Adios 2025, you won’t be missed

Adios 2025, you won’t be missed

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Threat Source newsletter. 

For us in America, we’re in the holiday doldrums and things slow and/or shut down until the new year. At Cisco, we shut down the last week of the year to reset and recharge, and I’ve grown to be quite fond of it. I’ve worked plenty of gigs where there were no holiday breaks, and now that I’m living that dream, I gotta tell ya, it’s a damn civilized way to live if you can get it. 

It’s only natural for us to think on 2025 — what happened to us, what made the news, and with some trepidation (and maybe some hope) what lies in store for 2026. 

I thought I’d summarize the notable things that come to mind for me:

  1. Uncovering Qilin attack methods exposed through multiple cases 
    Why this one? Quilin is one of the more aggressive cartels that I see in the ransomware space in 2025. On their dark web site, you can see a very active presence. When Talos crunches the numbers for the 2025 Year in Review, don’t be surprised if you see them at the top of the list as one of the more lucrative criminal cartels. Our blog post on this was outstanding — give it a read! (Also, our banner art is just great, if I do say so myself. Our design team is the best.) I think 2026 will see a heavy ransomware tempo. It is simply just too lucrative for the bad guys. Compounding this is the macro/micro world economy and good old fashioned geopolitical tensions. Everyone hold on tight. 
  2. Jaguar Land Rover posts heavy loss after cyber attack 
    As someone who focuses on industrial control security, seeing a manufacturer getting hit so hard resonates with me. It proves the fragility that we see in this space, where operational and information technology mix to fulfill business imperatives, but at a real financial risk.  This will be a case study of financial impacts cyber attacks can have on manufacturing with a heavily targeted vertical because the disruptions are costly and lucrative to ransomware actors. My bet is 2026 will see much more of this. No one wants to be the next Land Rover Jaguar. The bad guys know this, and there’s certainly blood in the water and the sharks have noticed. 
  3. Disrupting the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign 
    Anthropic released a first of its kind report on a state-sponsored adversary using Claude to launch a full kill chain campaign against victims. I had a hard time with this report. It felt (and still feels) hyped to a degree. It’s an entirely plausible scenario, and I don’t want to imply it’s misleading! But the report doesn’t show its work. You can certainly see this being real, but it just misses the test for actual substantive intel. Still, it surely does make one wonder how much better AI attacks will get. The space is moving at blazing speed. Who’s to say what 2026 will show us for attacks and defense!

If you celebrate, enjoy the holidays. At the same time, I know this season can feel especially lonely for those of us who are missing loved ones. This year I lost my grandmother, and I am still processing the tremendous grief and loss for someone who helped raise me to be the man I am today. Find the time to spend with others and be kind to yourself. Resist the urge to isolate yourself. Use the holidays to invest in yourself and your health. I believe in you. I’ll see you all in 2026.

The one big thing 

For this end-of-year Talos Takes episode — and Hazel’s last as host — we took a time machine back to 2015 to ask, “What would a defender from back then think of the madness we deal with in 2025?” Alongside Pierre, Alex, and yours truly, we reminisced about our own journeys, then got into the real meat: just how much ransomware has exploded (thanks, “as-a-service” model), why identity is now the main battleground, and how the lines between state-sponsored actors and APTs have blurred to the point of being almost meaningless. 

Why do I care? 

You don’t need me to tell you it’s a different world than it was ten years ago. The ransomware industry is bigger and nastier than ever, and attackers are more organized, more efficient, and more professionalized. The tools (and the stakes) keep changing, but burnout and complexity are constants. If you’re not keeping pace, you’re falling behind, and the attackers aren’t waiting up. 

So now what? 

Don’t panic, and don’t try to win it all alone. Double down on the basics, like identity and access management and keeping tabs on those “service accounts” that keep multiplying. Make sure your team is trained, supported, and has permission to step away from the keyboard once in a while. Don’t get distracted by AI; it is powerful, but it’s not a magic bullet. And maybe most important of all: Take care of yourself and your people. 2026 is going to bring more of the same (and some surprises), but if you stay grounded, curious, and human, you’ll be ready for whatever’s next. 

Top security headlines of the week 

Microsoft: Recent Windows updates break VPN access for WSL users 
This known issue affects users who installed the KB5067036 October 2025 non-security update, released October 28th, or any subsequent updates, including the KB5072033 cumulative update released during this month’s Patch Tuesday. (Bleeping Computer

French Interior Ministry confirms cyber attack on email servers 
While the attack (detected overnight between Thursday, December 11, and Friday, December 12) allowed the threat actors to gain access to some document files, officials have yet to confirm whether data was stolen. (Bleeping Computer

In-the-wild exploitation of fresh Fortinet flaws begins 
The two flaws (CVE-2025-59718 and CVE-2025-59719 [CVSS score of 9.8]) are described as improper verification of cryptographic signature issues impacting FortiOS, FortiWeb, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitchManager. (SecurityWeek

Google to shut down dark web monitoring tool in February 2026  
Google has announced that it’s discontinuing its dark web report tool in February 2026, less than two years after it was launched as a way for users to monitor if their personal information is found on the dark web. (The Hacker News

Compromised IAM credentials power a large AWS crypto mining campaign 
The activity, first detected on Nov. 2, 2025, employs never-before-seen persistence techniques to hamper incident response and continue unimpeded, according to a new report shared by the tech giant ahead of publication. (The Hacker News

Can’t get enough Talos? 

Humans of Talos: Lexi DiScola 
Amy chats with Senior Cyber Threat Analyst Lexi DiScola, who brings a political science and French background to her work tracking global cyber threats. Even as most people wind down for the holidays, Lexi is tackling the Talos 2025 Year in Review.

UAT-9686 actively targets Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager 
Our analysis indicates that appliances with non-standard configurations, as described in Cisco’s advisory, are what we have observed as being compromised by the attack. 

TTP: Talking through a year of cyber threats, in five questions 
In this episode of the Talos Threat Perspective, Hazel is joined by Talos’ Head of Outreach Nick Biasini to reflect on what stood out, what surprised them, and what didn’t in 2025. What might defenders want to think about differently as we head into 2026? 

Upcoming events where you can find Talos 

We’ll be back in 2026 — see ya then!

