Unpacking the Latest Threats Targeting the Financial Services Industry

In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Microsoft security researchers Megan Stalling and Anna Seitz to examine how financially motivated threat actors are using familiar, low-complexity techniques to drive real-world impact across the financial services sector. They examine Storm-0727, a financially motivated threat actor targeting cryptocurrency, financial services, and government entities, highlighting how simple techniques like financial-themed lures, macro-enabled documents, and credential theft allow attackers to quietly establish and maintain access. The conversation then expands to broader financial-services threat trends, including business email compromise, ransomware with data extortion, phishing-as-a-service, and why social engineering and unpatched vulnerabilities continue to succeed even in mature security environments. In this episode you’ll learn: How credential theft helps attackers maintain persistence Why social engineering works even in well-secured environments How Storm-0727 targets financial services and cryptocurrency organizations Some questions we ask: What happens after a victim opens a macro-enabled document used by Storm-0727? How are phishing as a service platforms changing the threat landscape? What major threat trends are currently shaping the financial services sector? Resources: View Megan Stalling on LinkedIn View Anna Seitz on LinkedIn View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn Related Microsoft Podcasts: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson The BlueHat Podcast Uncovering Hidden Risks Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider