Researchers at Group-IB have discovered a new NFC relay malware family, purpose-built to capture live card data via NFC and forward it in real time to attackers. They dubbed it “WindRelay.”
NFC (Near Field Communication) is wireless technology that allows devices such as smartphones, payment cards, and payment terminals to communicate when they’re very close together. So, instead of stealing your physical bank card, the attackers capture NFC activity on an infected mobile phone and relay it in real time to a criminal-controlled device held against a contactless payment terminal, or an ATM that supports contactless cash withdrawals.
The researchers describe a 13-minute call impersonating a bank, in which a victim was persuaded to install an Android app labelled with the bank’s name. That app was a remote access Trojan (RAT) called SpyNote. SpyNote gave the attacker remote control of the phone and enabled the quiet installation of a second app, WindRelay.
Read more…
Source: Malware Bytes Labs
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- Europol-supported global operation targets over 75 000 users engaged in DDoS attacks
April 16, 2026
On 13 April 2026, 21 countries joined forces in a coordinated action week that focused on enforcement and prevention measures against over 75 000 criminal users engaging in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS)-for-hire services. With over 75 000 warning emails and letters being sent to identified criminal users and 4 arrests, the action week also led to the ...
- From fake Proton VPN sites to gaming mods, this Windows infostealer is everywhere
April 15, 2026
Malwarebytes Labs researchers uncovered multiple campaigns distributing an infostealer we track as NWHStealer, using everything from fake VPN downloads to hardware utilities and gaming mods. What makes this campaign stand out isn’t just the malware, but how widely and convincingly it’s being spread. Once installed, it can collect browser data, saved passwords, and cryptocurrency wallet information, ...
- Sweden blames Russian hackers for attempting ‘destructive’ cyberattack on thermal plant
April 15, 2026
The Swedish government said Russian government-linked hackers attempted to disrupt the operations at one of the country’s thermal power plants last year. Sweden said that, while the hackers were unsuccessful, hybrid attacks that extend beyond cyberspace are becoming more dangerous. Sweden’s minister of civil defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, said during a press conference on Wednesday that the ...
- Omnistealer uses the blockchain to steal everything it can
April 14, 2026
A new infostealer dubbed Omnistealer is turning the blockchain into a permanent malware hosting platform, which is bad news for both companies and everyday users. It’s pretty common for malware to store its payload on a public platform, ideally one that adds some trustworthiness to the download location, like Google docs, OneDrive, GitHub, npm, PyPI, and ...
- Zombie Microsoft bugs rise from the dead, pave way for crims and ransomware scum
April 13, 2026
Crooks are exploiting four Microsoft vulnerabilities – one patched 14 years ago and another tied to ransomware activity – according to America’s lead cyber-defense agency, which on Monday gave federal agencies two weeks to patch them. The four vulnerabilities added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on Monday are: CVE-2025-60710, a link-following vulnerability in Windows ...
- Booking.com confirms hackers accessed customers’ data
April 13, 2026
Booking.com confirmed Monday that hackers may have accessed customers’ personal data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and booking details. The global travel and hotel reservation giant notified customers this past week of the breach, according to several online posts. “We’re writing to inform you that unauthorized third parties may have been able to access certain ...