- Espionage Group Hits U.S. Utilities with Sophisticated Spy Tool
June 9, 2020
The APT known as TA410 has added a modular remote-access trojan (RAT) to its espionage arsenal, deployed against Windows targets in the United States’ utilities sector. According to researchers at Proofpoint, the RAT, called FlowCloud, can access installed applications and control the keyboard, mouse, screen, files, services and processes of an infected computer, with the ability ...
- Maze Ransomware adds Ragnar Locker to its extortion cartel
June 8, 2020
A second ransomware gang has partnered with Maze Ransomware to use their data leak platform to extort victims whose unencrypted files were stolen. Before encrypting a victim’s network, most network-targeting ransomware operations will steal a victim’s unencrypted files. These files are then used as leverage by threatening to release them publicly on data leak sites if a ransom is ...
- Tycoon Ransomware Banks on Unusual Image File Tactic
June 4, 2020
A new ransomware strain called Tycoon is seeking to wheel and deal its way into the Windows and Linux worlds, using a little-known Java image format as part of its kill chain. The ransomware is housed in a trojanized version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), according to researchers at BlackBerry Cylance, and has been around ...
- Lemon Duck Cryptominer Spreads through Covid-19 Themed Emails
June 3, 2020
Malware authors continue to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to propagate threats. In a recent related campaign, we have come across a PowerShell script (mailer script) that distributes the Lemon Duck cryptominer through a new propagation method: Covid-19-themed emails with weaponized attachments. These emails are delivered to all Microsoft Outlook contacts of the user of a ...
- Threat Assessment: Hangover Threat Group
June 3, 2020
Unit 42 researchers recently published on activity by the Hangover threat group (aka Neon, Viceroy Tiger, MONSOON) carrying out targeted cyberattacks deploying BackConfig malware attacks against government and military organizations in South Asia. As a result, we’ve created this threat assessment report for the Hangover Group’s activities. The techniques and campaigns can be visualized using the Unit 42 ...
- REvil ransomware creates eBay-like auction site for stolen data
June 2, 2020
The operators of the REvil ransomware have launched a new auction site used to sell victim’s stolen data to the highest bidder. REvil, otherwise known as Sodinokibi, is a ransomware operation that breaches corporate networks using exposed remote desktop services, spam, exploits, and hacked Managed Service Providers. Once established on a network, they quietly spread laterally through the company while stealing ...
- Goodbye Mworm, Hello Nworm: TrickBot Updates Propagation Module
May 28, 2020
First discovered in 2016, TrickBot is an information stealer that provides backdoor access sometimes used by criminal groups to distribute other malware. TrickBot uses modules to perform different functions, and one key function is propagating from an infected Windows client to a vulnerable Domain Controller (DC). TrickBot currently uses three modules for propagation. As early as April ...
- ‘[F]Unicorn’ Ransomware Impersonates Legit COVID-19 Contact-Tracing App
May 27, 2020
A fresh ransomware strain known as “Unicorn” has emerged, first seen this week targeting users by pretending to be an official government COVID-19 contact tracing app. According to an advisory from the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) from the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID), the malware family is taking advantage of the rollout of “Immuni” – ...
- Spam and phishing in Q1 2020
May 26, 2020
Burning Man is one of the most eagerly awaited events among fans of spectacular performance and installation art. The main obstacle to attending is the price of admission: a standard ticket will set you back $475, the number is limited, and the buying process is a challenge all by itself (there are several stages, registration ...
- Turla APT Revamps One of Its Go-To Spy Tools
May 26, 2020
The Turla APT group has been spotted using an updated version of the ComRAT remote-access trojan (RAT) to attack governmental targets. Turla (a.k.a. Snake, Venomous Bear, Waterbug or Uroboros), is a Russian-speaking threat actor known since 2014, but with roots that go back to 2004 and earlier, according to previous research from Kaspersky. “It is a ...