Most prevalent malware files from Talos telemetry over the past week 

SHA256: 9f1f11a708d393e0a4109ae189bc64f1f3e312653dcf317a2bd406f18ffcc507  
MD5: 2915b3f8b703eb744fc54c81f4a9c67f  
Talos Rep: https://talosintelligence.com/talos_file_reputation?s=9f1f11a708d393e0a4109ae189bc64f1f3e312653dcf317a2bd406f18ffcc507  
Example Filename: 9f1f11a708d393e0a4109ae189bc64f1f3e312653dcf317a2bd406f18ffcc507.exe 
Detection Name: Win.Worm.Coinminer::1201 

SHA256: a31f222fc283227f5e7988d1ad9c0aecd66d58bb7b4d8518ae23e110308dbf91  
MD5: 7bdbd180c081fa63ca94f9c22c457376 Talos Rep: https://talosintelligence.com/talos_file_reputation?s=a31f222fc283227f5e7988d1ad9c0aecd66d58bb7b4d8518ae23e110308dbf91  
Example Filename: e74d9994a37b2b4c693a76a580c3e8fe_3_Exe.exe  
Detection Name: Win.Dropper.Miner::95.sbx.tg 

SHA256: 96fa6a7714670823c83099ea01d24d6d3ae8fef027f01a4ddac14f123b1c9974  
MD5: aac3165ece2959f39ff98334618d10d9  
Talos Rep: https://talosintelligence.com/talos_file_reputation?s=96fa6a7714670823c83099ea01d24d6d3ae8fef027f01a4ddac14f123b1c9974  
Example Filename: 96fa6a7714670823c83099ea01d24d6d3ae8fef027f01a4ddac14f123b1c9974.exe  
Detection Name: W32.Injector:Gen.21ie.1201 

SHA256: 90b1456cdbe6bc2779ea0b4736ed9a998a71ae37390331b6ba87e389a49d3d59 
MD5: c2efb2dcacba6d3ccc175b6ce1b7ed0a 
Talos Rep: https://talosintelligence.com/talos_file_reputation?s=90b1456cdbe6bc2779ea0b4736ed9a998a71ae37390331b6ba87e389a49d3d59  
Example Filename:ck8yh2og.dll  
Detection Name: Auto.90B145.282358.in02 

SHA256: 1aa70d7de04ecf0793bdbbffbfd17b434616f8de808ebda008f1f27e80a2171b  
MD5: a8fd606be87a6f175e4cfe0146dc55b2  
Talos Rep: https://talosintelligence.com/talos_file_reputation?s=1aa70d7de04ecf0793bdbbffbfd17b434616f8de808ebda008f1f27e80a2171b  
Example Filename: 1aa70d7de04ecf0793bdbbffbfd17b434616f8de808ebda008f1f27e80a2171b.exe  
Detection Name: W32.1AA70D7DE0-95.SBX.TG 

Cisco Talos Blog – ​Read More

The Stealka stealer hijacks accounts and steals crypto while masquerading as pirated software | Kaspersky official blog

In November 2025, Kaspersky experts uncovered a new stealer named Stealka, which targets Windows users’ data. Attackers are using Stealka to hijack accounts, steal cryptocurrency, and install a crypto miner on their victims’ devices. Most frequently, this infostealer disguises itself as game cracks, cheats and mods.

Here’s how the attackers are spreading the stealer, and how you can protect yourself.

How Stealka spreads

A stealer is a type of malware that collects confidential information stored on the victim’s device and sends it to the attackers’ server. Stealka is primarily distributed via popular platforms like GitHub, SourceForge, Softpedia, sites.google.com, and others, disguised as cracks for popular software, or cheats and mods for games. For the malware to be activated, the user must run the file manually.

Here’s an example: a malicious Roblox mod published on SourceForge.

Attackers exploited SourceForge, a legitimate website, to upload a mod containing Stealka

Attackers exploited SourceForge, a legitimate website, to upload a mod containing Stealka

And here’s one on GitHub posing as a crack for Microsoft Visio.

A pirated version of Microsoft Visio containing the stealer, hosted on GitHub

A pirated version of Microsoft Visio containing the stealer, hosted on GitHub

Sometimes, however, attackers go a step further (and possibly use AI tools) to create entire fake websites that look quite professional. Without the help of a robust antivirus, the average user is unlikely to realize anything is amiss.

A fake website pretending to offer Roblox scripts

A fake website pretending to offer Roblox scripts

Admittedly, the cracks and software advertised on these fake sites can sometimes look a bit off. For example, here the attackers are offering a download for Half-Life 3, while at the same time claiming it’s not actually a game but some kind of “professional software solution designed for Windows”.

Malware disguised as Half-Life 3

Malware disguised as Half-Life 3, which is also somehow “a professional software solution designed for Windows”. A lot of professionals clearly spent their best years on this software…

The truth is that both the page title and the filename are just bait. The attackers simply use popular search terms to lure users into downloading the malware. The actual file content has nothing to do with what’s advertised — inside, it’s always the same infostealer.

The site also claimed that all hosted files were scanned for viruses. When the user decides to download, say, a pirated game, the site displays a banner saying the file is being scanned by various antivirus engines. Of course, no such scanning actually takes place; the attackers are merely trying to create an illusion of trustworthiness.

The pirated file pretends to be scanned by a dozen antivirus tools

The pirated file pretends to be scanned by a dozen antivirus tools

What makes Stealka dangerous

Stealka has a fairly extensive arsenal of capabilities, but its prime target is data from browsers built on the Chromium and Gecko engines. This puts over a hundred different browsers at risk, including popular ones like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Yandex Browser, Edge, Brave, as well as many, many others.

Browsers store a huge amount of sensitive information, which attackers use to hijack accounts and continue their attacks. The main targets are autofill data, such as sign-in credentials, addresses, and payment card details. We’ve warned repeatedly that saving passwords in your browser is risky — attackers can extract them in seconds. Cookies and session tokens are perhaps even more valuable to hackers, as they can allow criminals to bypass two-factor authentication and hijack accounts without entering the password.

The story doesn’t end with the account hack. Attackers use these compromised accounts to spread the malware further. For example, we discovered the stealer in a GTAV mod posted on a dedicated site by an account that had previously been compromised.

