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Category: malware

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LapDogs: China-nexus hackers Hijack 1,000+ SOHO devices for espionage

Over 1,000 SOHO devices were hacked in a China-linked spying campaign called LapDogs, forming a covert network to support cyber espionage. Security researchers at SecurityScorecard’s STRIKE team have uncovered a cyber espionage campaign, dubbed LapDogs, involving over 1,000 hacked SOHO (small office/home office) devices. These compromised devices formed a hidden network, called an Operational Relay…

Smashing Security podcast #423: Operation Endgame, deepfakes, and dead slugs

In this episode of the “Smashing Security” podcast, Graham unravels Operation Endgame – the surprisingly stylish police crackdown that is seizing botnets, mocking malware authors with anime videos, and taunting cybercriminals via Telegram. And BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy joins us to talk about “Ctrl-Alt-Chaos”, his new book diving into the murky world of teenage…

Operation Endgame, deepfakes, and dead slugs

In this episode, Graham unravels Operation Endgame – the surprisingly stylish police crackdown that is seizing botnets, mocking malware authors with anime videos, and taunting cybercriminals via Telegram. Meanwhile, Carole exposes the AI-generated remote hiring threat. Could your next coworker be a North Korean hacker with a perfect LinkedIn? And BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy…

Qilin offers “Call a lawyer” button for affiliates attempting to extort ransoms from victims who won’t pay

Imagine for one moment that you are a cybercriminal. You have compromised an organisation’s network, you have stolen their data, you have encrypted their network, and you are now knee-deep in the ransomware negotiation. However, there’s a problem. Your target is stalling for time. Who can you, as the perpetrator of the crime rather than…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Tips to make your summer travels cyber safe

Ready, set, pack! Summer travel season is here and that means family road trips, beach vacations, international adventures and more. While summertime is prime time for getaways, did you know it’s also prime time for online fraud? Scammers are targeting the travel industry, putting millions of travelers at increased risk. Research shows that the travel…

Mitigating prompt injection attacks with a layered defense strategy

Posted by Google GenAI Security Team With the rapid adoption of generative AI, a new wave of threats is emerging across the industry with the aim of manipulating the AI systems themselves. One such emerging attack vector is indirect prompt injections. Unlike direct prompt injections, where an attacker directly inputs malicious commands into a prompt,…

Mitigating prompt injection attacks with a layered defense strategy

Posted by Google GenAI Security Team With the rapid adoption of generative AI, a new wave of threats is emerging across the industry with the aim of manipulating the AI systems themselves. One such emerging attack vector is indirect prompt injections. Unlike direct prompt injections, where an attacker directly inputs malicious commands into a prompt,…

Attackers exploit Fortinet flaws to deploy Qilin ransomware

Qilin ransomware now exploits Fortinet vulnerabilities to achieve remote code execution on impacted devices. Threat intelligence firm PRODAFT warned that Qilin ransomware (aka Phantom Mantis) group targeted multiple organizations between May and June 2025 by exploiting multiple FortiGate vulnerabilities, including CVE-2024-21762, and CVE-2024-55591. “Phantom Mantis recently launched a coordinated intrusion campaign targeting multiple organizations between…

Russia-linked threat actors targets Ukraine with PathWiper wiper

A Russia-linked threat actor targeted a critical infrastructure organization in Ukraine with a new destructive malware dubbed PathWiper. Russia-linked threat actor targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure with a new wiper named PathWiper. Cisco Talos researchers reported that attackers utilized a legitimate endpoint administration tool, indicating they had access to the administrative console, then used it to…

U.S. Offers $10M bounty for info on RedLine malware creator and state hackers

The U.S. offers up to $10M for info on state hackers linked to RedLine malware and its creator, Maxim Rudometov, tied to attacks on U.S. infrastructure. The U.S. Department of State offers a reward of up to $10 million for information nation-state actors linked to the RedLine infostealer and its alleged author, Russian national Maxim…

