If you’ve used a computer – Windows or Mac – in the past 20 or so years, you’ve probably used a handy product called Malwarebytes. Once consider a scrappy bit of software us techs could whip out during the early days of malware infections, Malwarebytes has since “leveled-up” into a very successful security platform that still offers a useful, free version of its malware scanner. Unfortunately, their visibility in the market makes them a big target as well, and they just revealed that they have been compromised by the same hacking group that gutted SolarWinds.
What this means for you
According to Malwarebytes, unlike SolarWinds their products were not compromised but their email was hacked in the same manner. Even so, email is the lifeblood of any organization, so this is still a blow to their brand and to their internal morale. In their defense, the group responsible for the hack is credited with possibly one of the most devastating cyberattacks in history and it’s pretty evident we are only just starting to discover the breadth of their campaign which is conservatively estimated to include thousands of companies. These types of wounds (and scars) are earned on the front-lines of a war most of us don’t see, and it is at once disconcerting and strangely comforting that even the largest, best prepared organizations still fall victim to cyberattacks. This should not discourage you from making every effort to stay safe. If anything this should serve as a stark reminder that there are powerful forces aligned against ethical, honest people who are just trying to get some work done, and as such always allocate a healthy amount of resources and respect for security and backup for your technology infrastructure.