Beyond stealing browser data, Stealka also targets the settings and databases of 115 browser extensions for crypto wallets, password managers, and 2FA services. Here are some of the most popular extensions now at risk:

  • Crypto wallets: Binance, Coinbase, Crypto.com, SafePal, Trust Wallet, MetaMask, Ton, Phantom, Exodus
  • Two-factor authentication: Authy, Google Authenticator, Bitwarden
  • Password management: 1Password, Bitwarden, LastPass, KeePassXC, NordPass

Finally, the stealer also downloads local settings, account data, and service files from a wide variety of applications:

  • Crypto wallets. Wallet configurations may contain encrypted private keys, seed-phrase data, wallet file paths, and encryption parameters. That’s enough to at least make an attempt at stealing your cryptocurrency. At risk are 80 wallet applications, including Binance, Bitcoin, BitcoinABC, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Exodus, Mincoin, MyCrypto, MyMonero, Monero, Nexus, Novacoin, Solar, and many others.
  • Messaging apps. Messaging app service files store account data, device identifiers, authentication tokens, and the encryption parameters for your conversations. In theory, a malicious actor could gain access to your account and read your chats. At risk are Discord, Telegram, Unigram, Pidgin, Tox, and others.
  • Password managers. Even if the passwords themselves are encrypted, the configuration files often contain information that makes cracking the vault significantly easier: encryption parameters, synchronization tokens, and details about the vault version and structure. At risk are 1Password, Authy, Bitwarden, KeePass, LastPass, and NordPass.
  • Email clients. These are where your account credentials, mail server connection settings, authentication tokens, and local copies of your emails can be found. With access to your email, an attacker will almost certainly attempt to reset passwords for your other services. At risk are Gmail Notifier Pro, Claws, Mailbird, Outlook, Postbox, The Bat!, Thunderbird, and TrulyMail.
  • Note-taking apps. Instead of shopping lists or late-night poetry, some users store information in their notes that has no business being there, like seed phrases or passwords. At risk are NoteFly, Notezilla, SimpleStickyNotes, and Microsoft StickyNotes.
  • Gaming services and clients. The local files of gaming platforms and launchers store account data, linked service information, and authentication tokens. At risk are Steam, Roblox, Intent Launcher, Lunar Client, TLauncher, Feather Client, Meteor Client, Impact Client, Badlion Client, and WinAuth for battle.net.
  • VPN clients. By gaining access to configuration files, attackers can hijack the victim’s VPN account to mask their own malicious activities. At risk are AzireVPN, OpenVPN, ProtonVPN, Surfshark, and WindscribeVPN.

That’s an extensive list — and we haven’t even named all of them! In addition to local files, this infostealer also harvests general system data: a list of installed programs, the OS version and language, username, computer hardware information, and miscellaneous settings. And as if that weren’t enough, the malware also takes screenshots.

How to protect yourself from Stealka and other infostealers

  • Secure your device with reliable antivirus software. Even downloading files from legitimate websites is no guarantee of safety — attackers leverage trusted platforms to distribute stealers all the time. Kaspersky Premium detects malware on your computer in time and alerts you to the threat.
  • Don’t store sensitive information in browsers. It’s handy — no one can argue with that. But unfortunately browsers aren’t the most secure environment for your data. Sign-in credentials, bank card details, secret notes, and other confidential information are better kept in a securely encrypted format in Kaspersky Password Manager, which is immune to the exploits used by Stealka.
  • Be careful with game cheats, mods, and especially pirated software. It’s better to pay up for official software than to chase the false savings offered by software cracks, and end up losing all your money.
  • Enable two-factor authentication or use backup codes wherever possible. Two-factor authentication (2FA) makes life much harder for attackers, while backup codes help you regain access to your critical accounts if compromised. Just be sure not to store backup codes in text documents, notes, or your browser. For all your backup codes and 2FA tokens, use a reliable password manager.

Curious what other stealers are out there, and what they’re capable of? Read more in our other posts:

Kaspersky official blog – ​Read More

Year in Review by ANY.RUN: Key Threats, Solutions, and Breakthroughs of 2025 

It’s December — that time of year when we take a pause and look back at how much we’ve achieved. 

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve shared these wins with us. Maybe you’ve launched one analysis, maybe thousands. Maybe you’ve browsed our Threat Intelligence Lookup daily or just joined us. Anyhow, thanks for being here! 

2025 kept all of us busy for sure. But it also brought a ton of breakthrough studies, insights, and improvements. Let’s glance back at the year and see what we accomplished together — through numbers, stories, and proud moments. 

Milestones We Achieved Together in 2025  

Key results of 2025 by ANY.RUN 

We bet it’s safe to say that no analyst was idle this year, and the numbers support this statement: the total number of analyses launched in ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox across 195(!) countries exceeded 5.7 millions, with 1.1 million threats uncoveredin the process. 

Our most active users this year were based in the US, Germany, UK, and India. Many of them represent big enterprises. In fact, 74 of Fortune 100 companies used our sandbox this year. 

The community overall kept growing: out of 500,000+ users, 81K joined us this year, bringing new insights with them.  

Altogether, ANY.RUN’s users have spent 400,000+ hours in our sandbox — that’s more than 45 years of research! Just imagine how much longer it would take without a solution built for fast and efficient analysis.😎 

When it comes to what exactly our community analyzed most, there are no surprises: in 2025, phishing continued to reign over the threat landscape. In particular, the most active threat was Tycoon2FA

The top suspects among file types were: executables, ZIP archives, PDFs, and emails (EML and MSG). A clear proof of how widespread both file- and email-based malware is. 

But no threat should scare an analyst equipped with strong security solutions. Here are some of the tangible results reported by ANY.RUN’s users in 2025: 

Measurable impact with ANY.RUN, 2025 
Average MTTD: 15 seconds 
MTTR reduced by: 21 minutes 
Investigation speed improved: in 95% of SOCs 

This is a solid proof of the fact that our malware analysis and threat intelligence solutions change SOC workflows for the better. 

Key Sandbox Updates: Driving Malware Analysis Forward 

More Ways to Run Malware 

This year we broadened the sandbox horizons by adding new operating systems to our VM for more flexible and realistic environments. 

For teams tackling mobile threats, we introduced Android support. It gives you the opportunity to upload, interact, and analyze APK files in ANY.RUN’s virtual machine closely replicating a real Android device. Great timing, since mobile threats have been pretty active this year! But more on that below. 

Android-based mobile threat — a fake banking app — analyzed inside ANY.RUN sandbox 

We also added Linux Debian OS, helping you detonate ARM-based threats. Since 2025, you can do full-scale malware built for IoT devices and other ARM systems in ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox. 

Detect malware & phishing in under a minute



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Thanks to these and other updates, our sandbox became even more universal and useful for faster, deeper, and more reliable analysis. 

Deep Analysis Made Simple 

When it comes to malware analysis, it’s not always clear where to start, as threats get increasingly more complex and evasive. To simplify the process of uncovering them, we came up with Detonation Actions — hints that guide you through the analysis in our ANY.RUN Sandbox as you search for hidden threats. 

