What began as a simple scheme to inflate social media metrics has evolved into a sophisticated threat that is quietly reshaping the economics of digital fraud. Over the past decade, fraud prevention teams have invested heavily in device fingerprinting and emulator detection and that investment paid off; classic emulators and bot activities became predictable, easy to detect and block.
However, attackers adapted. They moved to cloud phones – remote-access Android devices running in data centers. For all intents and purposes, these are real phones, running genuine firmware, exhibiting natural sensor behavior, and presenting valid hardware attestation. Plus, they’re accessible to anyone with just $10 to spare and an internet connection. What makes this threat unlike any other is its invisibility.
Read more…
Source: Group IB
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- TrickBot malware under siege from all sides, and it’s working
October 20, 2020
The Trickbot malware operation is on the brink of completely shutting down following efforts from an alliance of cybersecurity and hosting providers targeting the botnet’s command and control servers. Initial disruption actions seemed to leave the botnet unphased as its operators were able to rebuild the infrastructure and the network of infected computers. Although the battle is ...
- Vizom malware uses remote overlay attacks to hijack your bank account
October 19, 2020
Researchers have uncovered a new form of malware using remote overlay attacks to strike Brazilian bank account holders. The new malware variant, dubbed Vizom by IBM, is being utilized in an active campaign across Brazil designed to compromise bank accounts via online financial services. On Tuesday, IBM security researchers Chen Nahman, Ofir Ozer, and Limor Kessem said ...
- Mysterious ‘Robin Hood’ hackers donating stolen money
October 19, 2020
A hacking group is donating stolen money to charity in what is seen as a mysterious first for cyber-crime that’s puzzling experts. Darkside hackers claim to have extorted millions of dollars from companies, but say they now want to “make the world a better place”. In a post on the dark web, the gang posted receipts for ...
- Phishing for secrets: Russian cyber experts believe defense industry is being attacked by North Korea
October 19, 2020
A hacker group from North Korea has been attacking Russian military and industrial organizations by sending fraudulent emails, according to cybersecurity experts, who believe that Pyongyang is beginning to cast its net wider. This may come as a surprise to some, as Russia is one of very few countries with no hostility towards Pyongyang, which has ...
- NSA: Top 25 vulnerabilities actively abused by Chinese hackers
October 19, 2020
The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) warns that Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploit 25 different vulnerabilities in attacks against U.S. organizations and interests. In an advisory issued today, the NSA said that it is aware of targeted attacks by Chinese state-sponsored hackers against National Security Systems (NSS), the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and the Department of ...
- Operation Earth Kitsune, Tracking SLUB’s Current Operations
October 19, 2020
Trend Micro have already published findings on the SLUB malware’s past campaigns. In our latest research paper, we uncovered a recent watering hole campaign that involves a new variant of the malware. The threat, which we dubbed as such due to its abuse of Slack and GitHub in previous versions, has not abused either of ...