CURLY SPIDER: The Dangerous Cyber Threat That Gains Your Trust!

A Call That Changes Everything

Imagine this: your phone rings. A friendly voice on the other end introduces themselves as IT support from your company. You’re warned that your spam filter is outdated and must be updated immediately. A simple click, a few quick instructions, and it's done – the attacker has taken control of your system. Welcome to the insidious world of CURLY SPIDER.

The Invisible Threat: Social Engineering in Polished Form

CURLY SPIDER is not your average hacker group. This sophisticated eCrime threat uses social engineering tactics to gain access to corporate networks – faster than you might think.

Here’s How CURLY SPIDER Operates:

• The Spam Wave: A flood of seemingly harmless emails from apparently legitimate sources, such as charities, newsletters, or financial offers.

• The Call: A supposed IT support representative contacts you, claiming your spam filter needs an update.

• The Deception: You're asked to use Microsoft Quick Assist or TeamViewer to resolve the issue.

• The Takeover: The attacker takes control of your system – in less than four minutes.

79% of cyberattacks today occur without the use of malware – instead, attackers rely on methods that bypass traditional security systems.(Source: CrowdStrike Global Threat Report 2025)

Why Is CURLY SPIDER So Dangerous?

• Targeting People, Not Machines: No firewall or antivirus can prevent employees from being tricked.

• Extremely Convincing: The attacks are professional, well-planned, and hard to detect.

• Legitimate IT Tools as Weapons: Because familiar remote support tools like Quick Assist or TeamViewer are used, many security solutions fail to raise any alarms.

And it gets worse: CURLY SPIDER works closely with other threat actors, including WANDERING SPIDER – the infamous ransomware group behind Black Basta. What begins as a harmless call can end in the complete encryption of your company’s data and a ransom demand.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Company

1. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA):   Especially with remote access, ensure your security architecture follows a Zero Trust approach. With ESCRA, you get a cutting-edge ZTNA solution that reduces risks from compromised identities or devices.

2. Training and Awareness:   Employees are the first line of defense. Regular awareness training helps identify suspicious calls and emails. However, IT systems using ESCRA drastically reduce the human attack surface.

3. Prioritize Identity Protection:   Use only software products that enforce strong identity protection measures like multi-factor authentication (MFA) by default to prevent unauthorized access.

4. Proactive Threat Detection:   Modern security solutions like those from ESCRA can detect and block social engineering attacks in real time – before any damage is done.

5. Strengthen Remote Access Controls with Least Privilege:   Restrict the use of RMM tools (Remote Monitoring & Management) and implement whitelisting and least privilege strategies.

6. Use a Powerful AI Solution for Defense:   Artificial intelligence detects patterns often invisible to humans and raises early alarms – for consistent, intelligent protection.

   
   

ESCRA: Your Shield Against Modern Cyber Threats

Attacker methods are constantly evolving – and your security strategy should too! ESCRA offers cutting-edge solutions that not only defend against traditional threats but also protect against highly targeted and professional social engineering attacks like CURLY SPIDER.

Don’t let your company become the next target.

Contact us today and get expert advice!

Let's talk Security!