Detonation Actions displayed inside ANY.RUN sandbox 

Another feature we added solves one of the most time-consuming parts of detection: rule creation. Now our sandbox is equipped with AI Sigma Rules that reveal the logic behind threat behavior while saving manual effort. Just copy them to your SIEM, SOAR, or EDR for smooth deployment. 

Threat Intelligence Lookup: Data Solving Real-World Challenges 

In 2025, our users made almost 195k requests in Threat Intelligence Lookup in search of actionable insights and verified indicators. Tycoon topped the list as the most searched malware. 

Thanks to our global community, we have access to a rich collection of fresh, verified, ready- and safe-to-use data. It would be a shame not to share it with the world, right? 

So, an important step we took this year to make TI Lookup more accessible. Namely, we introduced the Free plan, giving everyone the opportunity to enrich threat research with 100% verified context at no cost. It’s a perfect way to tap into quality intel and see it bring tangible results. 

Lower business risks with actionable threat intel
Try ANY.RUN’s TI solutions in your SOC



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We also supported knowledge exchange by launching TI Reports, analyst-driven articles covering APTs, campaigns, and emerging threats. Each report comes with IOCs and queries for a deeper dive. 

Industry & geo threat landscape data for the Tycoon2FA phishkit 

Finally, in 2025 we boosted threat monitoring capabilities of our users with Industry & geo threat landscape. It shows exactly how a given threat or indicator relates to sectors and countries — a real live-saver for those drowning in alerts with no context.  

Threat Intelligence Feeds: Always Fresh and Relevant 

Throughout 2025, Threat Intelligence Feeds grew both in terms of data and interoperability. It was powered by constant data updates coming from over 15K SOC teams, which guarantee that TI Feeds always remain on point. 

Overview of TI Feeds by ANY.RUN 

The STIX/TAXII integration made the delivery of fresh, real-time data more efficient. And newly added integrations like ThreatQ + TI Feeds connector brought live, behavior-based malware for better prioritization and contextualization of indicators. 

Maximize ROI
by enriching your system with fresh IOCs



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Expanding Our Reach with New Integrations & Connectors 

Our goal is to make your workflow smoother and more efficient, simplifying daily tasks and automating what’s possible. One of the steps we took in this direction is the launch of SDK, which makes it easy to connect our solutions with tools you’re already using. 

Integration options for TI solutions by ANY.RUN

We also released a lot of ready-to-use integrations, such as: 

  • IBM Security QRadar SOAR: Turn alert noise into actionable conclusions without leaving your SOAR by integrating it with ANY.RUN sandbox and TI Lookup. 

These and other integrations and connectors support your work without disrupting the way you already operate. 

Catching What Others Miss 

In 2025, ANY.RUN was the first to uncover multiple campaigns and malware families, giving a head start to the entire cybersecurity community. Let’s recap the most notable cases: 

Salty 2FA

newly discovered PhaaS framework that quickly raised to the level of major phishing kits in today’s threat landscape. Its ability to distribute payloads at scale, intercept 2FA authentication methods, and complex communication models ensured that. 

Android Threats 

Some of the recently occurred threats were Android-based, and we were able to break them down in detail and analyze their behavior in our sandbox. 

  • Salvador Stealer, an Android banking malware revealed in April 2025. By disguising itself as a legitimate app, it phishes critical personal and financial data — a clear example of how mobile malware continues to evolve and blend into everyday user environments.  
  • Pentagon Stealer, a relatively simple threat that quickly grew into a persistent, versatile, and widespread data-stealing malware. 

Tykit

In October we took a closer look at Tykit, a credential-stealing malware. It might not reinvent phishing per se but clearly demonstrates how a tiny loophole in a defense system can lead to significant real-world impact. 

Salty2FA & Tycoon2FA: A Hybrid Threat

ANY.RUN’s Sandbox exposes Salty2FA & Tycoon2FA phishing attempts  

We ended the year with a detection of a hybrid cross-kit malware Salty2FA & Tycoon2FA. It combines two phishing frameworks, multiplying the dangers of both. 

ANY.RUN Recognized by Industry and Community 

2025 brought us a handful of awards, indicating recognition and acclaim in the industry, for which we’re super grateful. 

Award  Title 
Top InfoSec Innovators Awards  Winner at Trailblazing Threat Intelligence  
Globee Awards  Gold winner (TI Lookup) Silver winner (Sandbox)  
Cybersecurity Excellence Awards  Best TI Service 
CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards  Threat Intelligence Company of 2025 

What we appreciate more than anything, however, is our community. Every nomination, vote, and kind word reflect your trust — a big thank-you to everyone involved! 

Our Most Influential Reports 

Alongside TI Reports you can find in TI Lookup, we regularly share technical analyses on our blog. 2025 was no exception. We published many nuanced studies of both newly discovered and evolved threats. 

  • April brought a surge inactivity around PE32 Ransomware, a Telegram-based encryptor. Our in-depth breakdown highlights how even unsophisticated ransomware can pose a very real danger. 
  • In July we covered DEVMAN, a malware sample tied to the DragonForce ransomware lineage but standing out with unique behaviors and identifiers. 
  • Later the same month we analyzed Ducex packer, an advanced tool used to conceal Android malware payloads. An increase in its activity highlights the escalating arms race between threat actors and security teams. 
Photos of Lazarus IT workers caught during investigation
  • Finally, in December we took an unprecedented look inside Lazarus Group’s North Korean IT workers infiltration scheme, capturing actors live inside controlled ANY.RUN environments and documenting their activities. 

These and other reports by ANY.RUN are a testament to how interactive sandboxing and knowledge exchange makes analysis sharper and the entire community stronger. 

Spoiler Alert: What to Look Forward to in 2026 

We’ve grown a lot this year and we’re not planning to stop. Here’s a peek into what we’re working on and what you can expect from ANY.RUN in the coming year: 

  • Enhanced teamwork mode for efficient collaboration inside SOCs. 
  • Refined reporting, including new types of text reports, industry-focused prioritization, security recommendations, improved AI Summaries, and auto-generated YARA rules. 
  • Enrichment of sandbox detections with relevant threat intelligence data. 
  • Improved detection quality with features like SSL decryption without MITMin-browser data inspection, and AI-powered analysis. 
  • Expanded analysis options for Enterprise users, including MacOS and Windows Server support in VM. 

Conclusion 

Everything’s changing — threats, TTPs, security measures… But our goal stays the same: to make malware analysis and threat investigations faster, easier, and smarter. 

Thanks for analyzing, researching, experimenting, and growing together with us. Every contribution, insight, and a bit of feedback brings us closer to a more secure future. 

Have alert-free holidays and stay safe in 2026!  

