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December 21, 2020

How AI Stopped a WastedLocker Ransomware Intrusion & Fast

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21
Dec 2020
Stop WastedLocker ransomware in its tracks with Darktrace AI technology. Learn about how AI detected a recent attack using 'Living off the Land' techniques.

Since first being discovered in May 2020, WastedLocker has made quite a name for itself, quickly becoming an issue for businesses and cyber security firms around the world. WastedLocker is known for its sophisticated methods of obfuscation and steep ransom demands.

Its use of ‘Living off the Land’ techniques makes a WastedLocker attack extremely difficult for legacy security tools to detect. An ever-decreasing dwell time – the time between initial intrusion and final execution – means human responders alone struggle to contain the ransomware variant before damage is done.

This blog examines the anatomy of a WastedLocker intrusion that targeted a US agricultural organization in December. Darktrace’s AI detected and investigated the incident in real time, and we can see how Darktrace RESPOND would have autonomously taken action to stop the attack before encryption had begun.

As ransomware dwell time shrinks to hours rather than days, security teams are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to stop threats from escalating at the earliest signs of compromise – containing attacks even when they strike at night or on the weekend.

How the WastedLocker attack unfolded

Figure 1: A timeline of the attack

Initial intrusion

The initial infection appears to have taken place when an employee was deceived into downloading a fake browser update. Darktrace AI was monitoring the behavior of around 5,000 devices at the organization, continuously adapting its understanding of the evolving ‘pattern of life’. It detected the first signs of a threat when a virtual desktop device started making HTTP and HTTPS connections to external destinations that were deemed unusual for the organization. The graph below depicts how the patient zero device exhibited a spike in internal connections around December 4.

Figure 2: The patient zero device exhibiting a spike in internal connections, with orange dots indicating model breaches of varying severity

Reconnaissance

Attempted reconnaissance began just 11 minutes after the initial intrusion. Again, Darktrace immediately picked up on the activity, detecting unusual ICMP ping scans and targeted address scans on ports 135, 139 and 445; presumably as the attacker looked for potential further Windows targets. The below demonstrates the scanning detections based on the unusual number of new failed connections.

Figure 3: Darktrace detecting an unusual number of failed connections

Lateral movement

The attacker used an existing administrative credential to authenticate against a Domain Controller, initiating new service control over SMB. Darktrace picked this up immediately, identifying it as unusual behavior.

Figure 4: Darktrace identifying the DCE-RPC requests
Figure 5: Darktrace surfacing the SMB writes

Several hours later – and in the early hours of the morning – the attacker used a temporary admin account ‘tempadmin’ to move to another Domain Controller over SMB. Darktrace instantly detected this as it was highly unusual to use a temporary admin account to connect from a virtual desktop to a Domain Controller.

Figure 6: Further anomalous connections detected the following day

Lock and load: WastedLocker prepares to strike

During the beaconing activity, the attacker also conducted internal reconnaissance and managed to establish successful administrative and remote connections to other internal devices by using tools already present. Soon after, a transfer of suspicious .csproj files was detected by Darktrace, and at least four other devices began exhibiting similar command and control (C2) communications.

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However, with Darktrace’s real-time detections – and Cyber AI Analyst investigating and reporting on the incident in a number of minutes, the security team were able to contain the attack, taking the infected devices offline.

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Automated investigations with Cyber AI Analyst

Darktrace’s Cyber AI Analyst launched an automatic investigation around every anomaly detection, forming hypotheses, asking questions about its own findings, and forming accurate answers at machine speed. It then generated high-level, intuitive incident summaries for the security team. Over the 48 hour period, the AI Analyst surfaced just six security incidents in total, with three of these directly relating to the WastedLocker intrusion.

Figure 7: The Cyber AI Analyst threat tray

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The snapshot below shows a VMWare device (patient zero) making repeated external connections to rare destinations, scanning the network and using new admin credentials.

