The Threats of Phishing-As-A-Service

To pull off successful phishing in the past, attackers need decent technical skills and must put in some work. This was a barrier to entry for would-be cybercriminals.

However, with the advent of phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) , any malicious actor now has the means of executing sophisticated phishing attacks against various targets.

Despite the publicity, phishing remains a major way through which cybercriminals compromise organizations’ systems.

Phishing-as-a-service provides low-cost and easy-to-use access to phishing tools and kits.

In order to properly understand phishing-as-a-service, we’ll discuss the activities of a phishing-as-a-service provider exposed by Microsoft in a recent blog post.

The Phishing as a Service
Microsoft office 365 security researchers came across a large-scale phishing campaign that involved over 300,000 subdomains in its various attacks. The underlying phishing-as-a-service provider for these attacks was discovered to be BulletProofLink which is believed to have been operating since 2018.

The operators behind the phishing service openly advertise their services on websites/social media using promotional materials. These services aid attackers in outsourcing parts or all of their phishing campaigns to third parties.

BulletProofLink also known as Anthrax, offers both a one-off service and subscription-based model for their customers.

It also provides more than 100 phishing templates for Brands and online services to help customers to steal credentials from unsuspecting businesses.

Attackers no longer need to clone websites and email on their own because of the proliferation of done-for-you phishing services that boasts a large selection of emails and fake sign-in pages.

BulletProofLink Services
The cost of BulletProofLink’s phishing service ranges from $50 for a one-time hosting link and as much as $800 for a monthly subscription.

Researchers discovered that BulletProofLink didn’t just make money by selling kits and services, they also received a copy of stolen data that their clients get in a process known as double extortion or double theft.

Bitcoin is used as a payment method on bulletproof’s website and they offer customer support via Skype, ICQ, forums, and chat rooms.

Phishing Templates
Customers can purchase phishing templates from BulletProofLink that will be self-hosted and sent to a custom email target list. In this case, the client is in charge of directly collecting stolen login details.

For customers who want a more complete service, this phishing-as-a-service provider can host the malicious link and collect victims’ credentials before forwarding the logs to subscribers via ICQ or email.

Bulletproof email and hosting templates are designed to evade anti-phishing security systems. They also host a large array of phishing kits which makes detection more challenging as they cannot be identified with just one phishing signature.

Phishing Kits
Phishing kits are phishing materials and tools that are sold by cybercriminals and resellers to potential attackers. The kits contain packages that include already developed websites, documents, and email templates.

Attackers use the kit to set up their own phishing websites on purchased domains. The kits are made available as a one-time download or via a web portal provided by the PhaaS operators.

In phishing-as-a-service, attackers pay the controllers to get the necessary kit for a phishing campaign.

Service providers who offer the complete package of hosting and data collection are also popular with customers.

Anti-Security Features of BulletProofLink Services
BulletProofLink services use some interesting techniques in their phishing kits. These include:

1. The infinite Subdomain Abuse:

This is a method by which the compromised DNS of a website can be configured for wildcard subdomain creation. This means that an attacker can create multiple unique URLs for each phishing email recipient while only being in control of one domain. Anti-phishing software that relies on matching exact URL or domain finds it challenging to detect this pattern of attack.

 2. Zero-point Font: Bulletproof link phishing email kits also make use of the Zero-font technique for evading anti-malware. In this method, random characters are inserted between words that are likely to be flagged by antivirus. But these characters are reduced to zero font so they are invisible to readers but can throw off email scanners.

Protecting Your Organization from Phishing as a Service
• Set up anti-phishing policies for your organization and enforce them
• Install anti-phishing solutions to block malicious email
• Configure the highest security settings for your email provider
• Enable link scanning tools such as SafeLinks to scan for malicious emails
• Train employees to spot and report phishing emails

Phishing attacks will continue to increase as they become easier to deploy thanks to phishing-as-a-service providers. Maintaining a secure working environment is challenging because of the evolving threat landscape. SDTEK can help your business deploy strong security solutions to protect it against phishing. Get in touch today to discuss your options.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.