Cybersecurity Threat Trends in 2025 and Outlook for 2026
Overview About the Report This report is based on the security content provided through AhnLab’s threat intelligence platform, AhnLab TIP. It examines various security issues and trends from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025 and provides a forecast on cybersecurity threats in
Bypassing Mark of the Web (MoTW) via Windows Shortcuts (LNK): LNK Stomping Technique
Overview While Windows shortcut (LNK) files are designed for user convenience, they have long been exploited as initial access vectors by threat actors. Since Microsoft strengthened its macro-blocking policies in 2022, attackers have increasingly turned to alternative formats such as ISO, RAR, and LNK files in their attacks. LNK files
Mark of the Web (MoTW) Bypass Vulnerability
Overview Mark of the Web (MoTW) is a Windows feature that identifies files downloaded from the Internet and displays a security warning, as well as restricts the files to be executed with a warning message or in a protected mode. However, threat actors have been bypassing Mark of the Web