Figure 8: Cyber AI Analyst investigates

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Darktrace RESPOND: AI that responds when the security team cannot

Darktrace RESPOND – the world’s first and only Autonomous Response technology – was configured in passive mode, meaning it did not actively interfere with the attack, but if we dive back into the Threat Visualizer we can see that Antigena in fully autonomous mode would have responded to the attack at this early stage, buying the security team valuable time.

In this case, after the initial unusual SSL C2 detection (based on a combination of destination rarity, JA3 unusualness and frequency analysis), RESPOND (formerly known as 'Antigena', as shown in the screenshots below) suggested instantly blocking the C2 traffic on port 443 and parallel internal scanning on port 135.

Figure 9: The Threat Visualizer reveals the action Antigena would have taken

When beaconing was later observed to bywce.payment.refinedwebs[.]com, this time over HTTP to /updateSoftwareVersion, RESPOND escalated its response by blocking the further C2 channels.

Figure 10: Antigena escalates its response

The vast majority of response tools rely on hard-coded, pre-defined rules, formulated as ‘If X, do Y’. This can lead to false positives that unnecessarily take devices offline and hamper productivity. Darktrace RESPOND's actions are proportionate, bespoke to the organization, and not created in advance. Darktrace Antigena autonomously chose what to block and the severity of the blocks based on the context of the intrusion, without a human pre-eminently hard-coding any commands or set responses.

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Every response over the 48 hours was related to the incident – RESPOND did not try to take action on anything else during the intrusion period. It simply would have actioned a surgical response to contain the threat, while allowing the rest of the business to carry on as usual. There were a total of 59 actions throughout the incident time period – excluding the ‘Watched Domain Block’ actions shown below – which are used during incident response to proactively shut down C2 communication.

Figure 11: All Antigena action attempts during the intrusion period across the whole organization

RESPOND would have delivered those blocks via whatever integration is most suitable for the organization – whether that be Firewall integrations, NACL integrations or other native integrations. The technology would have blocked the malicious activity on the relevant ports and protocols for several hours – surgically interrupting the threat actors’ intrusion activity, thus preventing further escalation and giving the security team air cover.

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Stopping WastedLocker ransomware before encryption ensues

This attack used many notable Tools, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) to bypass signature-based tools. It took advantage of ‘Living off the Land’ techniques, including Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), Powershell, and default admin credential use. Only one of the involved C2 domains had a single hit on Open Source Intelligence Lists (OSINT); the others were unknown at the time. The C2 was also encrypted with legitimate Thawte SSL Certificates.

For these reasons, it is plausible that without Darktrace in place, the ransomware would have been successful in encrypting files, preventing business operations at a critical time and possibly inflicting huge financial and reputational losses to the organization in question.

Darktrace’s AI detects and stops ransomware in its tracks without relying on threat intelligence. Ransomware has thrived this year, with attackers constantly coming up with new attack TTPs. However, the above threat find demonstrates that even targeted, sophisticated strains of ransomware can be stopped with AI technology.

Thanks to Darktrace analyst Signe Zaharka for her insights on the above threat find.

Learn more about Autonomous Response

Darktrace model detections:

  • Compliance / High Priority Compliance Model Breach
  • Compliance / Weak Active Directory Ticket Encryption
  • Anomalous Connection / Cisco Umbrella Block Page
  • Anomalous Server Activity / Anomalous External Activity from Critical Network Device
  • Compliance / Default Credential Usage
  • Compromise / Suspicious TLS Beaconing To Rare External
  • Anomalous Server Activity / Rare External from Server
  • Device / Lateral Movement and C2 Activity
  • Compromise / SSL Beaconing to Rare Destination
  • Device / New or Uncommon WMI Activity
  • Compromise / Watched Domain
  • Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Watched Domain Block
  • Compromise / HTTP Beaconing to Rare Destination
  • Compromise / Slow Beaconing Activity To External Rare
  • Device / Multiple Lateral Movement Model Breaches
  • Compromise / High Volume of Connections with Beacon Score
  • Device / Large Number of Model Breaches
  • Compromise / Beaconing Activity To External Rare
  • Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Controlled and Model Breach
  • Anomalous Connection / New or Uncommon Service Control
  • Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Significant Anomaly from Client Block
  • Compromise / SSL or HTTP Beacon
  • Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Suspicious Activity Block
  • Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Breaches Over Time Block
  • Compromise / Sustained SSL or HTTP Increase
  • Unusual Activity / Unusual Internal Connections
  • Device / ICMP Address Scan

