- From Linear to Complex: An Upgrade in RansomHouse Encryption
December 17, 2025
RansomHouse is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation run by a group that we track as Jolly Scorpius. Recent samples of the associated binaries used in RansomHouse operations reveal a significant upgrade in encryption. This article explores the upgrade of RansomHouse encryption and the potential impact for defenders. Jolly Scorpius uses a double extortion strategy. This strategy combines ...
- Operation ForumTroll continues: Russian political scientists targeted using plagiarism reports
December 17, 2025
In March 2025, we discovered Operation ForumTroll, a series of sophisticated cyberattacks exploiting the CVE-2025-2783 vulnerability in Google Chrome. Kaspersky researchers previously detailed the malicious implants used in the operation: the LeetAgent backdoor and the complex spyware Dante, developed by Memento Labs (formerly Hacking Team). However, the attackers behind this operation didn’t stop at their ...
- Hacking group says it’s extorting Pornhub after stealing users’ viewing data
December 16, 2025
The hacking group Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters, which includes members of a gang known as ShinyHunters, said it is attempting to extort porn site Pornhub, after claiming to have stolen personal information belonging to the website’s premium members. On Friday, Pornhub confirmed it was among several companies affected by an earlier breach at the widely used web ...
- God Mode On: How Kaspersky attacked a vehicle’s head unit modem
December 16, 2025
Kaspersky researchers conducted a security assessment of a modern System-on-Chip (SoC), Unisoc UIS7862A, which features an integrated 2G/3G/4G modem. This SoC can be found in various mobile devices by multiple vendors or, more interestingly, in the head units of modern Chinese vehicles, which are becoming increasingly common on the roads. The head unit is one of ...
- Stay Secure: Why Cyber Hygiene Should Be Part of Your Personal Hygiene
December 16, 2025
When you hear the term “personal hygiene,” chances are you think of basic routines such as staying clean, wearing deodorant and brushing your teeth. In today’s tech-driven world, another aspect of personal hygiene deserves more attention: cyber hygiene. Cyber hygiene refers to the routine actions and practices to stay safe in our digital world. As more ...
- Venezuela’s PDVSA suffers cyberattack
December 15, 2025
Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has been subject to a cyberattack, it said on Monday, adding its operations were unaffected, even though four sources said systems remained down and oil cargo deliveries were suspended. PDVSA and the oil ministry blamed the U.S. for the cyberattack on Monday, saying it was carried out by “foreign interests in ...
- Amazon security boss blames Russia’s GRU for years-long energy-sector hacks
December 15, 2025
Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) is behind a years-long campaign targeting energy, telecommunications, and tech providers, stealing credentials and compromising misconfigured devices hosted on AWS to give the Kremlin’s snoops persistent access to sensitive networks, according to Amazon’s security boss. “The campaign demonstrates sustained focus on Western critical infrastructure, particularly the energy sector, with operations spanning ...
- 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 ...
- PayPal closes loophole that let scammers send real emails with fake purchase notices
December 15, 2025
After an investigation by BleepingComputer, PayPal closed a loophole that allowed scammers to send emails from the legitimate [email protected] email address. Following reports from people who received emails claiming an automatic payment had been cancelled, BleepingComputer found that cybercriminals were abusing a PayPal feature that allows merchants to pause a customer’s subscription. Read more… Source: Malwarebytes Labs Sign up ...
- French government hit by cyberattack
December 15, 2025
The French Interior Ministry has confirmed recently suffering a cyberattack, but the consequences are still being determined. The French Minister of Interior said the attack took place at night, between December 11 and December 12. Email servers were compromised, allowing threat actors to access some document files. However, it is currently unclear if they managed to ...