A week in security (February 12 – February 18)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs, we looked at a huge Android cryptomining campaign, malicious apps on Google Play, and some Apple scams doing the rounds. We also explored the world of healthcare security, and dived into the land of scammy Valentine's Day tricks and cheats. Other news Thought the...

Online security tips for Valentine’s Day: how to beat the cheats

Valentine's Day is upon us once more, and so are lots of dating-friendly security tips. Read on and secure your profile, alongside one hopes the love of your life. 1. Not so hot singles in your area Many dating apps have geotagging enabled, regardless of whether you created your profile on a...

Romance Scams Drive Necurs Botnet Activity in Run Up to Valentine’s Day

Necurs botnet activity is spiking as scammers use the network to flood inboxes with promises of companionship, in part of a seasonal wave of Valentine’s Day-themed spam. Victims are encouraged to share revealing photos of themselves, which scammers later use as leverage in extortion shakedowns. T...

Boomerang spam bombs Malwarebytes forum—not a smart move

Tech support scammers are generally not the best and brightest. As such, they will occasionally post ads for their fake companies in the comment sections here or on the Malwarebytes forums. Last week, however, scammers struggled with configuring their spambots, resulting in spam bombs on the foru...

Stop telephoning me-eh-eh-eh-eh: robocalls explained

If you've ever answered a call from anyone outside your contact list only to hear a recorded message playing back at you, you have just been robocalled. Unfortunately for American consumers, this happens several times a day, seven days a week. Suffice to say, this is beyond annoying—and it's...

FTC Warns of Online Dating Scams

The Federal Trade Commission FTC has released an article addressing scams targeting online daters. In this type of fraud, cyber criminals target victims, gain their confidence, and trick them into sending money. To stay safer online, review the FTC article on Online Dating Scams and the...

IC3 Warns of Impersonation Scams

The Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3 has released an alert on impersonation scams. In these schemes, scammers send emails impersonating IC3 to trick recipients into providing personally identifiable information or downloading malicious files. Users should use caution when reviewing unsolicited...

Stolen security logos used to falsely endorse PUPs

To gain the trust of users, many websites and companies feature the logos of reputable firms who endorse their products. Unfortunately, some unseemly companies do the same, using logos of companies who have not, in fact, endorsed their product in order to trick people into thinking that what they...

A week in security (January 22 – January 28)

Last week on Labs, we analyzed a rogue app outbreak on Twitter, took a look at how Singapore's government is faring with network defense, and rolled out our 2017 State of Malware report. We also became visionaries in Gartner's Magic Quadrant report and explored a VR data mishap. Other news Man...

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week is January 29 to February 2, and many federal agencies are offering information and resources to help consumers learn to protect themselves from tax-related identity theft and Internal Revenue Service IRS imposter scams. NCCIC/US-CERT encourages consumers to revi...

A week in security (January 15 – January 21)

Last week on Labs, we gave you some background information about cookies, specifically which ones to worry about and why. We also warned you about scams surrounding the Mega Millions winner, who promised to donate his money to good causes. We analyzed a cryptocurrency miner using a very old...

A week in security (January 8 – January 14)

It's very early in the year, yet everyone has already had a complete meltdown pun intended over a number of serious vulnerabilities found in legacy and modern microprocessors. Last week, rightly so, vendors released patches for hardware and OSes to help mitigate these threats. However, problems i...

Of princes and perpetrators: Beware of getting ensnared in 419 scams

We've mentioned before that 419 scams don't always originate from Nigeria. It's a very simple and popular scam that can be attempted by pretty much anyone with a flair for social engineering. Indeed, 419 scams are so associated with the region that many scammers in non-Nigerian countries know the...

Tourist Scams

A comprehensive list. Most are old and obvious, but there are some clever variants...

Security IQ:  How to Survive the Holiday Phishing Season

Now that we’ve officially entered the holiday season it’s time to be especially mindful of the ways that an attacker may use this to their advantage. In fact, recent Carbon Black data noted a 20.5% uptick in attempted cyberattacks during the holiday season. “Good” Deals If you’re looking to find...

A week in security (December 11 – December 17)

Last week we explained what fast flux is and how it's being abused, we showed you all kinds of Bitcoin-related scams, presented a video recording of a tech support scammer trying to sell free software, and pointed out some free software to keep an eye on your Internet traffic. We also informed yo...

There’s a hole in my bucket: Bitcoin scams aim to exploit volatile market

Bitcoin! Black gold! Texas tea! Only one of these is currently worth ridiculous amounts of money and technically numbers two and three are the same thing. Whether you're in possession of lots of Bitcoins, or in full bandwagon panic "must buy 20 graphics cards before the bubble bursts" mode, you...

November 22, 2017 – Morning Cyber Coffee Headlines – “Thanksgiving Week” Edition

Good morning! Sit with Carbon Black this morning over a cup of coffee or tea and browse a few industry headlines to get the day started. We’ve got just enough information below to get you through that first cup…enjoy! November 22, 2017 - Headlines Carbon Black in the News: Holiday season scams:...

10 tips for safe online shopping on Cyber Monday

Shoppers familiar with the Cyber Monday circus know they’re stepping into the lion’s den. The Internet has always been a lawless place, but it becomes particularly rough during the holiday shopping season. In preparation for the frenzy, cyber villains have crafted a virtual onslaught of social...

Holiday Scams and Malware Campaigns

US-CERT reminds users to remain vigilant when browsing or shopping online this holiday season. Emails and ecards from unknown senders may contain malicious links. Fake advertisements or shipping notifications may deliver attachments infected with malware. Spoofed email messages and phony posts on...