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Inside the SOC
Darktrace cyber analysts are world-class experts in threat intelligence, threat hunting and incident response, and provide 24/7 SOC support to thousands of Darktrace customers around the globe. Inside the SOC is exclusively authored by these experts, providing analysis of cyber incidents and threat trends, based on real-world experience in the field.
Author
Max Heinemeyer
Global Field CISO

Max is a cyber security expert with over a decade of experience in the field, specializing in a wide range of areas such as Penetration Testing, Red-Teaming, SIEM and SOC consulting and hunting Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups. At Darktrace, Max is closely involved with Darktrace’s strategic customers & prospects. He works with the R&D team at Darktrace, shaping research into new AI innovations and their various defensive and offensive applications. Max’s insights are regularly featured in international media outlets such as the BBC, Forbes and WIRED. Max holds an MSc from the University of Duisburg-Essen and a BSc from the Cooperative State University Stuttgart in International Business Information Systems.

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January 2, 2025

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Inside the SOC

A Snake in the Net: Defending Against AiTM Phishing Threats and Mamba 2FA

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What are Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM) phishing kits?

Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platforms have significantly lowered the barriers to entry for cybercriminals, enabling a new wave of sophisticated phishing attacks. Among the most concerning developments in this landscape is the emergence of Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM) phishing kits, which enhance traditional phishing tactics by allowing attackers to intercept and manipulate communications in real-time. The PhaaS marketplace offers a wide variety of innovative capabilities, with basic services starting around USD 120 and more advanced services costing around USD 250 monthly [1].

These AiTM kits are designed to create convincing decoy pages that mimic legitimate login interfaces, often pre-filling user information to increase credibility. By acting as a man-in-the-middle, attackers can harvest sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, and even multi-factor authentication (MFA) tokens without raising immediate suspicion. This capability not only makes AiTM attacks more effective but also poses a significant challenge for cybersecurity defenses [2].

Mamba 2FA is one such example of a PhaaS strain with AiTM capabilities that has emerged as a significant threat to users of Microsoft 365 and other enterprise systems. Discovered in May 2024, Mamba 2FA employs advanced AiTM tactics to bypass MFA, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on these security measures.

What is Mamba 2FA?

Phishing Mechanism

Mamba 2FA employs highly convincing phishing pages that closely mimic legitimate Microsoft services like OneDrive and SharePoint. These phishing URLs are crafted with a specific structure, incorporating Base64-encoded parameters. This technique allows attackers to tailor the phishing experience to the targeted organization, making the deception more effective. If an invalid parameter is detected, users are redirected to a benign error page, which helps evade automated detection systems [5].

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Figure 1: Phishing page mimicking the Microsoft OneDrive service.

Real-Time Communication

A standout feature of Mamba 2FA is its use of the Socket.IO JavaScript library. This library facilitates real-time communication between the phishing page and the attackers' backend servers. As users input sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and MFA tokens on the phishing site, this data is immediately relayed to the attackers, enabling swift unauthorized access [5].

Multi-Factor Authentication Bypass

Mamba 2FA specifically targets MFA methods that are not resistant to phishing, such as one-time passwords (OTPs) and push notifications. When a user enters their MFA token, it is captured in real-time by the attackers, who can then use it to access the victim's account immediately. This capability significantly undermines traditional security measures that rely on MFA for account protection.

Infrastructure and Distribution

The platform's infrastructure consists of two main components: link domains and relay servers. Link domains handle initial phishing attempts, while relay servers are responsible for stealing credentials and completing login processes on behalf of the attacker. The relay servers are designed to mask their IP addresses by using proxy services, making it more difficult for security systems to block them [3].