Play ransomware group hit 900 organizations since 2022

A joint advisory from the US and Australian authorities states that Play ransomware has hit approximately 900 organizations over the past three years. A joint advisory from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) states that Play ransomware has hit…

New versions of Chaos RAT target Windows and Linux systems

Acronis researchers reported that new Chaos RAT variants were employed in 2025 attacks against Linux and Windows systems. Acronis TRU researchers discovered new Chaos RAT variants targeting Linux and Windows in recent attacks. Originally seen in 2022, Chaos RAT evolved in 2024, with fresh samples emerging in 2025. TRU also discovered a critical flaw in…

Cyber Attacks on Government Agencies: Detect and Investigate with ANY.RUN for Fast Response

Government institutions worldwide face a growing number of sophisticated cyberattacks. This case study examines how ANY.RUN’s solutions can be leveraged to detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats targeting government organizations.  By analyzing real-world threats, we demonstrate how ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Lookup, Interactive Sandbox, and YARA Search assist cybersecurity teams in identifying attack vectors, tracking malicious…

Cyber Attacks on Government Agencies: Detect and Investigate with ANY.RUN for Fast Response

Government institutions worldwide face a growing number of sophisticated cyberattacks. This case study examines how ANY.RUN’s solutions can be leveraged to detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats targeting government organizations.  By analyzing real-world threats, we demonstrate how ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Lookup, Interactive Sandbox, and YARA Search assist cybersecurity teams in identifying attack vectors, tracking malicious…

Cyber Attacks on Government Agencies: Detect and Investigate with ANY.RUN for Fast Response

Government institutions worldwide face a growing number of sophisticated cyberattacks. This case study examines how ANY.RUN’s solutions can be leveraged to detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats targeting government organizations.  By analyzing real-world threats, we demonstrate how ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Lookup, Interactive Sandbox, and YARA Search assist cybersecurity teams in identifying attack vectors, tracking malicious…

Cyber Attacks on Government Agencies: Detect and Investigate with ANY.RUN for Fast Response

Government institutions worldwide face a growing number of sophisticated cyberattacks. This case study examines how ANY.RUN’s solutions can be leveraged to detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats targeting government organizations.  By analyzing real-world threats, we demonstrate how ANY.RUN’s Threat Intelligence Lookup, Interactive Sandbox, and YARA Search assist cybersecurity teams in identifying attack vectors, tracking malicious…

Android banking trojan Crocodilus rapidly evolves and goes global

A new Android banking trojan called Crocodilus is being used in a growing number of campaigns targeting users in Europe and South America. Crocodilus is a recently discovered Android banking trojan that is quickly gaining ground. What began as small test campaigns has now grown into full-blown attacks targeting users across Europe and South America.…

Android banking trojan Crocodilus rapidly evolves and goes global

A new Android banking trojan called Crocodilus is being used in a growing number of campaigns targeting users in Europe and South America. Crocodilus is a recently discovered Android banking trojan that is quickly gaining ground. What began as small test campaigns has now grown into full-blown attacks targeting users across Europe and South America.…

Android banking trojan Crocodilus rapidly evolves and goes global

A new Android banking trojan called Crocodilus is being used in a growing number of campaigns targeting users in Europe and South America. Crocodilus is a recently discovered Android banking trojan that is quickly gaining ground. What began as small test campaigns has now grown into full-blown attacks targeting users across Europe and South America.…

Android banking trojan Crocodilus rapidly evolves and goes global

A new Android banking trojan called Crocodilus is being used in a growing number of campaigns targeting users in Europe and South America. Crocodilus is a recently discovered Android banking trojan that is quickly gaining ground. What began as small test campaigns has now grown into full-blown attacks targeting users across Europe and South America.…

Android banking trojan Crocodilus rapidly evolves and goes global

A new Android banking trojan called Crocodilus is being used in a growing number of campaigns targeting users in Europe and South America. Crocodilus is a recently discovered Android banking trojan that is quickly gaining ground. What began as small test campaigns has now grown into full-blown attacks targeting users across Europe and South America.…

