the email and look again for the red flags they should notice next time.

Moving Forward: Strengthening Phishing Defenses

Threat intelligence is a significant tool in building effective phishing defense strategies. A comprehensive approach to threat intelligence, such as Anomali's ThreatStream, offers technological solutions, customized defense strategies, and informed education. Having access to detailed threat intelligence that enhances cybersecurity readiness gives your organization a strategic upper hand on your adversary.

By adapting strategies to meet the challenges posed by sophisticated cybersecurity threats, you can focus on collaboration, innovation, and continuous education. Threatstream is the leading global threat intelligence product trusted by ISACs, ISAOs, industry groups, and other threat intelligence sharing communities. Schedule a demo today and learn how Anomali can help you harness the power of threat intelligence.