Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Anatomy of a Cyberattack: Step-by-Step

By Mike Paul
November 01, 2021

Consider this scenario: You're a law firm accountant. Early one morning while reviewing emails, you see a message from the firm's real estate agent stating that the landlord has agreed to your latest counteroffer and is ready to move forward on the rental of your new office space. You continue discussions to finalize the deal, work on signing the paperwork and are ready to send over your deposit. A new email from the agent at the last-minute mentions changing banks and encloses updated wiring instructions. The email has a sense of urgency to send the information quickly or the deal may fall through. Looking at the email, it appears legitimate, and you've done two other deals with this agent in the past, so you feel comfortable with the request. You reply to the message confirming the change, the response says to move forward. And all appears well.

Human interactions on the Internet are often not what you think they are. Whether it's misinformation or a spear-fishing attack that directly targets you with the purpose of stealing money or your identity, it's important that you understand that fostering an information security mindset is critical.

Without additional thought and with the stress of the moving deadline looming over you, you initiate the wire transfer. A day later, when you haven't heard confirmation from your agent, you become suspicious and call them. The agent's assistant answers the phone and informs you the agent has been on vacation for the last two days and hasn't been checking email. You panic, thinking, "Who sent the message?" You get on the phone with your bank, but the funds have already been transferred. You report the transaction to the bank's fraud department, and you have an impending sense of dread. Thousands of dollars are gone.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
'Huguenot LLC v. Megalith Capital Group Fund I, L.P.': A Tutorial On Contract Liability for Real Estate Purchasers Image

In June 2024, the First Department decided Huguenot LLC v. Megalith Capital Group Fund I, L.P., which resolved a question of liability for a group of condominium apartment buyers and in so doing, touched on a wide range of issues about how contracts can obligate purchasers of real property.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

CoStar Wins Injunction for Breach-of-Contract Damages In CRE Database Access Lawsuit Image

Latham & Watkins helped the largest U.S. commercial real estate research company prevail in a breach-of-contract dispute in District of Columbia federal court.

Fresh Filings Image

Notable recent court filings in entertainment law.

The Power of Your Inner Circle: Turning Friends and Social Contacts Into Business Allies Image

Practical strategies to explore doing business with friends and social contacts in a way that respects relationships and maximizes opportunities.