Attackers are increasingly exploiting Windows shortcut (LNK) files for malware delivery. Palo Alto Unit 42 telemetry revealed 21,098 malicious LNK samples in 2023, which surged to 68,392 in 2024.
In this article, Unit 42 researchers present an in-depth investigation of LNK malware, based on analysis of 30,000 recent samples. Windows shortcut files use the .lnk file extension and function as a virtual link that allows people to easily access other files without having to navigate through multiple folders on a Windows host. The flexibility of LNK files makes them a powerful tool for attackers, as they can both execute malicious content and masquerade as legitimate files to deceive victims into unintentionally launching malware.
Read more…
Source: Palo Alto Unit 42
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox.
Related:
- Scottish law firm Scullion Law suffers cyber attack
March 31, 2024
Scullion Law, which has offices on George Street Edinburgh, as well as in Glasgow, Hamilton and Madrid, had 155GB of data stolen in the attack by Black Basta. A spokesperson for the award-winning firm said: “We can confirm that we were recently the victim of a cyberattack. “We promptly notified the ICO and The Law Society ...
- OpenAI’s new ‘Voice Engine’ clones your voice in only 15 seconds
March 30, 2024
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance rapidly, ChatGPT maker OpenAI is at the forefront of this progress. The research lab has unveiled a powerful new voice cloning technology called Voice Engine. With just a 15-second audio sample, it can generate a synthetic copy of a person’s voice described as “natural-sounding” and “emotive.” While the company ...
- Backdoor found in widely used Linux utility targets encrypted SSH connections
March 29, 2024
Researchers have found a malicious backdoor in a compression tool that made its way into widely used Linux distributions, including those from Red Hat and Debian. The compression utility, known as xz Utils, introduced the malicious code in versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1, according to Andres Freund, the developer who discovered it. There are no known reports ...
- Massachusetts healthcare provider warns patients of data breach
March 29, 2024
A Massachusetts healthcare provider is warning patients of a recently discovered data breach that compromised some personal information. Brigham and Women’s Physician Organization, a Mass General Brigham Incorporated member, is notifying individuals of an incident it became aware of on Jan. 29, 2024, involving some patients’ personal information. Read more… Source: MSN News
- Cloud Werewolf spearphishes Russian and Belarus government employees with fake spa vouchers and federal decrees
March 29, 2024
The BI.ZONE Threat Intelligence team has revealed another campaign by Cloud Werewolf aiming at Russian and Belarusian government organizations. According to the researchers, the group ran at least five attacks in February and March. The adversaries continue to rely on phishing emails with Microsoft Office attachments. Placing malicious content on a remote server and limiting the ...
- Phishing Attack Targets Apple Users With Password Resets
March 27, 2024
If you suddenly receive dozens of password-reset notifications on your iPhone, watch out: You’re probably facing a devious phishing attack targeting Apple users. The malicious tactic is intended to to trick iPhone users into handing over access to their Apple accounts, according to security journalist Brian Krebs. One of the targeted users, tech entrepreneur Parth Patel, documented ...