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:
- News Corp says state hackers were on its network for two years
February 24, 2023
Mass media and publishing giant News Corporation (News Corp) says that attackers behind a breach disclosed in 2022 first gained access to its systems two years before, in February 2020. This was revealed in data breach notification letters sent to employees affected by the data breach, who had some of their personal and health information accessed, ...
- Clasiopa: New group targets materials research organization in Asia
February 23, 2023
A hitherto unknown attack group has been observed targeting a materials research organization in Asia. The group, which Symantec calls Clasiopa, is characterized by a distinct toolset, which includes one piece of custom malware (Backdoor.Atharvan). At present, there is no firm evidence on where Clasiopa is based or whom it acts on behalf. The infection vector ...
- Cyberattack on food giant Dole, temporarily shuts down North American production
February 23, 2023
Produce giant Dole was forced to temporarily shut down its production plants in North America and halt food shipments to grocery stores after being targeted in a cyberattack. The previously unreported hack, which a source familiar with the incident said was ransomware, led some grocery shoppers to complain on Facebook in recent days that store shelves ...
- Telus investigating sale of alleged code, employee information
February 23, 2023
Someone on a criminal forum is selling what they claim is data on all Telus employees, as well as the Canadian telecommunications company’s GitHub software code repositories. In response to an IT World Canada reporter’s query about the posting, Telus director of public affairs Richard Gilhooley said the company is looking into the allegation. Read more… Source: IT ...
- European Commission bans TikTok from employees’ phones
February 23, 2023
The Commission said in a statement that all its employees will have to comply by March 15. This measure aims “to protect the Commission against cybersecurity threats and actions which may be exploited for cyber-attacks against the corporate environment of the Commission,” the statement said. “The security developments of other social media platforms will also be kept ...
- Datacenters in China, Singapore cracked by crims who then targeted tenants
February 23, 2023
Criminals have targeted datacenter operators in Singapore and China, tapping into their CCTV cameras, accessing their tenant lists and then attacking those customers. That’s the scary scenario outlined by infosec vendor Resecurity, which has detailed malicious campaigns said to have started in 2021 but became apparent earlier this month when info dumps were teased on the ...