Attackers typically try to pass off malware as legitimate applications or as potentially unwanted programs that users deliberately search for and download, such as cheats or cracks. They often rely on ad and affiliate networks to deliver their creations to victims’ devices. This post examines a less conventional case: a well-known backdoor distributed under the guise of adware. The attackers may have chosen this distribution method because the adware was signed by the developer. On top of that, users often manually add these apps to exclusions, so their useful features don’t get blocked.
Some time ago, a client asked us to analyze a file with the MD5 hash c24e99f9437feacaa63766a3cde3fe3d and add it to our detection database. We initially classified it as adware, but a cursory analysis turned up suspicious network activity, which prompted us to dig deeper. It turned out the sample did far more than serve ads. In fact, its advertising functionality doesn’t even work; instead, it triggers an infection chain that delivers the ValleyRAT backdoor.
Read more…
Source: Kaspersky
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- Unmasking Styx Stealer: How a Hacker’s Slip Led to an Intelligence Treasure Trove
August 16, 2024
In the shadowy world of cybercrime, even the most cunning hackers can make blunders that expose their operations. In this article CPR describes the discovery of Styx Stealer, a new malware variant derived from the notorious Phemedrone Stealer. Check Point investigation revealed critical missteps by the developer of Styx Stealer, including a significant operational security (OpSec) ...
- ‘Keyboard warrior’ jailed for part in UK disorder
August 16, 2024
A man who posted material on social media to stir up racial hatred during recent unrest across the UK has been jailed for three years. Wayne O’Rourke, who had more than 90,000 followers to his X account, posted misinformation about the killing of three young girls in Southport on 29 July and praised the burning of ...
- Rogue AI is the Future of Cyber Threats
August 15, 2024
Yoshua Bengio, regarded as one of the “godfathers” of artificial intelligence, has likened the now-ubiquitous technology to a bear. When we teach the bear to become smart enough to escape its cage, we no longer control it. All we can do after that is try to build a better cage. This should be our goal with ...
- A Deep Dive into a New ValleyRAT Campaign Targeting Chinese Speakers
August 15, 2024
FortiGuard Labs recently encountered an ongoing ValleyRAT campaign specifically targeting Chinese speakers. This malware has historically targeted e-commerce, finance, sales, and management enterprises. ValleyRAT is a multi-stage malware that utilizes diverse techniques to monitor and control its victims and deploy arbitrary plugins to cause further damage. Another noteworthy characteristic of this malware is its heavy usage ...
- UK, US supervise Ukrainian scam call centers – Russian Interior Ministry
August 15, 2024
The special services of the United Kingdom and the United States control and supervise Ukrainian scam call centers, a spokesman for the Russian Interior Ministry said. “The most important thing is that they are fully controlled by the special services of Ukraine, the special services of the UK and the US. Remote thefts ...
- Kootenai Health cyber attack impacts 464,000 patients
August 15, 2024
US healthcare provider Kootenai Health has revealed that data belonging to 464,000 patients has been compromised following a cyber attack. The non-profit health system, based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, said it was alerted to a potential data breach in March 2024 after noticing “unusual activity that disrupted access to certain IT systems”. Following an investigation, Kootenai ...