Evasion Techniques

To evade detection by security tools, Mamba 2FA employs several strategies:

  • ‍Sandbox Detection: The platform can detect if it is being analyzed in a sandbox environment and will redirect users to harmless pages like Google’s 404 error page.‍
  • Dynamic URL Generation: The URLs used in phishing attempts are frequently rotated and often short-lived to avoid being blacklisted by security solutions.‍
  • HTML Attachments: Phishing emails often include HTML attachments that appear benign but contain hidden JavaScript that redirects users to the phishing page [5].

Darktrace’s Coverage of Mamba 2FA

Starting in July 2024, the Darktrace Threat Research team detected a sudden rise in Microsoft 365 customer accounts logging in from unusual external sources. These accounts were accessed from an anomalous endpoint, 2607:5500:3000:fea[::]2, and exhibited unusual behaviors upon logging into Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) accounts. This activity strongly correlates with a phishing campaign using Mamba 2FA, first documented in late June 2024 and tracked as Mamba 2FA by Sekoia [2][3].

Darktrace / IDENTITY  was able to identify the initial stages of the Mamba 2FA campaign by correlating subtle anomalies, such as unusual SaaS login locations. Using AI based on peer group analysis, it detected unusual behavior associated with these attacks. By leveraging Autonomous Response actions, Darktrace was able to neutralize these threats in every instance of the campaign detected.

On July 23, a SaaS user was observed logging in from a rare ASN and IP address, 2607:5500:3000:fea::2, originating from the US and successfully passed through MFA authentication.

Figure 2: Model Alert Event Log showing Darktrace’s detection of a SaaS user mailbox logging in from an unusual source it correlates with Mamba 2FA relay server.

Almost an hour later, the SaaS user was observed logging in from another suspicious IP address, 45.133.172[.]86, linked to ASN AS174 COGENT-174. This IP, originating from the UK, successfully passed through MFA validation.

Following this unusual access, the SaaS user was notably observed reading emails and files that could contain sensitive payment and contract information. This behavior suggests that the attacker may have been leveraging contextual information about the target to craft further malicious phishing emails or fraudulent invoices. Subsequently, the user was detected creating a new mailbox rule titled 'fdsdf'. This rule was configured to redirect emails from a specific domain to the 'Deleted Items' folder and automatically mark them as read.

Implications of Unusual Email Rules

Such unusual email rule configurations are a common tactic employed by attackers. They often use these rules to automatically forward emails containing sensitive keywords—such as "invoice”, "payment", or "confidential"—to an external address. Additionally, these rules help conceal malicious activities, keeping them hidden from the target and allowing the attacker to operate undetected.

Figure 3: The model alert “SaaS / Compliance / Anomalous New Email Rule,” pertaining to the unusual email rule created by the SaaS user named ‘fdsdf’.

Blocking the action

A few minutes later, the SaaS user from the unusual IP address 45.133.172[.]86 was observed attempting to send an email with the subject “RE: Payments.” Subsequently, Darktrace detected the user engaging in activities that could potentially establish persistence in the compromised account, such as registering a new authenticator app. Recognizing this sequence of anomalous behaviors, Darktrace implemented an Autonomous Response inhibitor, disabling the SaaS user for two hours. This action effectively contained potential malicious activities, such as the distribution of phishing emails and fraudulent invoices, and gave the customer’s security team the necessary time to conduct a thorough investigation and implement appropriate security measures.

Figure 4: Device Event Log displaying Darktrace’s Autonomous Response taking action by blocking the SaaS account.
Figure 5: Darktrace / IDENTITY highlighting the 16 model alerts that triggered during the observed compromise.

In another example from mid-July, similar activities related to the campaign were observed on another customer network. A SaaS user was initially detected logging in from the unusual external endpoint 2607:5500:3000:fea[::]2.

Figure 6: The SaaS / Compromise / SaaS Anomaly Following Anomalous Login model alert was triggered by an unusual login from a suspicious IP address linked to Mamba 2FA.

A few minutes later, in the same manner as demonstrated in the previous case, the actor was observed logging in from another rare endpoint, 102.68.111[.]240. However, this time it was from a source IP located in Lagos, Nigeria, which no other user on the network had been observed connecting from. Once logged in, the SaaS user updated the settings to "User registered Authenticator App with Notification and Code," a possible attempt to maintain persistence in the SaaS account.

