Scam hunter scammed by tax office impersonators

The next time you shake your head at another online scam and vow that you'd never fall for it, remember that even the most tech-savvy people can sometimes slip up. A case in point: Julie-Anne Kearns. This self-made scam-hunter told her story to the Guardian last week, revealing how she had been...

How the FBI got everything it wanted (re-air) (Lock and Code S06E15)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast… For decades, digital rights activists, technologists, and cybersecurity experts have worried about what would happen if the US government secretly broke into people’s encrypted communications. The weird thing, though, is that, in 2018, it already happened...

Proton launches Lumo, a privacy-focused AI chatbot

Proton, known for its privacy focused set of services, announced the introduction of Lumo, a privacy-first Artificial Intelligence AI chatbot. It is good to know before you dive in that Proton’s chatbot has two user options that offer a very different experience. If you want Lumo to access the...

A week in security (July 7 – July 13)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Deepfake criminals impersonate Marco Rubio to uncover government secrets McDonald’s AI bot spills data on job applicants Millions of people spied on by malicious browser extensions in Chrome and Edge No thanks: Google lets its Gemini AI access your apps, including...

McDonald’s AI bot spills data on job applicants

McDonald's has outsourced the initial stages of its hiring process to an AI chatbot which seems to have been built without proper security measures. Security researchers managed to extract personal information about McDonald's job applicants by simply guessing a username and the password “12345.”...

Update your Chrome to fix new actively exploited zero-day vulnerability

Google has released an update for its Chrome browser to patch an actively exploited flaw. This update is crucial since it addresses an actively exploited vulnerability which can be exploited when the user visits a malicious website. It doesn’t require any further user interaction, which means the...

Sextortion email scammers increase their “Hello pervert” money demands

Every so often the sextortion emails that start with “Hello pervert” get a redesign. You may have received one yourself: The emails claim that the sender has been watching your online behavior and caught you red-handed doing activities that you would like to keep private. The email usually starts...

Android users bombarded with unskippable ads

Researchers have discovered a very versatile ad fraud network—known as Kaleidoscope—that bombards users with unskippable ads. Normally, ad fraud is not a concern for users of infected devices. They might experience some sluggish behavior on their device, but often that’s the extent of it. Ad frau...

“Your privacy is a promise we don’t break”: Dating app Raw exposes sensitive user data

Any app that hands over user data is a concern, but leaky dating apps are especially worrying given the sensitivity of the data involved. A relatively new app called Raw that aims to rewrite the rules of dating is the latest to trip over its coattails by exposing user data to…well, anyone who ask...

Apple AirPlay SDK devices at risk of takeover—make sure you update

Researchers found a set of vulnerabilities in Apple’s AirPlay SDK that put billions of users at risk of their devices being taking over. AirPlay is Apple's proprietary wireless technology that allows you to stream audio, video, photos, and even mirror your device's screen from an iPhone, iPad, or...

A week in security (April 21 – April 27)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: AI is getting "creepy good" at geo-guessing Zoom attack tricks victims into allowing remote access to install malware and steal money Android malware turns phones into malicious tap-to-pay machines 4.7 million customers’ data accidentally leaked to Google by Blue...

Did DOGE “breach” Americans’ data? (Lock and Code S06E08)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast … If you don't know about the newly created US Department of Government Efficiency DOGE, there's a strong chance they already know about you. Created on January 20 by US President Donald Trump through Executive Order, DOGE's broad mandate is “modernizing...

A week in security (April 7 – April 13)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: The Pall Mall Pact and why it matters Child predators are lurking on dating apps, warns report Your 23andMe genetic data could be bought by China, senator warns WhatsApp for Windows vulnerable to attacks. Update now! Man accused of using keylogger to spy on...

“This fraud destroyed my life.” Man ends up with criminal record after ID was stolen

This is a sad story that illustrates how losing your ID can effectively ruin your life and reputation. 19-year-old dual German Tunisian national Rami Battikh travelled to the UK in 2019, bringing both his passport and his German national ID. When he returned to Germany, Rami noticed that his Germ...

Fake CAPTCHA websites hijack your clipboard to install information stealers

There are more and more sites that use a clipboard hijacker and instruct victims on how to infect their own machine. I realize that may sound like something trivial to steer clear from, but apparently it’s not because the social engineering behind it is pretty sophisticated. At first, these attac...

DeepSeek found to be sharing user data with TikTok parent company ByteDance

A couple of weeks ago we reported on the concerns surrounding data collection and security at DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company which recently made headlines for shaking up the industry after seemingly appearing from nowhere to become top of the app download charts. Now South Korea’s Personal...

