Content Inspection & Malware Detection
Executable File Detection
To assess the system's ability to detect potentially harmful executable files that could compromise system integrity, simulate downloading an executable file from a public website.
- Update your security policy to block the downloads of executable files from any website.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 1.1 - Executable File Detection
This test downloads an executable file from our security analyzer website (https//lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com/downloads/puttyexe).
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- According to statista, the most common malware file type received in 2022 was exe files
- Executable files can contain malware that can infect your user device and steal sensitive information.
- Blocking downloading of executable files from untrusted sources helps protect your system from these threats.
Malware Detection
To evaluate the system's ability to detect and prevent the installation of malicious software, safeguarding the system from potential data breaches and unauthorized access, attempt to download a known virus (Eicar) from a public website.
- Update your security policy to block malware downloaded from any website.
- Deploy a solution that helps detect malware effectively, enforces this policy and protects you from external threats.
Test 1.2 - Malware Detection
This test downloads a malicious file containing a test string (EICAR) from our security analyzer website (https://lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com/downloads/eicar_com.zip).
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Malware can steal your data, install other malware, and damage your system. Blocking malware helps protect your system from these threats.
- Per Forbes - It is estimated that 560,000 new pieces of malware are detected every day and that there are now more than 1 billion malware programs circulating. This translates to four companies falling victim to ransomware attacks every minute.
Multi-Layered Malware in ZIP File Detection
To assess the system's capability to detect this multi-layered threat, try to download a virus (Eicar) from a publicly accessible archive contained within a ZIP file with multiple layers. Detecting such threats is crucial for preventing complex malware attacks that could exploit vulnerabilities within the system, potentially leading to data breaches and system compromise.
- Update your security policy to block malware downloaded from any website.
- Deploy a solution that helps detect malware embedded under multiple layers of a zip file, enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 1.3 - Multi-Layered Malware in ZIP File Detection
This test downloads a malicious file containing a test string (EICAR) compressed with multiple ZIP layers from our security analyzer website (https://lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com).
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Multi-layered malware is designed to evade detection by traditional security measures.
- Blocking multi-layered malware helps protect your system from these threats.
- Per Forbes - It is estimated that 560,000 new pieces of malware are detected every day and that there are now more than 1 billion malware programs circulating. This translates to four companies falling victim to ransomware attacks every minute.
Infected PDF Detection
To evaluate the system's ability to detect malware embedded in Office or PDF documents, preventing complex malware attacks that could exploit vulnerabilities within the system, try to download a virus (Eicar) from a publicly accessible archive contained within a PDF file.
- Update your security policy to block malware embedded in any document downloaded from any website.
- Use a web proxy that can detect malware embedded in Office or PDF documents.
- Deploy a solution that has integration with threat engines and can detect malware in any form, effectively enforces this policy across all users and protects you from external threats.
Test 1.4 - Infected PDF Detection
This test downloads a malicious file containing a test string (EICAR) embedded in a PDF document from our security analyzer website (https://lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com/downloads/eicar-adobe-acrobat-attachment.pdf).
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Infected PDF files can contain malware that can infect and damage your computer. Blocking infected PDF files from untrusted sources helps protect your system from these threats.
- Per a report from Vipre security group - PDFs as a malspam delivery tool have more than quadrupled since Q1 this year.
Secure Internet Access
Phishing Website Blockage
To evaluate the system's ability to prevent unauthorized data access or identity theft for your organization and your users, verify the system's ability to prevent access to a potentially harmful phishing website.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of phishing websites on PCs and mobile devices.
- Implement a system for reporting phishing websites to the security team so that they can be blocked for all users.
- Educate employees on how to identify phishing websites and avoid clicking on links or entering their personal information on these sites.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 2.1 - Phishing Website Blockage
The URL used for this test is https://lcsa.okta-ssl.com/
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Phishing websites are designed to trick users into entering their personal information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers. This information can then be used by cybercriminals to commit identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities.
- According to a report, 36% of all data breaches involve Phishing
Command & Control Platform Access Blockage
To evaluate the system's ability to prevent unauthorized data access or identity theft for your organization and your users, verify the system's ability to prevent access to a potentially malicious or C2 (Command and Control) website.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of malicious websites on PCs and mobile devices.
- Implement a system for blocking known C2 IPs and domain names.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that could indicate the presence of a C2 on your PCs and mobile devices.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 2.2 - Command & Control Platform Blockage
The malicious website used for this test is https://malware.wicar.org
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Command and control (C2) websites are used by cybercriminals to control their botnets, which are networks of compromised computers. These botnets can be used to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, steal data, and spread malware.
