When Attackers Turn Your Own Tools Against You

Financial institutions and hedge funds have always been prime targets. Large transactions, sensitive client information and complex systems make the industry attractive to attackers. What has changed is the method they use to get inside.

Many firms still imagine cyber threats arriving as a file, link or obvious piece of malware. In reality, attackers now prefer to use the same tools your IT teams rely on every day. This approach lets them blend in with legitimate activity. It is quiet, patient and often missed until they have already reached something valuable.

These techniques rely on tools already present in Windows and Linux environments. PowerShell, WMI, command shells and remote administration functions give attackers a familiar way to move between systems.

The challenge is simple. These actions look ordinary. They generate no classic malware signatures. Your systems see them as trusted.

This is why Maple focuses on behavioural detection. Instead of looking for something foreign, we help firms recognise the moments when something familiar is used in an unfamiliar way. A script that runs at an odd time. A sudden spike in command-line activity. Repeated attempts to access privileged systems. These are quiet but important signals.

What finance leaders can do today

A few improvements can reduce risk without slowing down operations:

1. Review internal tool usage
   Remove unused remote utilities. The fewer available tools, the smaller the attacker’s options.

2. Reduce standing privileges
   Grant admin access only when required. Short-lived credentials lower the impact of stolen accounts.

3. Track logins more closely
   Unusual login times or repeated failed attempts are often early warnings.

4. Baseline your routine activity
   Know what normal PowerShell or remote access usage looks like for your firm. Anything outside that baseline deserves attention.

5. Keep backups isolated
   A backup that lives inside your main network is at risk if attackers escalate their access.

Security does not need to be complicated. It needs to be consistent. When your team understands what normal operations look like, they can spot small anomalies long before they grow into costly incidents.

Maple helps financial firms build that level of visibility so they can catch subtle attacks early and protect the systems that keep their business running.