Figure 7: Darktrace / IDENTITY highlighted the regular locations for the SaaS user. The rarity scores associated with the Mamba 2FA IP location and another IP located in Nigeria were classified as having very low regularity scores for this user.

Based on unusual patterns of user behavior, a Cyber AI Analyst Incident was also generated, detailing all potential account hijacking activities. Darktrace also applied an Autonomous Response action, disabling the user for over five hours. This swift action was crucial in preventing further unauthorized access, potential data breaches and further implications.

Figure 8: Cyber AI Analyst Incident detailing the unusual activities related to the SaaS account hijacking.

Since the customer had subscribed to Darktrace Security Operations Centre (SOC) services, Darktrace analysts conducted an additional human investigation confirming the account compromise.

How Darktrace Combats Phishing Threats

The initial entry point for Mamba 2FA account compromises primarily involves phishing campaigns using HTML attachments and deceptive links. These phishing attempts are designed to mimic legitimate Microsoft services, such as OneDrive and SharePoint, making them appear authentic to unsuspecting users. Darktrace / EMAIL leverages multiple capabilities to analyze email content for known indicators of phishing. This includes looking for suspicious URLs, unusual attachments (like HTML files with embedded JavaScript), and signs of social engineering tactics commonly used in phishing campaigns like Mamba 2FA. With these capabilities, Darktrace successfully detected Mamba 2FA phishing emails in networks where this tool is integrated into the security layers, consequently preventing further implications and account hijacks of their users.

Mamba 2FA URL Structure and Domain Names

The URL structure used in Mamba 2FA phishing attempts is specifically designed to facilitate the capture of user credentials and MFA tokens while evading detection. These phishing URLs typically follow a pattern that incorporates Base64-encoded parameters, which play a crucial role in the operation of the phishing kit.

The URLs associated with Mamba 2FA phishing pages generally follow this structure [6]:

https://{domain}/{m,n,o}/?{Base64 string}

Below are some potential Mamba 2FA phishing emails, with the Base64 strings already decoded, that were classified as certain threats by Darktrace / EMAIL. This classification was based on identifying multiple suspicious characteristics, such as HTML attachments containing JavaScript code, emails from senders with no previous association with the recipients, analysis of redirect links, among others. These emails were autonomously blocked from being delivered to users' inboxes.

Figure 9: Darktrace / EMAIL highlighted a possible phishing email from Mamba 2FA, which was classified as a 100% anomaly.
Figure 10: Darktrace / EMAIL highlighted a URL that resembles the characteristics associated with Mamba 2FA.

Conclusion

The rise of PhaaS platforms and the advent of AiTM phishing kits represent a concerning evolution in cyber threats, pushing the boundaries of traditional phishing tactics and exposing significant vulnerabilities in current cybersecurity defenses. The ability of these attacks to effortlessly bypass traditional security measures like MFA underscores the need for more sophisticated, adaptive strategies to combat these evolving threats.

By identifying and responding to anomalous activities within Microsoft 365 accounts, Darktrace not only highlights the importance of comprehensive monitoring but also sets a new standard for proactive threat detection. Furthermore, the autonomous threat response capabilities and the exceptional proficiency of Darktrace / EMAIL in intercepting and neutralizing sophisticated phishing attacks illustrate a robust defense mechanism that can effectively safeguard users and maintain the integrity of digital ecosystems.