About ANY.RUN

ANY.RUN supports over 500,000 cybersecurity professionals around the world. Its Interactive Sandbox makes malware analysis easier by enabling the investigation of threats targeting Windows, Android, and Linux systems. ANY.RUN’s threat intelligence solutions—Threat Intelligence Lookup and TI Feeds—allow teams to quickly identify IOCs and analyze files, helping them better understand threats and respond to incidents more efficiently.

Start a 2-week trial of ANY.RUN’s solutions → 

The post Year in Review by ANY.RUN: Key Threats, Solutions, and Breakthroughs of 2025  appeared first on ANY.RUN’s Cybersecurity Blog.

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Libbiosig, Grassroot DiCoM, Smallstep step-ca vulnerabilities

Libbiosig, Grassroot DiCoM, Smallstep step-ca vulnerabilities

Cisco Talos’ Vulnerability Discovery & Research team recently disclosed vulnerabilities in Biosig Project Libbiosig, Grassroot DiCoM, and Smallstep step-ca.

The vulnerabilities mentioned in this blog post have been patched by their respective vendors, all in adherence to Cisco’s third-party vulnerability disclosure policy.    

For Snort coverage that can detect the exploitation of these vulnerabilities, download the latest rule sets from Snort.org, and our latest Vulnerability Advisories are always posted on Talos Intelligence’s website.     

Libbiosig vulnerability

Discovered by Mark Bereza of Cisco Talos.

BioSig is an open source software library for biomedical signal processing. The BioSig Project seeks to encourage research in biomedical signal processing by providing open source software tools.

TALOS-2025-2296 (CVE-2025-66043-CVE-2025-66048) includes several stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the MFER parsing functionality of the Biosig Project libbiosig 3.9.1. An attacker can supply a specially crafted MFER file to trigger these vulnerabilities, possibly leading to arbitrary code execution.

Grassroot DiCoM vulnerabilities

Discovered by Emmanuel Tacheau of Cisco Talos.

Grassroots DiCoM is a C++ library for DICOM medical files, accessible from Python, C#, Java, and PHP. It supports RAW, JPEG, JPEG 2000, JPEG-LS, RLE and deflated transfer syntax. Talos found three out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in DiCoM. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger these vulnerabilities.

Smallstep step-ca vulnerabilities

Discovered by Stephen Kubik of the Cisco Advanced Security Initiatives Group (ASIG).

Smallstep step-ca is a TLS-secured online Certificate Authority (CA) for X.509 and SSH certificate management. TALOS-2025-2242 (CVE-2025-44005) is an authentication bypass vulnerability in step-ca. An attacker can bypass authorization checks and force a Step-CA ACME or SCEP provisioner to create certificates without completing certain protocol authorization checks.

Cisco Talos Blog – ​Read More

UAT-9686 actively targets Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager

UAT-9686 actively targets Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager

·       Cisco Talos recently discovered a campaign targeting Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email Gateway, formerly known as Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA), and Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, formerly known as Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA).

·       We assess with moderate confidence that the adversary, who we are tracking as UAT-9686, is a Chinese-nexus advanced persistent threat (APT) actor whose tool use and infrastructure are consistent with other Chinese threat groups.

·       As part of this activity, UAT-9686 deploys a custom persistence mechanism we track as “AquaShell” accompanied by additional tooling meant for reverse tunneling and purging logs.

·       Our analysis indicates that appliances with non-standard configurations, as described in Cisco’s advisory, are what we have observed as being compromised by the attack.


Cisco Talos is tracking the active targeting of Cisco AsyncOS Software for Cisco Secure Email Gateway, formerly known as Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA), and Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager, formerly known as Cisco Content Security Management Appliance (SMA), enabling attackers to execute system-level commands and deploy a persistent Python-based backdoor, AquaShell. Cisco became aware of this activity on December 10, which has been ongoing since at least late November 2025. Additional tools observed include AquaTunnel (reverse SSH tunnel), chisel (another tunneling tool), and AquaPurge (log-clearing utility). Talos’ analysis indicates that appliances with non-standard configurations, as described in Cisco’s advisory, are what we have observed as being compromised by the attack.

The Cisco Secure Email and Web Manager centralizes management and reporting functions across multiple Cisco Email Security Appliances (ESAs) and Web Security Appliances (WSAs), offering centralized services such as spam quarantine, policy management, reporting, tracking, and configuration management to simplify administration and enhance security enforcement.

Customers are strongly advised to follow the guidance published in the security advisories discussed below. Additional recommendations specific to Cisco are available here.

Talos assesses with moderate confidence that this activity is being conducted by a Chinese-nexus threat actor, which we track as UAT-9686. We have observed overlaps in tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), infrastructure, and victimology between UAT-9686 and other Chinese-nexus threat actors Talos tracks. Tooling used by UAT-9686, such as AquaTunnel (aka ReverseSSH), also aligns with previously disclosed Chinese-nexus APT groups such as APT41 and UNC5174. Additionally, the tactic of using a custom-made web-based implant such as AquaShell is increasingly being adopted by highly sophisticated Chinese-nexus APTs.

 

AquaShell

AquaShell is a lightweight Python backdoor that is embedded into an existing file within a Python-based web server. The backdoor is capable of receiving encoded commands and executing them in the system shell. It listens passively for unauthenticated HTTP POST requests containing specially crafted data. If such a request is identified, the backdoor will then attempt to parse the contents using a custom decoding routine and execute them in the system shell.

AquaShell is delivered as an encoded data blob that is decoded and ultimately placed in “/data/web/euq_webui/htdocs/index.py”.

The result of decoding the data blob is the Python code that constitutes the AquaShell backdoor. AquaShell parses the HTTP POST request, decodes it using a combination custom algorithm and Base64 decoding and executes the resulting commands on the appliance.

AquaPurge

AquaPurge removes lines containing specific keywords from the log files specified. It uses the “egrep” command  to filter out (invert search) all content that doesn’t contain the keywords and then simply commits them to the log files:

UAT-9686 actively targets Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager

AquaTunnel

AquaTunnel is a compiled GoLang ELF binary based on the open-source “ReverseSSH” backdoor. AquaTunnel creates a reverse SSH connection from the compromised system back to an attacker‑controlled server, enabling unauthorized remote access even when the system is behind firewalls or NAT.

Chisel

Chisel is an open‑source tunneling tool that supports creating TCP/UDP tunnels over a single‑port HTTP‑based connection. Chisel allows an attacker to proxy traffic through a compromised edge device, allowing them to easily pivot through that device into the internal environment.

Coverage and remediation

Recommendations for Cisco customers are available here. If your organization does find connections to the provided actor Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), please open a case with Cisco TAC.

