CryptXXX, Cryptobit Ransomware Spreading Through Campaign

Researchers have spotted several types of ransomware, including CryptXXX and a fairly new strain, Cryptobit, being pushed through the same shady series of domains. The campaign, called Realstatistics, has tainted thousands of sites built on both Joomla! and WordPress content management systems...

CryptXXX Ransomware Updates Ransom Note, Payment Site

For the second time since June 1, the handlers of CryptXXX ransomware have changed their ransom note and Tor payment site. More importantly to those developing detection signatures and administrators, this update no longer makes changes to the file extensions of encrypted files. “To make it more...

The Changing Face of Pseudo-Darkleech

The pseudo-Darkleech campaign is one of the most notorious and ongoing attacks of recent years, making use of major exploit kits to deliver primarily different strains of ransomware. The campaign has been a bit of chameleon since it was disclosed in March 2015 by researchers at Sucuri. The latest...

Locky Variant Zepto Debuts with Big Spam Push

Ransomware called Zepto is raising concerns with security experts because of its close ties to the more mature and prolific Locky ransomware. Zepto was spotted about a month ago but a recent wave of spam containing Zepto-laced attachments detected on June 27 is heightening fears of widespread...

Google Play Hit With Rash of Auto-Rooting Malware

Researchers have identified a recent wave of malware targeting the Google Play app marketplace that entices users to download utilities and games that when installed surreptitiously root devices. The exploit, which mobile security firm Lookout calls autorooting malware, gives attackers complete...

655,000 Healthcare Records Being Sold on Dark Web

A hacker selling upwards to 655,000 healthcare records on the dark web allegedly obtained them after exploiting a vulnerability in how companies implement remote desktop protocol, or RDP, functionality. The hacker, who goes by the handle “thedarkoverlord,” allegedly penetrated three healthcare...

Zero-Day Warning! Ransomware targets Microsoft Office 365 Users

If just relying on the security tools of Microsoft Office 365 can protect you from cyber attacks, you are wrong. Variants of Cerber Ransomware are now targeting MS Office 365 email users with a massive zero-day attack that has the ability to bypass Office 365's built-in security tools. According ...

New CryptXXX Can Evade Detection, Outsmart Decryption Tools

Tweet Crooks behind the fast spreading CryptXXX ransomware updated the latest variant with better encryption technology and new methods to evade detection by researchers. This latest version of CryptXXX was spotted by researchers at SentinelOne that say the new updated sample has already earned...

Locky is Back Asking for Unpaid Debts

On June 21, 2016, FireEye’s Dynamic Threat Intelligence DTI identified an increase in JavaScript contained within spam emails. FireEye analysts determined the increase was the result of a new Locky ransomware spam campaign. As shown in Figure 1, Locky spam activity was uninterrupted until June 1,...

Locky is Back Asking for Unpaid Debts

On June 21, 2016, FireEye’s Dynamic Threat Intelligence DTI identified an increase in JavaScript contained within spam emails. FireEye analysts determined the increase was the result of a new Locky ransomware spam campaign. As shown in Figure 1, Locky spam activity was uninterrupted until June 1,...

Locky is Back Asking for Unpaid Debts

On June 21, 2016, FireEye’s Dynamic Threat Intelligence DTI identified an increase in JavaScript contained within spam emails. FireEye analysts determined the increase was the result of a new Locky ransomware spam campaign. As shown in Figure 1, Locky spam activity was uninterrupted until June 1,...

On the Rise of Ransomware, Bitcoin Phishing, and Exploit Kits

Mike Mimoso and Chris Brook recap the news of the week, including a Bitcoin phishing campaign, the Kaspersky Lab ransomware report, misconfigured email servers, and a decline in Angler exploit kit traffic. Download: ThreatpostNewsWrapJune242016.mp3 Music by Chris Gonsalves...

Jkanime Site Infected, Redirecting to Exploit Kit, Ransomware

An anime site popular in Mexico and South America was this week infected with malware redirecting visitors to a Neutrino Exploit Kit landing page. The site, Jkanime, streams anime video and has 33 million monthly visitors. Neutrino is currently the top dog among exploit kits after two of the bigg...

Necurs Botnet is Back, Updated Locky and Dridex

The notorious Necurs botnet is back in business, after mysteriously going dark for nearly a month. Researchers report the Necurs has returned to spewing massive volumes of email containing an improved version of the potent Locky ransomware and the Dridex banking Trojan. According to Proofpoint...

Nuclear, Angler Exploit Kit Activity Has Disappeared

Criminal hackers are fickle about their attack vectors. You need to look no further for evidence of this than their constant migration from one exploit kit to another. And while there is an expansive menu of exploit kits, attackers do seem to congregate around a precious few. Researchers who stud...

Ransomware A Two-Year Nightmare in the Making

The scourge of ransomware over the past two years has been impressive – and not in a good way. The number of frustrated computer users locked out of their PCs is at an all-time high with no signs of the ransomware epidemic relenting. According to security experts, the last two years have seen an...

Dept. of Justice Makes Plea for Mass Surveillance, Hacking

The Department of Justice is countering a growing chorus of privacy advocates who are against a rule change that will greatly expand law enforcement’s ability to hack into computers located around the world. In a blog post to the DoJ website late Monday, Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell...

Android Ransomware now targets your Smart TV, Too!

Do you own a Smartwatch, Smart TV, Smart fridge, or any Internet-connected smart device? If your answer is yes, then you need to know the latest interest of the cyber criminals in the field of Internet of Things. Ransomware! After targeting hospitals, universities, and businesses, Ransomware has...

RAA Ransomware Composed Entirely of JavaScript

We’ve already seen ransomware take on many forms this year, but researchers this week claim they’ve noticed a new strain unlike any they’ve seen prior–a type composed entirely of JavaScript. The ransomware, dubbed RAA by researchers, has been circulating through attachments masquerading as Word...

Decryption Utilities Unlock Files Encrypted by All TeslaCrypt Versions

For close to a month, the master encryption key unlocking files ravaged by TeslaCrypt has been publicly available, putting an end to a profitable strain of ransomware. In the weeks since, various decryptors have been developed that can be used to unlock files. Kaspersky Lab, for one, updated its...