Fake Software Installers Disable Windows Update and Weaken Microsoft Defender

An active malware campaign is using bogus software-download websites to impersonate trusted vendors and distribute malicious installers. "The campaign has targeted users looking to download popular software and has resulted in compromises across multiple organizations and industries, primarily...

Counterfeit installers to system compromise: Tracking a deceptive software download campaign

In this article 1. Attack chain overview 2. Campaign scope and targeting 3. Mitigation and protection guidance 4. References 5. Learn more Microsoft Defender Experts is tracking an active malware campaign that uses counterfeit software-download websites to impersonate trusted vendors and distribu...

Counterfeit installers to system compromise: Tracking a deceptive software download campaign

In this article 1. Attack chain overview 2. Campaign scope and targeting 3. Mitigation and protection guidance 4. References 5. Learn more Microsoft Defender Experts is tracking an active malware campaign that uses counterfeit software-download websites to impersonate trusted vendors and distribu...

ValleyRAT Backdoor Hides in Signed Adware That Users Add to Antivirus Exclusions

The threat actor known as Silver Fox has been observed distributing the ValleyRAT backdoor disguised as a signed Chinese adware application, running the malware under a trusted process to slip past users who add such software to their antivirus exclusions. Russian cybersecurity vendor Kaspersky...

Silver Fox Targets Japanese Manufacturer with 3-Driver BYOVD Chain and ValleyRAT

The Chinese cybercrime group known as Silver Fox has been observed using new drivers as part of bring your own vulnerable driver BYOVD attacks targeting a Japanese organization in the industrial manufacturing sector to ultimately deliver ValleyRAT aka Winos 4.0 for persistent remote access. "In...

New MODBEACON RAT Uses gRPC Streaming for Encrypted C2 Traffic

The China-linked cybercrime group known as Silver Fox has been attributed to a new Rust-based remote access trojan RAR called MODBEACON. Chinese cybersecurity company QiAnXin said that while the threat cluster may appear like a low-sophistication, high-activity operation that propagates malware v...

Silver Fox Deploys ABCDoor Malware via Tax-Themed Phishing in India and Russia

The China-based cybercrime group known as Silver Fox aka Monarch, SwimSnake, The Great Thief of Valley, UTG-Q-1000, and Void Arachne has been linked to a new campaign targeting organizations in Russia and India with a new malware called ABCDoor. The activity involved using phishing emails that...

Silver Fox Expands Asia Cyber Campaign with AtlasCross RAT and Fake Domains

Chinese-speaking users are the target of an active campaign that uses typosquatted domains impersonating trusted software brands to deliver a previously undocumented remote access trojan named AtlasCross RAT. "The operation covers VPN clients, encrypted messengers, video conferencing tools,...

Fake Huorong security site infects users with ValleyRAT

A convincing lookalike of the popular Huorong Security antivirus has been used to deliver ValleyRAT, a sophisticated Remote Access Trojan RAT built on the Winos4.0 framework, to users who believed they were improving their security. The campaign, attributed to the Silver Fox APT group—a...

Silver Fox Targets Indian Users With Tax-Themed Emails Delivering ValleyRAT Malware

The threat actor known as Silver Fox has turned its focus to India, using income tax-themed lures in phishing campaigns to distribute a modular remote access trojan called ValleyRAT aka Winos 4.0. "This sophisticated attack leverages a complex kill chain involving DLL hijacking and the modular...

Silver Fox Uses Fake Microsoft Teams Installer to Spread ValleyRAT Malware in China

The threat actor known as Silver Fox has been spotted orchestrating a false flag operation to mimic a Russian threat group in attacks targeting organizations in China. The search engine optimization SEO poisoning campaign leverages Microsoft Teams lures to trick unsuspecting users into downloadin...

Silver Fox Expands Winos 4.0 Attacks to Japan and Malaysia via HoldingHands RAT

The threat actors behind a malware family known as Winos 4.0 aka ValleyRAT have expanded their targeting footprint from China and Taiwan to target Japan and Malaysia with another remote access trojan RAT tracked as HoldingHands RAT aka Gh0stBins. "The campaign relied on phishing emails with PDFs...

Silver Fox Expands Winos 4.0 Attacks to Japan and Malaysia via HoldingHands RAT

The threat actors behind a malware family known as Winos 4.0 aka ValleyRAT have expanded their targeting footprint from China and Taiwan to target Japan and Malaysia with another remote access trojan RAT tracked as HoldingHands RAT aka Gh0stBins. "The campaign relied on phishing emails with PDFs...

HiddenGh0st, Winos and kkRAT Exploit SEO, GitHub Pages in Chinese Malware Attacks

Chinese-speaking users are the target of a search engine optimization SEO poisoning campaign that uses fake software sites to distribute malware. "The attackers manipulated search rankings with SEO plugins and registered lookalike domains that closely mimicked legitimate software sites," Fortinet...

HiddenGh0st, Winos and kkRAT Exploit SEO, GitHub Pages in Chinese Malware Attacks

Chinese-speaking users are the target of a search engine optimization SEO poisoning campaign that uses fake software sites to distribute malware. "The attackers manipulated search rankings with SEO plugins and registered lookalike domains that closely mimicked legitimate software sites," Fortinet...

Silver Fox APT Exploits Signed Windows Driver to Deliver ValleyRAT

Check Point reports Silver Fox APT using a signed WatchDog driver flaw to disable Windows security and deliver…...

Chinese Group Silver Fox Uses Fake Websites to Deliver Sainbox RAT and Hidden Rootkit

A new campaign has been observed leveraging fake websites advertising popular software such as WPS Office, Sogou, and DeepSeek to deliver Sainbox RAT and the open-source Hidden rootkit. The activity has been attributed with medium confidence to a Chinese hacking group called Silver Fox aka Void...

Silver Fox APT Targets Taiwan with Complex Gh0stCringe and HoldingHands RAT Malware

Cybersecurity researchers are warning of a new phishing campaign that's targeting users in Taiwan with malware families such as HoldingHands RAT and Gh0stCringe. The activity is part of a broader campaign that delivered the Winos 4.0 malware framework earlier this January by sending phishing...

Silver Fox APT Targets Taiwan with Complex Gh0stCringe and HoldingHands RAT Malware

Cybersecurity researchers are warning of a new phishing campaign that's targeting users in Taiwan with malware families such as HoldingHands RAT and Gh0stCringe. The activity is part of a broader campaign that delivered the Winos 4.0 malware framework earlier this January by sending phishing...

Silver Fox APT Uses Winos 4.0 Malware in Cyber Attacks Against Taiwanese Organizations

A new campaign is targeting companies in Taiwan with malware known as Winos 4.0 as part of phishing emails masquerading as the country's National Taxation Bureau. The campaign, detected last month by Fortinet FortiGuard Labs, marks a departure from previous attack chains that have leveraged...