The Malware tag covers malware families, infrastructure analysis, incident impact, disruption efforts, and defensive guidance to reduce cybersecurity risk.
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Background for this topic.
Malware is software intentionally created or modified to perform unauthorized or harmful actions on a computer, device, or network. The term covers distinct families and functions, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, botnet clients, and ransomware; a single sample may combine several capabilities. Its behavior—not its label—determines the security concern: it may execute code, persist, alter or encrypt data, steal credentials, or provide unauthorized remote access.
For practitioners, malware reporting is most useful when it identifies the family or tool conservatively and provides evidence such as affected platforms, samples, infrastructure, or observed behavior. Defenses include promptly patching vulnerable software, restricting execution and privileges, monitoring endpoints and networks, maintaining tested backups, and isolating suspected systems for analysis. Detection should use behavior and verified indicators rather than names alone, since variants change. If malware processes personal or regulated data, investigations should also address privacy, evidence preservation, and applicable reporting obligations.
An international law enforcement operation has taken down AVCheck, a service used by cybercriminals to test whether their malware is detected by commercial antivirus software before deploying it in the wild. [...]
A new malware campaign is distributing a novel Rust-based information stealer dubbed EDDIESTEALER using the popular ClickFix social engineering tactic initiated via fake CAPTCHA verification pages
Take care when downloading AI freebies, researcher tells The Register Criminals are using installers for fake AI software to distribute ransomware and other destructive malware.…
Fake installers for popular artificial intelligence (AI) tools like OpenAI ChatGPT and InVideo AI are being used as lures to propagate various threats, such as the CyberLock and Lucky_Gh0$t ransomware families, and a new malware dubbed Numero
Also: Mango Markets Hacker's Convictions Overturned, Coinbase LawsuitThis week, $223M Cetus Protocol hack, U.S. judge overturned Mango Markets hacker convictions, class action lawsuit against Coinbase, Cork Protocol's $12M exploit, fake software sites spread crypto-stealing malware, a violent crypto-linked kidnapping and civil proceedings against the ex-ACX exec.
Threat actors linked to lesser-known ransomware and malware projects now use AI tools as lures to infect unsuspecting victims with malicious payloads. [...]
Cybersecurity researchers have taken the wraps off an unusual cyber attack that leveraged malware with corrupted DOS and PE headers, according to new findings from Fortinet
Fortinet has identified a new Windows RAT operating stealthily on compromised systems with advanced evasion techniques
Google on Wednesday disclosed that the Chinese state-sponsored threat actor known as APT41 leveraged a malware called TOUGHPROGRESS that uses Google Calendar for command-and-control (C2)
The Chinese APT41 hacking group uses a new malware named 'ToughProgress' that abuses Google Calendar for command-and-control (C2) operations, hiding malicious activity behind a trusted cloud service. [...]
Stealthy Malware Installs Cryptomining SoftwareA botnet targeting Internet of Things devices works by brute forcing credentials and downloading cryptomining software. Researchers call the botnet "PumaBot," since its malware checks for the string "Pumatronix," the name of a Brazilian manufacturer of surveillance and traffic camera systems.
A newly discovered Go-based Linux botnet malware named PumaBot is brute-forcing SSH credentials on embedded IoT devices to deploy malicious payloads. [...]
Social Engineering Attacks Trick Victims Running Malware-Installation ScriptsAttackers are tapping TikTok to distribute videos, apparently generated using artificial intelligence tools, to trick victims into running scripts that install information-stealing malware, researchers warn. The campaign is the latest in a long line of schemes designed to distribute infostealers.
Authorities in Pakistan have arrested 21 individuals accused of operating "Heartsender," a once popular spam and malware dissemination service that operated for more than a decade. The main clientele for HeartSender were organized crime groups that tried to trick victim companies into making payments to a third party, and its alleged proprietors were publicly identified by KrebsOnSecurity in 2021 after they inadvertently infected their computers with malware.
A spoofed Bitdefender site has been used in a malicious campaign distributing VenomRAT and other malware, according to DomainTools
Embedded Linux-based Internet of Things (IoT) devices have become the target of a new botnet dubbed PumaBot
Stealer malware no longer just steals passwords. In 2025, it steals live sessions—and attackers are moving faster and more efficiently than ever
A Vietnam-nexus hacking group distributes infostealers and backdoors via social media ads promoting fake AI generator websites
Millions may fall for it - and end up with malware instead A group of miscreants tracked as UNC6032 is exploiting interest in AI video generators by planting malicious ads on social media platforms to steal credentials, credit card details, and other sensitive info, according to Mandiant.…
Mandiant Says Malware Spread Through Fake AI Video Ads Seen by MillionsOnline scammers are converting excitement over generative artificial intelligence into fraudulent sites that infect victims with malware, says threat intel firm Google Mandiant in a report exposing a year-long campaign to distribute infostealers and backdoors.