@LaJoieSecurity Threat Blog

Russian Hackers Masquerade as IT Support on Microsoft Teams

 

 

In a striking example of social engineering and evolving cyber tactics, Russian cybercriminals are now posing as remote IT support on Microsoft Teams to infiltrate corporate networks. This alarming strategy has led to successful ransomware deployments and data breaches, targeting organizations with lax collaboration platform security.

 

The Attack Tactic: IT Impersonation on Teams

 

Russian-linked cyber groups, including Fin7 and Storm-1811, have adopted a sophisticated method to gain access to sensitive systems:

  1. Initial Contact via Spam Emails: Attackers flood organizations with phishing emails to overwhelm and confuse employees.
  2. Impersonating IT Support: Once inside, they use Teams to contact employees directly, posing as trusted IT staff offering urgent technical support.
  3. Gaining Remote Access: Victims are convinced to share credentials or grant remote access, allowing attackers to deploy ransomware or steal sensitive data.

 

Cybersecurity firm Sophos reported 15 such incidents in the last three months, underscoring the effectiveness of this approach.

 

Why This Matters

The exploitation of Teams’ default external communication settings highlights critical vulnerabilities in how organizations configure and manage collaboration platforms. This attack method is particularly dangerous because:

  • It Exploits Trust: Employees are more likely to trust internal communication platforms like Teams, making them more susceptible to scams.

  • Minimal Detection: These attacks bypass traditional email filters, operating entirely within trusted channels.

  • Broader Implications: Misconfigured collaboration tools can open the door to a variety of cyber threats, from data exfiltration to ransomware.

 

Leadership Takeaways

  • Evaluate Collaboration Platform Security: Review and restrict external communication settings in platforms like Microsoft Teams.
  • Enhance Employee Training: Train staff to recognize social engineering attempts, even on trusted platforms.
  • Monitor Internal Communications: Use threat detection tools to identify unusual behavior within collaboration channels.

 

Secure the Advantage

  • Implement Conditional Access Policies: Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing Teams and other collaboration tools.
  • Conduct Regular Security Audits: Ensure all collaboration tools are configured to minimize exposure to external threats.
  • Establish Incident Response Protocols: Prepare for attacks by creating clear steps for detecting, responding to, and mitigating social engineering attempts.

 

References

  • The Times UK. (2025). Russian Hackers Pose as Remote IT Staff on Microsoft Teams. Retrieved from thetimes.co.uk.
  • Sophos Blog. (2025). Social Engineering Trends: From Phishing to IT Impersonation.
  • CSO Online. (2025). Understanding the Risks of Collaboration Platform Exploits.

 

This latest tactic by Russian cybercriminals underscores the growing sophistication of social engineering. As organizations rely more heavily on collaboration tools, ensuring robust security measures and vigilant practices will be key to staying ahead of the threats.