Breaking Down the Real Meaning of an XDR Solution
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Darcula Phishing-as-a-Service platform has been taking over the world since early 2024.
Cybercriminals have changed tactics. Credential phishing has overtaken ransomware as the most common way to breach enterprise networks. What started as amateur email scams is now an industrial operation with nation-state precision. Phishing campaigns today mimic real user behavior so well that even trained employees fall for fake login pages, social engineering calls, and credential traps.
If attackers get credentials, they skip the noise and walk right through the digital front door. This blog breaks down how credential phishing works, why it’s more dangerous than ever—and what Network Detection and Response (NDR) platforms like Fidelis Network are doing to stop it.
Credential theft is surging across sectors, fueled by automation, reused passwords, and a booming underground market. Let’s put it in perspective:
Attackers pair these credentials with powerful bots that test logins across platforms—what we call credential stuffing. It’s fast, scalable, and shockingly effective.
Phishing attacks on mobile devices are a fast-growing threat vector. Even though many credential thefts begin on smartphones, their effects are felt inside enterprise networks—when those stolen credentials are used to breach business systems.
Mobile phishing (especially smishing) attacks are growing fast because smartphones weaken visibility and amplify urgency.
Touch interfaces = quick taps. Combine that with shortened URLs, spoofed brands, or a fake “your session expired” message—and users hand over their passwords faster than ever.
Once credentials are stolen from mobile devices, attackers often use them to log into enterprise systems, sometimes days or weeks after the original theft.
NDR plays a critical role here: it can spot the unusual login locations, device changes, and rapid, automated testing of these credentials in enterprise environments. This connection means mobile threats quickly become network problems, and NDR is uniquely positioned to identify and contain such attacks.
Phishing is no longer just for elite hackers. Sophisticated phishing kits, AI-written lures, and automated tools make it easy for anyone to start stealing credentials at scale.
A campaign that once took days now runs in minutes. And it only takes one set of valid credentials to breach an enterprise.
Yes, organizations deployed multi-factor authentication (MFA) expecting bulletproof protection, but it’s no longer enough. While MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple authentication methods, attackers have developed techniques to bypass even these advanced authentication methods.
No MFA method is immune. Even hardware tokens can be phished with social engineering. That’s why post-authentication detection is essential.
Once MFA is bypassed, attackers gain access to a compromised account, which can then be exploited for further malicious activities.
While exact cost figures vary, failures in MFA are a significant contributor to rising cyberattack costs in 2024.
Over 15 billion stolen credentials are circulating on the dark web as of 2025.
These compromised credentials are frequently bought and sold on underground markets, fueling further attacks. This creates a thriving economy where valid credentials hold value for months or years.
Traditional security tries blocking everything bad at the network edge. Signature matching, URL filtering, email scanning—all focused on prevention.
Network Detection and Response operates on a different principle.
Rather than stopping every attack, NDR accepts that some will succeed. The focus shifts to detecting what happens after attackers gain initial access. This approach excels against credential-based attacks. NDR solutions often assign risk scores to suspicious activities, enabling security teams to prioritize responses. NDR also plays a crucial role in protecting credentials by detecting and responding to threats that bypass traditional defenses.
Why NDR Outperforms Traditional Tools:
NDR’s advanced detection capabilities complement endpoint and email security, helping prevent credential phishing from resulting in successful breaches by identifying suspicious activity even after initial access.
Fidelis Network® dissects nested files using patented analysis technology:
The platform intercepts credential theft attempts through comprehensive email analysis:
Fidelis Network® connects attack dots across network segments using MITRE ATT&CK mapping:
Fidelis Network® responds to credential threats without human delay:
Fidelis Network® monitors credential exfiltration across multiple channels:
Cloud-based analysis examines suspicious content in isolated environments:
Fidelis Network® connects with existing security investments:
| Integration | Function | Value |
|---|---|---|
| SIEM | Centralized alert correlation | Unified threat view |
| EDR | Comprehensive threat detection | Enhanced endpoint coverage |
| SOAR | Automated incident response | Faster threat resolution |
| IAM | Enhanced credential monitoring | Improved access oversight |
Integration with IAM and other security platforms strengthens access controls across the organization, helping to prevent unauthorized access and improve overall security posture.
Organizations need deployment options that match their operational requirements.
Fidelis Network® combines multiple detection approaches for comprehensive credential attack identification:
Credential phishing continues evolving at breakneck speed. As attackers develop more sophisticated techniques, the risk of identity theft for both individuals and organizations increases, exposing them to significant personal and financial consequences.
Antivirus relies on signature matching for known malware. NDR monitors network behavior and user activities, catching unusual login patterns, data access behaviors, and lateral movement after credential theft through comprehensive behavioral analysis. NDR is a complement to, not a replacement for, endpoint protection.
NDR platforms spot credential stuffing through distinctive patterns: high-volume login attempts from multiple IPs, rapid authentication sequences, and automated tool signatures in network traffic. Detection happens through statistical authentication pattern analysis and connection behavior monitoring.
Systems terminate suspicious connections, isolate compromised devices, block malicious IPs, and alert security teams. Response speed advantages come from predefined automated actions and machine learning-driven threat classification.
NDR examines metadata, connection patterns, timing, and behavioral characteristics without decrypting traffic. Unusual access patterns, connection timings, and data transfer volumes indicate credential misuse through statistical analysis and baseline comparison, respecting privacy and compliance.
Modern NDR solutions integrate with existing infrastructure through physical hardware, virtual machines, or cloud deployment without major network modifications. Integration happens through APIs and standardized protocols rather than infrastructure replacement.
NDR effectiveness comes from detecting post-phishing activity rather than analyzing initial phishing content. Behavioral patterns following credential theft remain detectable regardless of phishing sophistication through network activity monitoring and user behavior analysis.
Organizations with weak passwords face constant brute force attacks. Credential stuffing operations specifically target accounts with predictable password patterns, making weak passwords a primary entry point for unauthorized parties seeking to steal sensitive information.
Modern cybercriminals deploy sophisticated automation tools across their IT environment to scale credential attacks. These tools systematically test stolen credentials against multiple systems until finding a successful attack vector. Each successful attack allows attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally through networks.
After initial credential compromise, attackers pursue privilege elevation through various techniques. Standard user accounts become stepping stones for accessing administrative systems, enabling attackers to deploy malware and establish persistent access throughout the IT environment.
The combination of weak passwords, automated attack tools, and privilege elevation creates a dangerous cycle where unauthorized parties can systematically steal sensitive information and maintain long-term access to compromised systems.
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