- Per Cyberthreat Landscape 2023 report, In Q3 2023, bad actors used various social engineering channels in successful attacks on individuals: phishing websites (54%), email (27%), social media scams (19%), and instant messaging hoaxes (16%).
Limit access to Social Network sites
To evaluate the system's ability to prevent or limit access to social networks like X (formerly twitter), Facebook etc..
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of social networks on your PCs and mobile devices.
- Implement a system for blocking known social networking IPs and domain names.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that could indicate the presence of a social networking site.
- Educate employees on the risks of social networking and provide them with guidance on how to use these platforms safely.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 2.3 - Social Networks Blockage
The social network used for this test is https://twitter.com
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Social networks can be a source of malware, phishing attacks, and social engineering scams. They can also be a distraction for employees and can lead to data leakage.
- Scammers target your users with a broad array of threats, including social media impersonation schemes, defamation, physical violence, and counterfeit ads. If you are breached, you face costly cleanups, fraud losses, and brand damage
Adult Content Blockage
To evaluate the system's ability to mitigate potential risks like inappropriate content exposure, compliance violations, and potential legal consequences, verify the system's ability to prevent access to adult content websites.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of adult content websites on your PCs and mobile devices.
- Implement a system for blocking known adult content IPs and domain names.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that could indicate the presence of an adult content site.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 2.4 - Adult Content Blockage
The website used for this test is https://porn.com
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Adult content can be inappropriate for employees, especially those in sensitive industries. It can also lead to compliance violations and potential legal consequences for organizations.
Proxy Bypass Blockage
To evaluate the system's ability to ensure robust protection against potential security breaches, data integrity issues, and unauthorized circumvention of network policies, verify the system's ability to prevent access to websites designed to bypass proxy classifications.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of proxy bypass/anonymizers on PCs and mobile devices.
- Implement a system for blocking known proxy bypass IPs and domain names.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that could indicate the presence of a proxy bypass site.
- Educate employees on the risks of using proxy bypass websites and provide them with guidance on how to comply with network security policies.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 2.5 - Proxy Bypass Blockage
The website used for this test is https://newipnow.com
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Proxy bypass websites can be used to circumvent network security policies and access websites that are blocked by the organization. This can lead to security breaches, data leaks, and other malicious activities.
Sensitive Data Protection
Personal Data Upload Protection
To evaluate the system's ability to ensure compliance with data protection rules (CCPA, GDPR, etc.) and safeguard against potential legal and regulatory consequences, assess the system's ability to detect and block the upload of personal data in security tests.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of personal data manipulation in public websites or cloud applications.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting personal data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect you from external threats.
Test 3.1 - Personal Data Upload Protection
This test validates if uploading a file containing names, emails addresses, phone number and passport numbers from USA, France & Singapore to https://lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com is possible.
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Personal data, such as names, addresses, and contact information, is valuable to cybercriminals who can use it for identity theft, fraud, and other malicious purposes. Failing to protect personal data can result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage for organizations.
PCI Data Upload Protection
To evaluate the system's ability to ensure compliance with data protection rules (PCIDSS, SOX, GLBA, etc.) and safeguard against potential legal and regulatory consequences, assess the system's ability to detect and block the upload of financial data in security tests.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of financial data manipulation in public websites or cloud applications.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting financial data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect your sensitive data.
Test 3.2 - PCI Data Upload Protection
This test validates if uploading a file containing names and credit card numbers to https://lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com is possible.
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Financial data, such as credit card numbers and bank account information, is highly sensitive and must be protected from unauthorized access. Failing to protect financial data can result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage for organizations.
SSN or any National Identity Data Upload Protection
To evaluate the system's ability to ensure compliance with data protection rules (HIPAA, CCPA, DPA, GDPR, etc.) and safeguard against potential legal and regulatory consequences, assess the system's ability to detect and block the upload of Social Security Number (SSN) data in security tests.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of SSN manipulation in public websites or cloud applications.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting SSN or any medical data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect your sensitive data.
Test 3.3 - SSN Data Upload Protection
This test validates if uploading a file containing names and social security numbers to https://lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com is possible.
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are highly sensitive and must be protected from unauthorized access. Failing to protect SSNs can result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage for organizations.
Sensitive Data Uploads in Generative AI Systems Protection
To evaluate the system's ability to detect and block the upload of source code posted in generative AI systems, protecting the security and intellectual property of your organization.
- Enhance the SWG's URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of the upload of Intellectual Property to generative AI platforms.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting source code or any sensitive data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect your sensitive data.