Android banking trojan Crocodilus rapidly evolves and goes global

A new Android banking trojan called Crocodilus is being used in a growing number of campaigns targeting users in Europe and South America. Crocodilus is a recently discovered Android banking trojan that is quickly gaining ground. What began as small test campaigns has now grown into full-blown attacks targeting users across Europe and South America.…

OtterCookie: Analysis of Lazarus Group Malware Targeting Finance and Tech Professionals

Editor’s note: The current article is authored by Mauro Eldritch, offensive security expert and threat intelligence analyst. You can find Mauro on X.  What looks like a simple freelance bug fix turns out to be a full-blown malware infection. OtterCookie, a new tool from the Lazarus Group APT, hides behind clean code and fake job offers, then…

OtterCookie: Analysis of Lazarus Group Malware Targeting Finance and Tech Professionals

Editor’s note: The current article is authored by Mauro Eldritch, offensive security expert and threat intelligence analyst. You can find Mauro on X.  What looks like a simple freelance bug fix turns out to be a full-blown malware infection. OtterCookie, a new tool from the Lazarus Group APT, hides behind clean code and fake job offers, then…

OtterCookie: Analysis of Lazarus Group Malware Targeting Finance and Tech Professionals

Editor’s note: The current article is authored by Mauro Eldritch, offensive security expert and threat intelligence analyst. You can find Mauro on X.  What looks like a simple freelance bug fix turns out to be a full-blown malware infection. OtterCookie, a new tool from the Lazarus Group APT, hides behind clean code and fake job offers, then…

OtterCookie: Analysis of Lazarus Group Malware Targeting Finance and Tech Professionals

Editor’s note: The current article is authored by Mauro Eldritch, offensive security expert and threat intelligence analyst. You can find Mauro on X.  What looks like a simple freelance bug fix turns out to be a full-blown malware infection. OtterCookie, a new tool from the Lazarus Group APT, hides behind clean code and fake job offers, then…

Top counter antivirus service disrupted in global takedown

AVCheck, a large-scale service that cybercriminals use to check if their malware can be detected by various antivirus tools, was seized and taken offline Tuesday by a globally coordinated law enforcement action. Officials on Thursday said they seized four domains and a server associated with the online software crypting syndicate. The site for the counter…

Smashing Security podcast #419: Star Wars, the CIA, and a WhatsApp malware mirage

Why is a cute Star Wars fan website now redirecting to the CIA? How come Cambodia has become the world’s hotspot for scam call centres? And can a WhatsApp image really drain your bank account with a single download, or is it just a load of hacker hokum? All this and much more is discussed…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

Build strong digital defenses for your entire family

The month of June is a time for fun in the sun and a break from the school year, but did you know it’s also the perfect time to step up your family’s online security? June is Internet Safety Month, a yearly reminder to strengthen your defenses against online threats. In today’s hyper-connected world, we…

How to Analyze Node.js, Python, Android, and Linux Malware with ANY.RUN 

Malware doesn’t stick to one platform or play fair. One day it’s a Python stealer. The next, it’s an Android RAT or a Node.js backdoor quietly pinging its C2. Then it hits Linux, flooding your network with suspicious connections.  Modern threats are unpredictable. They move across systems and languages, often slipping past tools that weren’t…

How to Analyze Node.js, Python, Android, and Linux Malware with ANY.RUN 

Malware doesn’t stick to one platform or play fair. One day it’s a Python stealer. The next, it’s an Android RAT or a Node.js backdoor quietly pinging its C2. Then it hits Linux, flooding your network with suspicious connections.  Modern threats are unpredictable. They move across systems and languages, often slipping past tools that weren’t…

How to Analyze Node.js, Python, Android, and Linux Malware with ANY.RUN 

Malware doesn’t stick to one platform or play fair. One day it’s a Python stealer. The next, it’s an Android RAT or a Node.js backdoor quietly pinging its C2. Then it hits Linux, flooding your network with suspicious connections.  Modern threats are unpredictable. They move across systems and languages, often slipping past tools that weren’t…

