Expanded Strategy Used by Scattered Spider in Latest Cyber Attacks
In a recent blog post, the Microsoft Defender Security Research Team has shared alarming information about the ongoing attacks by the cybercrime group known as Scattered Spider, also known as Octo Tempest. This group has been involved in a series of attacks across multiple industries, including airlines, insurance, and retail, over the past several months.
## Recent Techniques and Tactics
Scattered Spider has been leveraging sophisticated social engineering methods, including phishing attacks and vishing scams, to target privileged individuals within organizations and gain initial access. The group often uses third-party compromise methods to breach organizations, exploiting vulnerabilities in partner companies or services. Although not explicitly mentioned in recent attacks, Scattered Spider has historically used SMS and Telegram for phishing and other scams. While not detailed in recent reports, their ability to conduct sophisticated attacks suggests they may employ tactics like MITM to intercept communications or manipulate data flows. In these recent attacks, there is no specific mention of Scattered Spider using DragonForce ransomware. However, the group is known for its involvement in ransomware attacks. Scattered Spider has shown a deep understanding of cloud computing platforms, including Microsoft Azure, Google Workspace, and AWS, but there are no recent reports indicating that they specifically target VMWare ESX hypervisor environments.
## Industry Targets
Between April and July 2025, Scattered Spider targeted the airlines sector, following previous attacks on retail and other industries. The group has also targeted insurance companies as part of its broader campaign affecting various sectors. Scattered Spider has been involved in significant disruptions in the retail sector, including a notable attack on Marks & Spencer.
## Mitigation Strategies
Organizations can mitigate these threats by enhancing social engineering defenses through employee training on phishing and vishing techniques. Monitoring indicators of compromise (IoCs) using endpoint detection tools can help identify malicious activity. Implementing multi-factor authentication and reviewing existing security controls is also crucial. Conducting red team exercises to simulate Scattered Spider attack scenarios can help organizations prepare for potential attacks. Scattered Spider is also abusing short messaging services in their attacks, making it essential for organizations to monitor these channels for suspicious activity.
In conclusion, the ongoing attacks by Scattered Spider pose a significant threat to various industries. Organizations must stay vigilant, implement robust security measures, and regularly update their defenses to protect against these sophisticated attacks.
- The Microsoft Defender Security Research Team's recent findings reveal that the cybercrime group Scattered Spider, known for ransomware attacks, employs advanced social engineering methods like phishing and vishing scams, often exploiting third-party compromises to gain access.
- In its recent campaign, Scattered Spider has targeted the airlines sector, insurance companies, and retail, with significant disruptions observed in the retail sector, such as the attack on Marks & Spencer.
- Protecting against Scattered Spider's attacks requires vigilance, including employee training on phishing and vishing techniques, endpoint detection for indicators of compromise (IoCs), multi-factor authentication, security control reviews, red team exercises, and monitoring short messaging services for suspicious activity.