Test 3.4 - Sensitive Data Upload in Generative AI Protection
This test validates if uploading a file containing a basic function to https://api.openai.com is possible.
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Generative AI systems, while capable of producing creative text formats, pose a significant security risk when exposed to sensitive data or intellectual property (IP) content. Malicious actors can exploit this access to generate harmful content or steal valuable IP, jeopardizing the integrity and security of sensitive information.
Sensitive Data Upload to file sharing platform
To assess the system's ability to detect and block the upload of secret or API keys uploaded to a public website, upholding the confidentiality and security of your organization's sensitive information.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of the upload of Intellectual Property to public websites or cloud applications. This includes identifying patterns and keywords associated with secret or API keys, as well as blocking uploads to known file-sharing platforms.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network. DLP solutions can detect and block the unauthorized transmission of secret or API keys, even if they are embedded within other files or documents.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that could indicate the presence of unauthorized access to secret or API keys. This includes monitoring for unusual login attempts to cloud services, changes to access permissions, and unauthorized data transfers.
- Regularly review and update cloud security policies and procedures related to the handling and protection of secret or API keys. As cyber threats evolve, it is important to keep security measures up-to-date to protect against emerging threats.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting secrets, source code or any sensitive data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect your sensitive data.
Test 3.5 - Sensitive Data Upload to file sharing platform
This test validates if uploading a file containing an API key uploaded to https://file.io
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Secret or API keys are used to authenticate access to sensitive data and systems.
- Failing to protect secret or API keys can result in significant security breaches and data leaks.
Company Confidential Data Upload to file sharing platform
To assess the system's ability to detect and block the upload of documents marked as "Company Confidential", safeguarding the confidentiality and integrity of organizational information.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of the upload of confidential documents to public websites or cloud applications. This includes identifying documents classified as confidential, identifying patterns and keywords associated with "Company Confidential" documents, as well as blocking uploads to known file-sharing platforms.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network. DLP solutions can detect and block the unauthorized transmission of "Company Confidential" documents, even if they are embedded within other files or documents.
- Implement data classification and labeling policies to clearly identify "Company Confidential" documents. This makes it easier for employees to recognize and handle these documents appropriately, reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized disclosure.
- Restrict access to "Company Confidential" documents to authorized personnel only. Limit access to these documents to those who have a legitimate need to access them, and implement access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
- Monitor employee activity related to "Company Confidential" documents. This includes tracking document access, sharing, and download patterns to identify potential risks and take corrective action if necessary.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting any company’s sensitive data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect your sensitive data.
Test 3.6 - Company Confidential Data Upload to file sharing platform
This test validates if uploading a word document containing “Company Confidential” uploaded to https://file.io
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- "Company Confidential" documents contain sensitive information that is not publicly available. Failing to protect "Company Confidential" documents can result in significant financial penalties, reputational damage, and competitive advantages.
Confidential Images Upload Protection
To assess the system's ability to detect and block the upload of confidential images, safeguarding the confidentiality and integrity of organizational information.
- Enhance URL filtering policies to boost its capacity for more effective identification and blocking of the upload of confidential documents to public websites or cloud applications. This includes identifying images classified as confidential, identifying patterns and keywords using Optical Character Recognition.
- Implement data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control the movement of sensitive data across the network. DLP solutions can detect and block the unauthorized transmission of confidential images, even if they are embedded within other files or documents.
- Implement data classification and labeling policies to clearly identify sensitive documents. This makes it easier for employees to recognize and handle these documents appropriately, reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized disclosure.
- Restrict access to confidential or sensitive images to authorized personnel only. Limit access to these documents to those who have a legitimate need to access them, and implement access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
- Monitor employee activity related to confidential or sensitive images. This includes tracking document access, sharing, and download patterns to identify potential risks and take corrective action if necessary.
- As most of the data leaks are due to human error, educate employees on the importance of protecting any company’s sensitive data and coach them automatically when they have inappropriate behavior.
- Deploy a solution that helps enforce this policy and protect your sensitive data leveraging OCR to analyze and protect confidential or sensitive images.
Test 3.7 - Confidential Images Upload Protection
This test validates if uploading a US passport to a public website is allowed.The passport https://www.lookoutsecurityanalyzer.com/downloads/passport.jpeg is uploaded to this public website.
Why it's important to block or prevent access to this kind of content:
- Sensitive documents, such as a US passport, contain sensitive information not intended for public dissemination. Failure to secure such documents can lead to severe consequences, including substantial financial penalties, damage to the organization's reputation, and potential exploitation by competitors.