How to Analyze Node.js, Python, Android, and Linux Malware with ANY.RUN 

Malware doesn’t stick to one platform or play fair. One day it’s a Python stealer. The next, it’s an Android RAT or a Node.js backdoor quietly pinging its C2. Then it hits Linux, flooding your network with suspicious connections.  Modern threats are unpredictable. They move across systems and languages, often slipping past tools that weren’t…

U.S. Authorities Seize DanaBot Malware Operation, Indict 16

U.S. authorities seized the infrastructure of the DanaBot malware and charged 16 people in an action that is part of the larger Operation Endgame, a multinational initiative launched last year to disrupt and take apart global cybercriminals operations. The post U.S. Authorities Seize DanaBot Malware Operation, Indict 16 appeared first on Security Boulevard.

DanaBot malware operation seized in global takedown

A global collection of private defenders and law enforcement agencies notched another win against a core facilitator for cybercrime, initiating coordinated seizures and takedowns of DanaBot’s command and control servers, disrupting the malware-as-a-service’s operations, the Justice Department said Thursday.  Federal officials also unsealed a grand jury indictment and criminal complaint charging 16 individuals for their…

DBatLoader Delivers Remcos via .pif Files and UAC Bypass in New Phishing Campaign 

A new phishing campaign is spreading the Remcos Remote Access Trojan (RAT) through DBatLoader. It employs User Account Control (UAC) bypass, obfuscated scripts, Living Off the Land Binaries (LOLBAS) abuse, and persistence mechanisms. Here’s an analysis of the infection chain, key techniques, and detection tips.  How the Attack Works   To see how the attack unfolds,…

DBatLoader Delivers Remcos via .pif Files and UAC Bypass in New Phishing Campaign 

A new phishing campaign is spreading the Remcos Remote Access Trojan (RAT) through DBatLoader. It employs User Account Control (UAC) bypass, obfuscated scripts, Living Off the Land Binaries (LOLBAS) abuse, and persistence mechanisms. Here’s an analysis of the infection chain, key techniques, and detection tips.  How the Attack Works   To see how the attack unfolds,…

DBatLoader Delivers Remcos via .pif Files and UAC Bypass in New Phishing Campaign 

A new phishing campaign is spreading the Remcos Remote Access Trojan (RAT) through DBatLoader. It employs User Account Control (UAC) bypass, obfuscated scripts, Living Off the Land Binaries (LOLBAS) abuse, and persistence mechanisms. Here’s an analysis of the infection chain, key techniques, and detection tips.  How the Attack Works   To see how the attack unfolds,…

DBatLoader Delivers Remcos via .pif Files and UAC Bypass in New Phishing Campaign 

A new phishing campaign is spreading the Remcos Remote Access Trojan (RAT) through DBatLoader. It employs User Account Control (UAC) bypass, obfuscated scripts, Living Off the Land Binaries (LOLBAS) abuse, and persistence mechanisms. Here’s an analysis of the infection chain, key techniques, and detection tips.  How the Attack Works   To see how the attack unfolds,…

Lumma infostealer infected about 10 million systems before global disruption

LummaC2 infected around 10 million devices and systems, allowing for millions of follow-on attacks, before the information-stealing malware operation was dismantled through a coordinated global operation this week, Brett Leatherman, the FBI’s deputy assistant director for cyber operations, said during a media briefing Wednesday.  “Since its inception in 2022, LummaC2’s malware-as-a-service platform rose to become…

How SOC Teams Improve Mean Time to Detect and Other KPIs with Threat Intelligence Feeds

Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are under constant pressure to detect threats faster, respond more effectively, and reduce operational noise. Metrics like Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), False Positive Rate (FPR), and True Positive Rate (TPR) are more than just numbers — they define the health and impact of a business…

How SOC Teams Improve Mean Time to Detect and Other KPIs with Threat Intelligence Feeds

Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are under constant pressure to detect threats faster, respond more effectively, and reduce operational noise. Metrics like Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), False Positive Rate (FPR), and True Positive Rate (TPR) are more than just numbers — they define the health and impact of a business…

How SOC Teams Improve Mean Time to Detect and Other KPIs with Threat Intelligence Feeds

Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are under constant pressure to detect threats faster, respond more effectively, and reduce operational noise. Metrics like Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), False Positive Rate (FPR), and True Positive Rate (TPR) are more than just numbers — they define the health and impact of a business…

How SOC Teams Improve Mean Time to Detect and Other KPIs with Threat Intelligence Feeds

Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are under constant pressure to detect threats faster, respond more effectively, and reduce operational noise. Metrics like Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), False Positive Rate (FPR), and True Positive Rate (TPR) are more than just numbers — they define the health and impact of a business…

How Adversary Telegram Bots Help to Reveal Threats: Case Study 

While analyzing malware samples uploaded to ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox, one particular case marked as “phishing” and “Telegram” drew the attention of our security analysts.  Although this analysis session wasn’t attributed to any known malware family or threat actor group, the analysis revealed that Telegram bots were being used for data exfiltration. This led us to…

How Adversary Telegram Bots Help to Reveal Threats: Case Study 

While analyzing malware samples uploaded to ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox, one particular case marked as “phishing” and “Telegram” drew the attention of our security analysts.  Although this analysis session wasn’t attributed to any known malware family or threat actor group, the analysis revealed that Telegram bots were being used for data exfiltration. This led us to…

How Adversary Telegram Bots Help to Reveal Threats: Case Study 

While analyzing malware samples uploaded to ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox, one particular case marked as “phishing” and “Telegram” drew the attention of our security analysts.  Although this analysis session wasn’t attributed to any known malware family or threat actor group, the analysis revealed that Telegram bots were being used for data exfiltration. This led us to…

How Adversary Telegram Bots Help to Reveal Threats: Case Study 

While analyzing malware samples uploaded to ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox, one particular case marked as “phishing” and “Telegram” drew the attention of our security analysts.  Although this analysis session wasn’t attributed to any known malware family or threat actor group, the analysis revealed that Telegram bots were being used for data exfiltration. This led us to…

What’s New in Android Security and Privacy in 2025

Posted by Dave Kleidermacher, VP Engineering, Android Security and Privacy Android’s intelligent protections keep you safe from everyday dangers. Our dedication to your security is validated by security experts, who consistently rank top Android devices highest in security, and score Android smartphones, led by the Pixel 9 Pro, as leaders in anti-fraud efficacy. Android is…

What’s New in Android Security and Privacy in 2025

Posted by Dave Kleidermacher, VP Engineering, Android Security and Privacy Android’s intelligent protections keep you safe from everyday dangers. Our dedication to your security is validated by security experts, who consistently rank top Android devices highest in security, and score Android smartphones, led by the Pixel 9 Pro, as leaders in anti-fraud efficacy. Android is…

US seizes Anyproxy, 5socks botnets and indicts alleged administrators

Federal authorities seized two domains and indicted four foreign individuals for alleged involvement in a long-running botnet service that infected older wireless internet routers, the Justice Department said Friday.  The malware created for the botnet allowed infected routers to be reconfigured, which granted unauthorized access to third parties and made the routers available for sale…

Mobile security matters: Protecting your phone from text scams

It all starts so innocently. You get a text saying “Your package couldn’t be delivered. Click here to reschedule.”  Little do you know, clicking that link could open the door for scammers to steal your identity, empty your bank account, or even plant malicious software (malware) on your device. Unless you know what to look out…

Mobile security matters: Protecting your phone from text scams

It all starts so innocently. You get a text saying “Your package couldn’t be delivered. Click here to reschedule.”  Little do you know, clicking that link could open the door for scammers to steal your identity, empty your bank account, or even plant malicious software (malware) on your device. Unless you know what to look out…