New AI “agents” could hold people for ransom in 2025

A paradigm shift in technology is hurtling towards us, and it could change everything we know about cybersecurity. Uhh, again, that is. When ChatGPT was unveiled to the public in late 2022, security experts looked on with cautious optimism, excited about the new technology but concerned about its...

A week in security (January 27 – February 2)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: ClickFix vs. traditional download in new DarkGate campaign Cybercrime gets a few punches on the nose Microsoft advertisers phished via malicious Google ads The DeepSeek controversy: Authorities ask where does the data come from and how safe is it? These are the 10...

7-Zip bug could allow a bypass of a Windows security feature. Update now

A patch is available for a vulnerability in 7-Zip that could have allowed attackers to bypass the Mark-of-the-Web MotW security feature in Windows. The MotW is an attribute added to files by Windows when they have been sourced from an untrusted location, like the internet or a restricted zone. Th...

The new rules for AI and encrypted messaging, with Mallory Knodel (Lock and Code S06E01)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast … The era of artificial intelligence everything is here, and with it, come everyday surprises into exactly where the next AI tools might pop up. There are major corporations pushing customer support functions onto AI chatbots, Big Tech platforms offering AI...

A week in security (December 9 – December 15)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Encrypted messaging service intercepted, 2.3 million messages read by law enforcement TikTok ban in US: Company seeks emergency injunction to prevent it Data brokers should stop trading health and location data, new bill proposes Update now! Apple releases new...

Crypto’s rising value likely to bring new wave of scams

With the value of cryptocurrencies going to the roof, you can expect several attempts to get defrauded if you even show the slightest interest in the topic or not. Since most cybercriminals lack creativity and are notoriously lazy, we expect to see only slight variations of old tricks. So, we...

A week in security (November 11 – November 17)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Malicious QR codes sent in the mail deliver malware 122 million people’s business contact info leaked by data broker Advertisers are pushing ad and pop-up blockers using old tricks Scammer robs homebuyers of life savings in $20 million theft spree Temu must respect...

A week in security (October 28 – November 3)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: 1,000+ web shops infected by "Phish ‘n Ships" criminals who create fake product listings for in-demand products Android malware FakeCall intercepts your calls to the bank Patch now! New Chrome update for two critical vulnerabilities Update your iPhone, Mac, Watch:...

Google Search user interface: A/B testing shows security concerns remain

For the past few days, Google has been A/B testing some subtle visual changes to its user interface for the search results page. You may only get the new UI for certain types of searches or based on your current geolocation. This test is not to be confused with but could part of a previously...

A week in security (September 9 – September 15)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Ford seeks patent for conversation-based advertising Scammers advertise fake AppleCare+ service via GitHub repos Facebook scrapes photos of kids from Australian user profiles to train its AI PartnerLeak scam site promises victims full access to "cheating" partner’s...

A week in security (August 26 – September 1)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Iranian cybercriminals are targeting WhatsApp users in spear phishing campaign Fake Canva home page leads to browser lock Telegram CEO Pavel Durov charged with allowing criminal activity CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, US Marshalls are latest ransomware targets SMS...

Rite Aid says 2.2 million people affected in data breach

The US third-largest pharmacy chain Rite Aid has filed a data breach notification in which it reports that the data stolen during a June ransomware attack compromised the data of some 2.2 million people. Ransomware group RansomHub claimed responsibility for the attack that took place on June 6,...

Dangerous monitoring tool mSpy suffers data breach, exposes customer details

In a new episode of Spy vs Spy, the mobile monitoring app mSpy has suffered a data breach that exposed information about millions of its customers. As Malwarebytes Labs has reported before, the types of companies that make mobile applications that enable users to non-consensually spy and monitor ...

Peloton accused of providing customer chat data to train AI

It seems that Peloton may have been providing more training than just for its customers, as its set to face court in California accused of using user chat data to train AI. Peloton Interactive, Inc. is a US-based exercise equipment and media company, known for its stationary bicycles, treadmills,...

A week in security (December 25 – December 31)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: How to recognize AI-generated phishing mails How ransomware operators try to stay under the radar 4 sneaky scams from 2023 The top 4 ransomware gang failures of 2023 Have a safe 2024! Our business solutions remove all remnants of ransomware and prevent you from...

PikaBot distributed via malicious search ads

During this past year, we have seen an increase in the use of malicious ads malvertising and specifically those via search engines, to drop malware targeting businesses. In fact, browser-based attacks overall have been a lot more common if we include social engineering campaigns. Criminals have...

Apple now requires a judge’s order to hand over your push notification data

Last week, we reported on how US government agencies have been asking Apple and Google for metadata related to push notifications, but the companies arent allowed to tell users about it happening. The content of the notifications is diverse. It ranges from a weather app warning you about rain to ...

