- Fake WinRAR downloads hide malware behind a real installer
January 8, 2026
A member of Malwarebytes Labs web research team pointed the author to a fake WinRAR installer that was linked from various Chinese websites. When these links start to show up, that’s usually a good indicator of a new campaign. So, the author downloaded the file and started an analysis, which turned out to be something of ...
- US removes three spyware-linked executives from sanctions list
December 31, 2025
Merom Harpaz, Andrea Nicola Constantino Hermes Gambazzi, and Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou – three individuals who were sanctioned by the US for alleged links to commercial spyware products, have had their bans lifted recently. In a new press release published by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) earlier this week, it was briefly stated ...
- The HoneyMyte APT evolves with a kernel-mode rootkit and a ToneShell backdoor
December 29, 2025
In mid-2025, Kaspersky researchers identified a malicious driver file on computer systems in Asia. The driver file is signed with an old, stolen, or leaked digital certificate and registers as a mini-filter driver on infected machines. Its end-goal is to inject a backdoor Trojan into the system processes and provide protection for malicious files, user-mode ...
- From cheats to exploits: Webrat spreading via GitHub
December 23, 2025
In early 2025, security researchers uncovered a new malware family named Webrat. Initially, the Trojan targeted regular users by disguising itself as cheats for popular games like Rust, Counter-Strike, and Roblox, or as cracked software. In September, the attackers decided to widen their net: alongside gamers and users of pirated software, they are now targeting inexperienced ...
- CISA and Partners Release Update to Malware Analysis Report BRICKSTORM Backdoor
December 19, 2025
Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency, and Canadian Centre for Cyber Security released an update to the Malware Analysis Report BRICKSTORM Backdoor with indicators of compromise (IOCs) and detection signatures for additional BRICKSTORM samples. This update provides information on additional samples, including Rust-based samples. These samples demonstrate advanced persistence and defense ...
- SantaStealer is Coming to Town: A New, Ambitious Infostealer Advertised on Underground Forums
December 15, 2025
Rapid7 Labs has identified a new malware-as-a-service information stealer being actively promoted through Telegram channels and on underground hacker forums. The stealer is advertised under the name “SantaStealer” and is planned to be released before the end of 2025. Open source intelligence suggests that it recently underwent a rebranding from the name “BluelineStealer.” The malware collects ...
- NANOREMOTE, cousin of FINALDRAFT
December 11, 2025
In October 2025, Elastic Security Labs discovered a newly-observed Windows backdoor in telemetry. The fully-featured backdoor Elastic Security Lab call NANOREMOTE shares characteristics with malware described in REF7707 and is similar to the FINALDRAFT implant. One of the malware’s primary features is centered around shipping data back and forth from the victim endpoint using the Google ...
- SHADOW-VOID-042 Targets Multiple Industries with Void Rabisu-like Tactics
December 11, 2025
In October and November 2025, campaigns targeting sectors such as energy, defence, pharmaceuticals, and cybersecurity shared characteristics with older campaigns attributed to Void Rabisuopen on a new tab (also known as ROMCOM, Tropical Scorpius, Storm-0978). Void Rabisu is known to be associated with an actor group that has both financial and espionage motivations that are ...
- Uncovering Hidden Forensic Evidence in Windows: The Mystery of AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
December 9, 2025
During a recent incident response engagement, FortiGuard IR services (FGIR) responded to a ransomware attack where the threat actor heavily used anti forensic techniques to cover their tracks and to avoid their malware getting into the hands of researchers. They attempted to achieve this by deleting files and folders they had created, clearing logs and obfuscating ...
- National cybercrime network operating for 14 years dismantled in Indonesia
December 8, 2025
Security researchers have uncovered enormous cybercrime infrastructure in Indonesia that’s been operating unabated for more than 14 years. The length of the operation, the domains included, the malware circulated, and the data being sold on the black market, were all so big that the researchers – Malanta.ai – said the campaign resembles a nation-state campaign ...