All IOCs, including IPs and file hashes determined to be associated with this campaign have been blocked across the Cisco portfolio.

 

IOCs

 

The IOCs can also be found in our GihtHub repository here.

AquaTunnel

2db8ad6e0f43e93cc557fbda0271a436f9f2a478b1607073d4ee3d20a87ae7ef

 

AquaPurge

145424de9f7d5dd73b599328ada03aa6d6cdcee8d5fe0f7cb832297183dbe4ca

 

Chisel

85a0b22bd17f7f87566bd335349ef89e24a5a19f899825b4d178ce6240f58bfc

  

172[.]233[.]67[.]176

172[.]237[.]29[.]147

38[.]54[.]56[.]95

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Australia’s ACSC Releases Quantum Technology Primer for Cybersecurity Leaders 

Quantum Technology Australia

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has published a new guide, Quantum Technology Primer: Overview, aimed at helping organizations understand the field of quantum technologies for cybersecurity. The publication is part of a bigger effort to raise awareness and preparedness as quantum capabilities move closer to practical deployment across digital systems and organizational infrastructure. 

The primer provides a foundational understanding of key quantum technologies, the scientific principles behind them, and the cybersecurity considerations organizations need to address today to prepare for a quantum-enabled future. According to the ACSC, this guidance is essential for cybersecurity leaders, IT managers, and decision-makers responsible for technology strategy and risk management. 

Foundations of Quantum Technology 

Quantum technologies rely on principles of quantum mechanics, the branch of physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic scales. Two core concepts underpin these technologies: superposition and entanglement. 

Superposition allows a particle to exist in multiple states simultaneously, collapsing to a single state only when measured. In practical terms, this property enables quantum systems to evaluate many potential outcomes at once, offering computational advantages far beyond classical computers. 

Entanglement occurs when particles share a quantum state, creating correlations that persist even across great distances. Measuring one particle instantaneously provides information about the other. This capability underpins emerging quantum communication methods and has significant implications for secure data transmission. 

The ACSC emphasizes that understanding these principles is no longer relevant only to quantum specialists. Decision-makers must grasp the basics to integrate quantum cybersecurity considerations into organizational planning effectively. 

Implications for Cybersecurity and Business Functions 

While many quantum technologies remain in development, their potential impact on digital systems, data protection, and organizational resilience is significant. The ACSC’s Technology Primer notes that quantum computing could render some current cryptographic methods obsolete. 

“Preparing now for quantum technologies is crucial,” the ACSC states. “Adopting post-quantum cryptography is a key step, as capable quantum computers will break some existing encryption. Organizations that delay preparation risk vulnerabilities and costly remediation.” 

The primer outlines several proactive steps organizations can take: 

  • Ensure cybersecurity plans are current and aligned with industry best practices. 

  • Develop and implement strategies for PQC across networks. 

  • Assess risks across data lifecycles and safeguard sensitive information. 

  • Verify that service providers and vendors comply with quantum readiness plans. 

  • Continue staff training to reinforce good cybersecurity practices. 

By incorporating these measures, organizations can strengthen their resilience and reduce potential threats from new quantum technologies. 

Types of Quantum Technologies Covered 

The ACSC primer details several categories of quantum technologies that could affect business and cybersecurity landscapes: 

  • Quantum Computing: From noisy intermediate-scale quantum computers to cryptographically relevant systems capable of challenging classical encryption. 

  • Quantum Information Sciences: Includes quantum communications using quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum networking, which could redefine secure data transfer. 

  • Quantum Sensors: Devices that leverage quantum mechanics to achieve unprecedented precision in measurement and sensing applications. 

Although most quantum technologies are still in the early stages, some are already integrated into research, development, and pilot implementations. The ACSC notes that as these technologies mature, they will become part of organizational supply chains and digital infrastructure, making awareness and preparedness essential. 

Quantum Cybersecurity as a Strategic Necessity 

The ACSC’s Technology Primer highlights quantum cybersecurity as a strategic priority, weighing on both the risks and opportunities of quantum technologies. Organizations that plan for quantum today will be better prepared for a future where these technologies are standard. Cyble’s AI-powered threat intelligence and autonomous security solutions help identify new cyber threats, protect data, and maintain resilience.  

Schedule a free demo to see how Cyble can protect your organization better! 

References: 

The post Australia’s ACSC Releases Quantum Technology Primer for Cybersecurity Leaders  appeared first on Cyble.

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Lexi DiScola’s guide to global teamwork and overflowing TBRs

Lexi DiScola’s guide to global teamwork and overflowing TBRs

Welcome back to Humans of Talos. This month, Amy chats with Senior Cyber Threat Analyst Lexi DiScola from the Strategic Analysis team. Lexi’s journey into cybersecurity is anything but traditional — she brings a background in political science and French to her work tracking global cyber threats and collaborating with colleagues across continents.

Tune in as Lexi opens up about finding her place in cybersecurity, the unique strengths that come from a non-technical path, and the joys (and challenges) of balancing complex intel analysis with a towering stack of books to be read (TBR) at home.

Amy Ciminnisi: Can you introduce yourself? What do you do here at Talos? What team do you work on, and what does your day-to-day look like?

Lexi DiScola: Sure. I’m on the strategic analysis team here at Talos. I joined about three years ago. What my team does is a whole bunch of things, really, but we focus on tracking and analyzing major trends in the cyber threat landscape. We maintain intelligence sharing relationships with a bunch of private sector and government partners. We conduct regular threat hunting activity in our telemetry and support the Talos Incident Response team. My favorite part is producing written analytical products — logs, intelligence bulletins, threat assessment reports, and our annual Year in Review report, which we just started working on. We’ve kicked into high gear, prepping for the year in review, taking all the data we’ve accumulated and seeing what we can pull out of it. It sounds like a headache to some people, but for us, it’s fun, so we’re looking forward to it.

AC: What made you want to join Talos, and when did you join?

LD: I joined about three years ago this fall. I worked in cyber threat intelligence in a government position before. Because of that experience, I was always aware of Talos’s reputation in this space. When I was looking to shift to the private sector from the government, I knew I’d be working with some of the best of the best here. I knew I wouldn’t be stagnant if I came here. That was my focus in a new position — I always want to be learning and working toward something.

AC: What are your favorite resources for staying up to date with current trends in cybersecurity?