Credit to Patrick Anjos (Senior Cyber Analyst) and Nahisha Nobregas (Senior Cyber Analyst)

Appendices

Darktrace Model Detections

  • SaaS / Access / M365 High Risk Level Login
  • SaaS / Access / Unusual External Source for SaaS Credential Use
  • SaaS / Compromise / Login From Rare Endpoint While User Is Active
  • SaaS / Compliance / M365 Security Information Modified
  • SaaS / Compromise / Unusual Login and New Email Rule
  • SaaS / Email Nexus / Suspicious Internal Exchange Activity
  • SaaS / Compliance / Anomalous New Email Rule
  • SaaS / Email Nexus / Possible Outbound Email Spam
  • SaaS / Compromise / Unusual Login and Account Update
  • SaaS / Compromise / SaaS Anomaly Following Anomalous Login
  • SaaS / Compliance / M365 Security Information Modified
  • SaaS / Compromise / Login From Rare Endpoint While User Is Active
  • SaaS / Compromise / Unusual Login, Sent Mail, Deleted Sent
  • SaaS / Unusual Activity / Multiple Unusual SaaS Activities
  • SaaS / Email Nexus / Unusual Login Location Following Link to File Storage
  • SaaS / Unusual Activity / Multiple Unusual External Sources For SaaS Credential
  • IaaS / Compliance / Uncommon Azure External User Invite
  • SaaS / Compliance / M365 External User Added to Group
  • SaaS / Access / M365 High Risk Level Login
  • SaaS / Compliance / M365 Security Information Modified
  • SaaS/ Unusual Activity / Unusual MFA Auth and SaaS Activity
  • SaaS / Compromise / Unusual Login and Account Update

Cyber AI Analyst Incidents:

  • Possible Hijack of Office365 Account
  • Possible Hijack of AzureActiveDirectory Account
  • Possible Unsecured Office365 Resource

List of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

IoC       Type    Description + Confidence

2607:5500:3000:fea[::]2 - IPv6 - Possible Mamba 2FA relay server

2607:5500:3000:1cab:[:]2 - IPv6 - Possible Mamba 2FA relay server

References

1.     https://securityaffairs.com/136953/cyber-crime/caffeine-phishing-platform.html

2.     https://any.run/cybersecurity-blog/analysis-of-the-phishing-campaign/

3.     https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-mamba-2fa-bypass-service-targets-microsoft-365-accounts/

4.     https://cyberinsider.com/microsoft-365-accounts-targeted-by-new-mamba-2fa-aitm-phishing-threat/

5.     https://blog.sekoia.io/mamba-2fa-a-new-contender-in-the-aitm-phishing-ecosystem/

MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

Tactic – Technique

DEFENSE EVASION, PERSISTENCE, PRIVILEGE ESCALATION, INITIAL ACCESS - Cloud Accounts

DISCOVERY - Cloud Service Dashboard

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT - Compromise Accounts

CREDENTIAL ACCESS - Steal Web Session Cookie

PERSISTENCE - Account Manipulation

PERSISTENCE - Outlook Rules

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT - Email Accounts

INITIAL ACCESS - Phishing

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About the author
Patrick Anjos
Senior Cyber Analyst

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January 8, 2025

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Darktrace Recognized in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Email Security Platforms

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Darktrace has been recognized in the first ever Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security Platforms (ESP).  As a Challenger, we have been recognized based on our Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security is designed to help organizations evaluate which email security solutions might be the best fit for their needs by providing a visual representation of the market vendors and the strengths and cautions of different vendors. We encourage our customers to read the full report to get the complete picture.

Darktrace / EMAIL has a unique AI approach to identifying threats, including NLP and behavioral analysis, instead of traditional security measures like signatures and sandboxing – providing protection against advanced attacks like Business Email Compromise (BEC) and spear phishing. We believe our AI-first approach delivers high-quality solutions that our customers trust, allowing them to stay ahead of sophisticated threats that other tools miss.  

We’re proud of Darktrace’s rapid growth, geographic scale, and ability to execute effectively in the email security market, which reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.

What do we believe makes Darktrace the fastest growing email security solution on the market?

An AI-first approach to innovation: Catching the threats others miss

As one of the founders of the ICES category, Darktrace has a long history of innovation, backed by over 200 patents. While other email security solutions are only just starting to apply machine learning (ML) techniques to outdated methods like signature analysis, reputation lists, and sandboxing, Darktrace has redefined the approach to email threat detection with its pioneering AI-driven anomaly detection engine.

