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:
- A Deep Dive into the Evolution of Ransomware Part 1
February 21, 2023
Ransomware has become a notorious and damaging form of malware, inflicting financial losses on enterprises, governments, healthcare organizations and core infrastructure. Ransomware has been a very profitable activity for malicious actors. However, we want to investigate what would cause changes in this business model—both in the far future and near future. Trend Micro team conducted comprehensive ...
- In Review: What GPT-3 Taught ChatGPT in a Year
February 21, 2023
More than a year since the world’s general enthusiasm for the then-novel GPT-3, we took a closer look at the technology and analyzed its actual capabilities and potential for threats and malfeasance. Trend Micro considerations were collected in our Codex Exposed blog series as it focused on the most prominent aspects of the technology from a ...
- DNA testing biz vows to improve infosec after criminals break into database it didn’t know it had
February 20, 2023
A DNA diagnostics company will pay $400,000 and tighten its security in the wake of a 2021 attack where criminals broke into its network and swiped personal data on over two million people from a nine-year-old “legacy” database the company forgot it had. The genetic testing firm, DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) reached a settlement deal with ...
- Royal Ransomware expands attacks by targeting Linux ESXi servers
February 20, 2023
Ransomware actors have been observed to expand their targets by increasingly developing Linux-based versions. Trend Micro predicted in September 2022 that ransomware groups will would increasingly target Linux servers and embedded systems in the coming years after detecting a double-digit year-on-year (YoY) increase in attacks on these systems in the first half of 2022. In May ...
- GoDaddy joins the dots and realizes it’s been under attack for three years
February 20, 2023
Web hosting and domain name concern GoDaddy has disclosed a fresh attack on its infrastructure, and concluded that it is one of a series of linked incidents dating back to 2020. The business took the unusual step of detailing the attacks in its Form 10-K – the formal annual report listed entities are required to file ...
- Suffolk County starting to restore online services amid months-long cyberattack
February 18, 2023
Suffolk County has been suffering through a massive cyberattack for months, but progress has been made to restore security. Social security numbers of 26,000 county employees and drivers license numbers of 470,000 were exposed or accessed. Read more… Source: MSN News