What Are Infostealers and Why SMBs Are Prime Targets
Infostealer malware is one of the fastest-growing threats to small businesses. Learn how these attacks work and why your company may already be compromised.
The Silent Threat Lurking in Your Business
Infostealer malware represents one of the most insidious threats facing small and medium-sized businesses today. Unlike ransomware that announces itself with dramatic encryption and ransom demands, infostealers work silently—harvesting credentials, session cookies, and sensitive data without any visible indication of compromise.
How Infostealers Work
Infostealers are a category of malware designed specifically to extract valuable information from infected devices. Once installed—often through phishing emails, malicious downloads, or compromised websites—they systematically collect:
- Saved passwords from browsers and password managers
- Session cookies that can be used to bypass authentication
- Cryptocurrency wallet data and financial information
- Email credentials and contact lists
- VPN and remote access credentials
- Business documents and sensitive files
The Malware-as-a-Service Economy
What makes infostealers particularly dangerous is the ecosystem surrounding them. Criminal groups operate these tools as services, with variants like RedLine, Raccoon, and Vidar available for purchase or rent on dark web marketplaces. The stolen data—called "logs"—is then sold to other criminals who specialize in exploiting specific types of access.
Why Small Businesses Are Prime Targets
You might assume that attackers focus on large enterprises with valuable data. The reality is quite different. Small businesses are attractive targets for several reasons:
1. Weaker Security Posture
Most SMBs lack dedicated security teams, enterprise-grade tools, and formal security policies. This makes initial compromise significantly easier.
2. Gateway to Larger Targets
Small businesses often serve as vendors, suppliers, or partners to larger organizations. Compromising an SMB can provide a pathway into more valuable enterprise networks.
3. Valuable Data Without Enterprise Protection
SMBs hold customer data, financial records, and business secrets that are valuable to criminals, but they rarely have the same protections as larger companies.
4. Lower Risk for Attackers
Attacks on small businesses rarely make headlines or trigger law enforcement investigations, making them lower-risk targets for cybercriminals.
Signs Your Business May Be Compromised
Infostealer infections often go undetected for months or even years. However, certain indicators may suggest a compromise:
- Unusual login attempts from unfamiliar locations
- Employees receiving password reset emails they didn't request
- Unexpected changes to financial accounts or vendor payment details
- Browser extensions you don't recognize
- Customers reporting phishing emails that appear to come from your company
Protecting Your Business
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
MFA is your strongest defense against credential theft. Even if passwords are stolen, attackers can't access accounts without the second factor.
Use a Business Password Manager
Enterprise password managers prevent employees from saving credentials in browsers, a primary target for infostealers.
Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response
Modern EDR solutions can detect and block infostealer activity, even from previously unknown variants.
Regular Security Awareness Training
Employees need to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious downloads that deliver infostealer malware.
Monitor the Dark Web
Services that monitor for your company's credentials appearing in data breaches can provide early warning of compromise.
The Bottom Line
Infostealers represent a persistent, evolving threat that specifically targets the credentials and data that small businesses depend on. The silent nature of these attacks means that by the time you notice a problem, significant damage may have already occurred.
Proactive security measures—particularly MFA, endpoint protection, and employee training—are essential defenses. If you suspect your business may be compromised, immediate action is critical to limit the damage.
Need to assess your exposure to infostealer threats? Contact SimplCyber for a security assessment that identifies your risks.