The sound of you typing on your keyboard could reveal your password

As if password authentications coffin needed any more nails, researchers in the UK have discovered yet another way to hammer one in. The technique, developed at Durham University, the University of Surrey, and Royal Holloway University of London, builds on previous work to produce a more accurate...

Meta’s Purple Llama wants to test safety risks in AI models

Meta has announced Purple Llama, a project that aims to "bring together tools and evaluations to help the community build responsibly with open generative AI models." Generative Artificial Intelligence AI models have been around for years and their main function, compared to older AI models is th...

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Meta and TikTok consider charging users for ad-free experience

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Meta is considering charging its European users around $14 a month if they don't agree to personalized ads on Facebook and Instagram. On mobile devices, the price for a single account would be higher because Meta would factor in commissions...

Microsoft AI researchers accidentally exposed terabytes of sensitive data

Warnings about including credentials, keys, and tokens when sharing code on publicly accessible repositories shouldnt be necessary. It should speak for itself that you dont just hand over the keys to your data. But what if a misconfiguration ends in a supposed internal storage account becoming...

DarkGate reloaded via malvertising and SEO poisoning campaigns

In July 2023, we observed a malvertising campaign that lured potential victims to a fraudulent site for a Windows IT management tool. Unlike previous similar attacks, the final payload was packaged differently and not immediately recognizable. The decoy file came as an MSI installer containing an...

Voter data stolen in UK Electoral Commission systems breach

The UK's Electoral Commission has revealed it suffered a compromise which has the potential to expose aspects of registered voters' data. While much of this data may already be public, there are some privacy and safety concerns to consider. First of all, lets take a look at whats been affected. T...

Spyware app LetMeSpy hacked, tracked user data posted online

Stalkerware-type app LetMeSpy says it has been hacked, with the attacker taking user data with it. From the message posted to the login screen on the LetMeSpy website: On June 21, 2023, a security incident occurred involving obtaining unauthorized access to the data of website users. As a result ...

Google to pay $40m for "deceptive and unfair" location tracking practices

Google is going to pay $39.9 million to Washington State to put to rest a lawsuit about its location tracking practices which has been in play since last year. Google was accused of "misleading consumers" by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. From the AG press release: Attorney General Bob...

Black Basta ransomware attacks Yellow Pages Canada

The Canadian Yellow Pages Group has confirmed it recently became victim of a cyberattack. The Black Basta ransomware group has claimed responsibility for this attack by posting about Yellow Pages on the "Basta News" leak site. When such a post shows up, it usually means that negotiations with the...

Beware: Fake IRS tax email wants your Microsoft account

Last week, the IRS reminded taxpayers that Tax Day, April 18, is Tuesday this week. However, in some states like Alabama, California, and New York, the federal office extended the filing deadlines due to natural disasters. This is an excellent reason for scammers to keep launching tax scam...

Fake Chrome updates spread malware

Compromised websites are causing big headaches for Chrome users. A campaign running since November 2022 is using hacked sites to push fake web browser updates to potential victims. Researcher Rintaro Koike says this campaign has now expanded to also target those who speak Korean, Spanish, and...

A week in security (April 10 - 16)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: How the cops buy a "God view" of your location data, with Bennett Cyphers: Lock and Code S04E09 Apple releases emergency updates for two known-to-be-exploited vulnerabilities Don't plug your phone into a free charging station, warns FBI KFC, Pizza Hut owner employe...

Sextortion "assistance" scammers con victims further

The FBI is warning of a particular aspect of sextortion scams: Supposed organisations that offer "help" to remove stolen images, often at a significant financial cost and no guarantee of success. Sextortion, the act of blackmailing individuals for cash in return for not leaking sensitive imagery...

Uber data theft: Driver info stolen after law firm breached

Uber, yet again, has become a victim of data theft following a third-party breach. This time, threat actors have aimed at the company's law firm, Genova Burns. Data of Uber's drivers may have been swiped during the security incident. According to the letter sent to affected drivers, the firm beca...

New tool allows you to opt out of Facebook's targeted advertising

After Meta Facebook and Instagram switched the legal basis for targeting advertising from automatic consent to opt-out, privacy watchdog noyb has built a tool for users to opt out of targeted advertising and various other claims made by Meta in an easy and legally sound way. After losing several...

A week in security (March 6 - 12)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: 8 cybersecurity tips to keep you safe when travelling National Cybersecurity Strategy Document: What you need to know Intel CPU vulnerabilities fixed. But should you update? Warning issued over Royal ransomware Play ransomware gang leaks City of Oakland data...