LD: There are multiple sources I look at. OSINT, or open-source intelligence, is a huge tool, especially when focusing on specific countries or nation-state actors. Looking at their local reporting and translating it is super helpful, and looking at competitors’ or cybersecurity researchers’ reporting is also useful. But I really rely on the people I work with. Talos has so many talented people who are always willing to help. At first, I was hesitant to ask questions, but as I got to know people better, I stopped feeling embarrassed. It’s a two-way street. You might feel awkward asking for help, but down the road, they may ask you for help with something you’re an expert in. Asking people and not being afraid or embarrassed has served me well.


Want to see more? Watch the full interview, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for future episodes of Humans of Talos.

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ForumTroll targets political scientists | Kaspersky official blog

Our experts from the Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) have investigated a new wave of targeted emails from the ForumTroll APT group. Whereas previously their malicious emails were sent to public addresses of organizations, this time the attackers have targeted specific individuals — scientists from Russian universities and other organizations specializing in political science, international relations, and global economics. The purpose of the campaign was to infect victims’ computers with malware to gain remote access thereto.

What the malicious email looks like

The attackers sent the emails from the address support@e-library{.}wiki, which imitates the address of the scientific electronic library eLibrary (its real domain is elibrary.ru). The emails contained personalized links to a report on the plagiarism check of some material, which, according to the attackers’ plan, was supposed to be of interest to scientists.

In reality, the link downloaded an archive from the same e-library{.}wiki domain. Inside was a malicious .lnk file and a .Thumbs directory with some images that were apparently needed to bypass security technologies. The victim’s full name was used in the filenames of the archive and the malicious link-file.

In case the victim had doubts about the legitimacy of the email and visited the e-library{.}wiki page, they were shown a slightly outdated copy of the real website.

What happens if the victim clicks on the malicious link

If the scientist who received the email clicked on the file with the .lnk extension, a malicious PowerShell script was executed on their computer, triggering a chain of infection. As a result, the attackers installed a commercial framework Tuoni for red teams on the attacked machine, providing the attackers with remote access and other opportunities for further compromising the system. In addition, the malware used COM Hijacking to achieve persistency, and downloaded and displayed a decoy PDF file, the name of which also included the victim’s full name. The file itself, however, was not personalized — it was a rather vague report in the format of one of the Russian plagiarism detection systems.

Interestingly, if the victim tried to open the malicious link from a device running on a system that didn’t support PowerShell, they were prompted to try again from a Windows computer. A more detailed technical analysis of the attack, along with indicators of compromise, can be found in a post on the Securelist website.

How to stay safe

The malware used in this attack is successfully detected and blocked by Kaspersky’s security products. We recommend installing a reliable security solution not only on all devices used by employees to access the internet, but also on the organization’s mail gateway, which can stop most threats delivered via email before they reach an employee’s device.

Kaspersky official blog – ​Read More

ESET Threat Report H2 2025

A view of the H2 2025 threat landscape as seen by ESET telemetry and from the perspective of ESET threat detection and research experts

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5 Ways Threat Intelligence Drives SOC ROI: Board-Ready Cases for CISOs 

When CISOs ask for budget, they are rarely competing against “no security.” They are competing against growth initiatives, product launches, and cost optimization. 

Technical jargon and security metrics often fall flat here. To win the conversation, threat intelligence cannot be framed as more data for analysts. It must be positioned as a business enabler that reduces measurable risk, protects revenue, and accelerates decision-making. 

Here are the board-ready cases that connect threat intelligence investments directly to business objectives.  

1. Protecting Revenue and Avoiding Financial Loss

Boards understand one number very well: the cost of a breach. What they often underestimate is how much of that cost comes from late detection. 

Reactive security means discovering threats after damage has already begun. By then, costs multiply across downtime, incident response, legal exposure, regulatory fines, and reputational damage. 
 
Threat intelligence changes the equation. 

ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Feeds deliver high-fidelity indicators sourced from interactive sandbox analyses of live malware samples and targeted attacks. This expands threat coverage, reduces the likelihood of successful breaches, and directly lowers potential financial impact — turning threat intelligence into a clear ROI driver.  

TI Feeds: features and data sources 

Threat Intelligence Lookup is another decision-enabling service from ANY.RUN. It is an on-demand searchable database that provides instant access to detailed threat reports, behavioral insights, direct links to sandbox sessions, and contextual connections between IOCs and active campaigns, enabling rapid enrichment during investigations. Instead of asking “What could happen?”, security leaders can answer “What is actively targeting organizations like ours right now?” 

See what malware is threatening the organizations from your country and industry right now 

Board-level takeaway: 

Early detection driven by real-world threat intelligence materially lowers breach impact and recovery costs. 

Message pattern: “Investing in threat intelligence reduces our average incident response cost by 60-70% by enabling early detection and prevention. For every major incident we prevent, we save the organization between $1-4 million in direct costs, not including reputational damage and customer trust.” 

Reduce business risks with actionable threat intel.  
Integrate ANY.RUN’s TI solutions in your SOC. 



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2. Ensuring Revenue-Critical Operations and Business Continuity

Board members understand downtime in dollars per minute. For e-commerce platforms, financial services, manufacturing operations, or SaaS providers, every minute of disruption translates directly to lost revenue, damaged customer relationships, and competitive disadvantage. Ransomware attacks alone now cost businesses an average of 25 days of downtime — a strike that many organizations cannot absorb. 
 
Threat intelligence supports resilience by helping organizations: 

  • Identify emerging attack campaigns early; 
  • Anticipate shifts in attacker tactics; 
  • Prepare controls before attacks reach critical systems. 

TI shortens mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) by providing actionable context during incidents. SOC teams correlate alerts against real-time feeds, quickly identifying and containing threats before they spread. 

Threat intelligence supports quick informed decisions impacting KPIs 

With ANY.RUN’s feeds, powered by community submissions from thousands of organizations, teams gain immediate access to indicators tied to active global campaigns. This accelerates incident response, limits disruption, and keeps critical systems online preserving revenue and operational momentum.

Board-level takeaway:  

Threat intelligence reduces the likelihood that cyber incidents escalate into operational outages or prolonged downtime. 

Message pattern: “Our revenue-critical operations represent $X million in daily transactions. Threat intelligence gives us advance warning of attacks targeting our industry, allowing us to prevent disruptions before they impact operations. The cost of this service is equivalent to less than one hour of system downtime.” 

3. Maximizing ROI on Existing Security Investments 

Most organizations have already invested heavily in security infrastructure: firewalls, SIEM platforms, EDR solutions, and of course SOC teams. However, tools are only as effective as the intelligence that drives them. Without current threat data, your security stack operates reactively, generating alerts based on generic signatures and outdated indicators. 
 
