Open the wrong “PDF” and attackers gain remote access to your PC


Cybercriminals behind a campaign dubbed DEAD#VAX are taking phishing one step further by delivering malware inside virtual hard disks that pretend to be ordinary PDF documents.

Open the wrong “invoice” or “purchase order” and you won’t see a document at all. Instead, Windows mounts a virtual drive that quietly installs AsyncRAT, a backdoor Trojan that allows attackers to remotely monitor and control your computer. It’s a remote access tool, which means attackers gain remote hands‑on‑keyboard control, while traditional file‑based defenses see almost nothing suspicious on disk.

Read more…
Source:  Malwarebytes Labs


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • “Reprompt” attack lets attackers steal data from Microsoft Copilot

    January 15, 2026

    Researchers found a method to steal data which bypasses Microsoft Copilot’s built-in safety mechanisms. The attack flow, called Reprompt, abuses how Microsoft Copilot handled URL parameters in order to hijack a user’s existing Copilot Personal session. Copilot is an AI assistant which connects to a personal account and is integrated into Windows, the Edge browser, and ...

  • DeadLock Ransomware: Smart Contracts for Malicious Purposes

    January 15, 2026

    DeadLock is a ransomware family discovered in July 2025. It is notable for not being associated with any known affiliate programs and for lacking a Data Leak Site (DLS). This, combined with the limited number of reported victims, has resulted in low exposure for the group. However, Group-IB specialists have discovered an interesting use of ...

  • Microsoft disrupts global cybercrime subscription service responsible for millions in fraud losses

    January 14, 2026

    Today, Microsoft is announcing a coordinated legal action in the United States and, for the first time, the United Kingdom to disrupt RedVDS, a global cybercrime subscription service fueling millions in fraud losses. These efforts are part of a broader joint operation with international law enforcement, including German authorities and Europol, which has allowed Microsoft and ...

  • Phishing scammers are posting fake “account restricted” comments on LinkedIn

    January 14, 2026

    Recently, fake LinkedIn profiles have started posting comment replies claiming that a user has “engaged in activities that are not in compliance” with LinkedIn’s policies and that their account has been “temporarily restricted” until they submit an appeal through a specified link in the comment. The accounts posting the comments all try to look like official ...

  • US cargo tech company publicly exposed its shipping systems and customer data to the web

    January 14, 2026

    For the past year, security researchers have been urging the global shipping industry to shore up their cyber defenses after a spate of cargo thefts were linked to hackers. The researchers say they have seen elaborate hacks targeting logistics companies to hijack and redirect large amounts of their customers’ products into the hands of criminals, in ...

  • Online shoppers at risk as Magecart skimming hits major payment networks

    January 14, 2026

    Researchers have been tracking a Magecart campaign that targets several major payment providers, including American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and Mastercard. Magecart is an umbrella term for criminal groups that specialize in stealing payment data from online checkout pages using malicious JavaScript, a technique known as web skimming. In the early days, Magecart started as a ...