DarkGate again but... Improved?

DarkGate again but... Improved? By Ernesto Fernández Provecho · June 3, 2024 Executive summary During 2023, DarkGate made a comeback with a version full of new features, becoming one of the most preferred Remote Access Trojans RATs by malicious actors. However, this momentum also required...

Latrodectus Malware Loader Emerges as IcedID's Successor in Phishing Campaigns

Cybersecurity researchers have observed a spike in email phishing campaigns starting early March 2024 that delivers Latrodectus, a nascent malware loader believed to be the successor to the IcedID malware. "These campaigns typically involve a recognizable infection chain involving oversized...

PikaBot malware on the rise: What organizations need to know

A new type of malware is being used by ransomware gangs in their attacks, and its name is PikaBot. A relatively new trojan that emerged in early 2023, PikaBot is the apparent successor to the infamous QakBot QBot trojan that was shut down in August 2023. QBot was used by many ransomware gangs in...

New IDAT Loader Attacks Using Steganography to Deploy Remcos RAT

Ukrainian entities based in Finland have been targeted as part of a malicious campaign distributing a commercial remote access trojan known as Remcos RAT using a malware loader called IDAT Loader. The attack has been attributed to a threat actor tracked by the Computer Emergency Response Team of...

PikaBot Resurfaces with Streamlined Code and Deceptive Tactics

The threat actors behind the PikaBot malware have made significant changes to the malware in what has been described as a case of "devolution." "Although it appears to be in a new development cycle and testing phase, the developers have reduced the complexity of the code by removing advanced...

Alert: Water Curupira Hackers Actively Distributing PikaBot Loader Malware

A threat actor called Water Curupira has been observed actively distributing the PikaBot loader malware as part of spam campaigns in 2023. "PikaBot's operators ran phishing campaigns, targeting victims via its two components — a loader and a core module — which enabled unauthorized remote access...

New JinxLoader Targeting Users with Formbook and XLoader Malware

A new Go-based malware loader called JinxLoader is being used by threat actors to deliver next-stage payloads such as Formbook and its successor XLoader. The disclosure comes from cybersecurity firms Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 and Symantec, both of which highlighted multi-step attack sequences th...

PikaBot Malware Unleashes Threat via Malvertising

Summary: PikaBot, a recently identified malware family, has become a prominent threat in malvertising campaigns, particularly through search engine ads. Associated with the TA577 threat actor and linked to ransomware distribution, PikaBot employs advanced tactics, such as decoy websites and...

New Malvertising Campaign Distributing PikaBot Disguised as Popular Software

The malware loader known as PikaBot is being distributed as part of a malvertising campaign targeting users searching for legitimate software like AnyDesk. "PikaBot was previously only distributed via malspam campaigns similarly to QakBot and emerged as one of the preferred payloads for a threat...

A week in security (December 11 – December 17)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: PikaBot distributed via malicious search ads Chrome starts the countdown to the end of tracking cookies Apple to introduce new feature that makes life harder for iPhone thieves Recently-patched Apache Struts vulnerability used in worldwide attacks ALPHV ransomware...

DarkGate and PikaBot Malware Resurrect QakBot's Tactics in New Phishing Attacks

Phishing campaigns delivering malware families such as DarkGate and PikaBot are following the same tactics previously used in attacks leveraging the now-defunct QakBot trojan. "These include hijacked email threads as the initial infection, URLs with unique patterns that limit user access, and an...