Threat Intelligence Feeds dramatically amplify the effectiveness of your security investments. Context-rich current threat data transforms them from reactive alert generators into proactive defense mechanisms. 
 
ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Feeds integrate seamlessly with major security platforms through APIs and standard formats like STIX. Your existing tools immediately gain access to millions of current indicators and threat context without requiring additional headcount or infrastructure. Your SOC analysts can make faster, more accurate decisions because they have the context they need at their fingertips. 

ANY.RUN integration options 
 
Board-level takeaway: 

Threat intelligence ensures security investments are aligned with real, current threats to the business, not theoretical risks. 

Message pattern: “We’ve invested $X million in security infrastructure. Threat intelligence feeds cost a fraction of that while potentially doubling the effectiveness of every security tool we’ve already purchased.” 

4. Optimizing Security Resource Allocation and Driving Efficiency

Cybersecurity budgets are under scrutiny, with boards demanding maximum value from every dollar. Overworked SOC teams drowning in alerts waste resources on false positives and low-priority events. Hiring more analysts is expensive, slow, and increasingly unrealistic. Boards want efficiency, not headcount inflation. 

Threat intelligence enriches alerts with context, reduces noise, and allows teams to focus on high-risk threats. Pre-filtered, accurate IOCs improve detection rates while lowering analyst burnout. 

ANY.RUN’s feeds are designed for exactly this: clean, enriched indicators ready for automation, with low false-positive rates thanks to sandbox-verified data. The result is higher SOC productivity, better resource utilization, and a stronger return on existing security investments. 
 
By feeding curated, high-confidence intelligence directly into detection and response workflows, ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Feeds: 

  • Reduce false positives, 
  • Speed up alert triage, 
  • Shorten investigation time, 
  • Enable junior analysts to make better decisions faster. 

This allows organizations to scale their security posture without scaling payroll. 
 
Board-level takeaway: 

Threat intelligence increases SOC productivity, delivering better protection without proportional increases in staffing costs. 
 
Message pattern: “Our SOC team currently handles X,000 alerts monthly with Y analysts at an annual cost of $Z. Threat intelligence increases our team’s effective capacity by 50-70% without adding headcount, delivering better protection while keeping personnel costs stable.”

5. Demonstrating Regulatory Compliance and Due Diligence

Regulatory frameworks like GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and SOC 2 don’t just require security controls. They mandate demonstrable due diligence and continuous improvement. Failure to meet these standards results in crippling fines (up to 4% of global revenue under GDPR), potential business restrictions, and loss of customer trust. More importantly, regulators increasingly expect organizations to demonstrate proactive threat awareness and intelligence-driven security practices. 
 
Threat intelligence feeds provide auditable evidence of continuous monitoring, proactive threat hunting, and intelligence-driven security operations. ANY.RUN’s TI Feeds deliver documented indicators of compromise with rich context, enabling your team to demonstrate to auditors that you’re actively monitoring the threat landscape relevant to your industry and geography. 

Align security spend with board-level risk priorities.
Focus on threats that affect business operations.



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Board-level takeaway:  
 
Threat intelligence provides auditable evidence of proactive monitoring and rapid response capabilities. Non-compliance triggers fines, audits, and reputational damage. 

Message pattern: “Threat intelligence isn’t just about preventing attacks — it’s about showing regulators, auditors, and customers that we take our security obligations seriously. This investment protects us from regulatory fines that could reach tens of millions of dollars and positions us favorably during audits and compliance reviews.” 

Conclusion 

Threat intelligence gives CISOs a way to translate cyber risk into business terms the board understands. It replaces reactive defenses with foresight, guesswork with evidence, and isolated security efforts with a unified, risk-driven strategy. 

ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Feeds are built on visibility into real attacker activity observed daily in live malware executions. This means decisions are based on what adversaries are doing now, not what they did months ago. For CISOs, this enables stronger protection. For boards, it delivers confidence that security investments directly support business objectives. 

In budget discussions, threat intelligence should not be positioned as “more data.” It should be positioned as business assurance: fewer costly incidents, more efficient operations, and a clearer understanding of cyber risk across the organization. 

When CISOs can demonstrate that intelligence-driven security reduces financial impact, protects revenue streams, and scales without ballooning costs, the budget conversation changes. Threat intelligence becomes a strategic pillar of the organization’s risk management program, not a line item to be negotiated away. 

Turn cybersecurity from a cost center into business assurance



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About ANY.RUN 

As a leading provider of interactive malware analysis and threat intelligence, ANY.RUN is trusted by over 500,000 analysts across 15,000 organizations worldwide. Its solutions enable teams to investigate threats in real time, trace full execution chains, and surface critical behaviors within seconds.  

Safely detonate samples, interact with them as they run, and instantly pivot to network traces, file system changes, registry activity, and memory artifacts in ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox. For threat intelligence insights, integrate TI Lookup and TI Feeds supplying enriched IOCs and automation-ready intelligence. No infrastructure maintenance is required.   

Start your 2-week trial of ANY.RUN’s solutions → 

FAQ: Threat Intelligence for CISOs and Boards 

1. Why do CISOs need threat intelligence to defend security budgets? 

Because boards fund outcomes, not tools. Threat intelligence helps CISOs demonstrate how security investments reduce financial risk, prevent costly incidents, and support business continuity. 

2. How is threat intelligence different from traditional security monitoring? 

Traditional monitoring reacts to alerts after suspicious activity occurs. Threat intelligence provides context about active attackers, campaigns, and techniques, enabling earlier detection and proactive defense. 

3. What makes threat intelligence board-relevant? 

It connects cyber activity to measurable business impact, such as reduced breach costs, lower downtime risk, and improved operational efficiency, which are metrics boards understand. 

4. How do Threat Intelligence Feeds support SOC efficiency? 

By delivering high-confidence indicators and attacker context, feeds reduce false positives, speed up investigations, and help analysts prioritize alerts that matter most to the business. 

5. Can threat intelligence replace hiring more analysts? 

It cannot replace people, but it significantly increases analyst productivity. Many organizations use threat intelligence to scale security operations without proportional headcount growth. 

6. Why is real-world attacker data important for threat intelligence? 

Intelligence based on live, observed attacks reflects current adversary behavior. This ensures defenses are aligned with how threats operate today, not outdated assumptions. 

7. How can CISOs measure ROI from threat intelligence? 

Common metrics include faster detection times, fewer high-impact incidents, reduced investigation effort, and improved alignment between security spend and risk exposure. 

The post 5 Ways Threat Intelligence Drives SOC ROI: Board-Ready Cases for CISOs  appeared first on ANY.RUN’s Cybersecurity Blog.

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