Traditional ESPs often miss advanced threats because they rely on rules and signatures that focus on payloads and blindly trust known sources. This approach requires constant updates and frequently fails to detect threats like Business Email Compromise and Spear Phishing. In contrast, Darktrace / EMAIL uses advanced anomaly detection to identify the most sophisticated threats by focusing on unusual patterns and behaviors. This innovative approach has consistently delivered superior detection, stopping on average 58% of the threats that other solutions in the security stack miss.1

But our AI-first approach doesn’t stop at the inbox. At Darktrace, we transcend the limitations of traditional email security by leveraging a platform that unifies insights across multiple domains, providing robust protection against multi-domain threats. Our award-winning solutions defend the most popular attack vectors, including email, messaging, network, and identity protection. By combining signals from all domains, we establish unique behavioral profiles for each device and user, significantly enhancing detection precision.  

This pioneering approach has led to introducing industry-first advancements like QR code analysis and automated incident investigations, alongside game-changing functionality including:

  • Microsoft Teams security with advanced messaging analysis: The ability to identify critical early phishing and insider threats across both email and Microsoft Teams messaging.  
  • AI analyst narratives for improved end user reporting: that reduces phishing investigations by 60% by exposing unique narratives that provide the context of each received email and give feedback to each employee as they interact with their mail.2
  • Mailbox Security Assistant: to perform advanced behavioral browser analysis and stop malicious links within webpages, detecting and remediating 70% more malicious phishing links than traditional tools.3  
  • AI based, autonomous data loss prevention: to immediately secure your organization from misdirected emails, insider threats, and data loss—both classified and unclassified- without any administrative overhead.

Customer trust that fuels exponential growth

With almost 5,000 customers in under 5 years, we've doubled the growth rate of other vendors in the email security market. Our rapid market penetration, fueled by customer satisfaction and pioneering technology, showcases our revolutionary approach and sets new industry standards. 

Darktrace’s exceptional customer retention is fueled by an unparalleled customer experience, extensive regional support, dedicated account teams, and cutting-edge scalable technology. We pride ourselves on having a global network with local expertise, consisting of 110 worldwide offices which provide local language and technical support to offer multilingual, in-house assistance to our customer base.

Check it out – Darktrace / EMAIL has the highest percentage of 5-star ratings with a 4.8 rating on Gartner® Peer Insights™.4

Supporting every stage of your email security journey

Darktrace / EMAIL supports your security maturity journey, from first time security buyers to mature security stacks looking to augment their existing ESPs – by handling advanced threats without extensive tuning. And unlike other solutions that create a siloed and parallel solution, it works harmoniously with native email providers to create a modern email security stack. That’s why Darktrace performs well with first-time email security buyers and has strong renewal rates.

Integrating with Microsoft and Google via API, we replace traditional Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) with a modern, comprehensive email security stack. By combining approaches, our solution merges attack-centric analysis, which learns attack patterns and threat intelligence, with a business-centric approach that understands user behavior and inbox activity to deliver a unified stack that defends the entire threat spectrum – leading Darktrace to be recognized as Microsoft Partner of the year UK 2024.  

Our user-friendly, self-learning AI solution requires minimal tuning and deployment, making it perfect for customers looking for a highly usable but lightly configurable solution that will accompany them throughout their lifetime as they mature their email security stack in line with the evolving threat landscape.

Learn more

Get complimentary access to the full Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Email Security Platforms here.

To learn more about Darktrace / EMAIL or to get a free demo, check out the product hub.

References

1 From September 1 – December 31 2023, 58% of the phishing emails analyzed by Darktrace / EMAIL had already passed through native spam filtering and email security controls. (Darktrace End of Year Threat Report 2023)

2 When customers deployed the Darktrace / EMAIL Outlook Add-in there was a 60% decrease in incorrectly reported phishing emails. Darktrace Internal Research, 2024

3 Once a user reports phishing that contains a link, an automated second level triage engages our link analysis infrastructure expanding the signals analyzed. Darktrace Internal Research, 2024

4 Based on 252 reviews as of 19th December 2024

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About the author
Carlos Gray
Product Manager
Your data. Our AI.
Elevate your network security with Darktrace AI