Update your Android: Google patches two zero-day vulnerabilities

Google has announced patches for several high severity vulnerabilities. In total, 51 vulnerabilities have been patched in November's updates, two of which are under limited, active exploitation by cybercriminals. If your Android phone shows patch level 2024-11-05 or later then the issues discusse...

Warning: Hackers could take over your email account by stealing cookies, even if you have MFA

The Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI has issued a warning that cybercriminals are taking over email accounts via stolen session cookies, allowing them to bypass the multi-factor authentication MFA a user has set up. Here's how it works. Most of us don’t think twice about checking the “Remember...

Why your vote can’t be “hacked,” with Cait Conley of CISA (Lock and Code S05E23)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast … The US presidential election is upon the American public, and with it come fears of "election interference." But "election interference" is a broad term. It can mean the now-regular and expected foreign disinformation campaigns that are launched to sow...

City of Columbus breach affects around half a million citizens

A ransomware attack against the City of Columbus, Ohio—which drew public scrutiny following the city government's attempt to silence a researcher who told the public about the attack—has received a little more detail from an unexpected source: The Attorney General for the state of Maine. In a dat...

Crooks bank on Microsoft’s search engine to phish customers

We identified a new wave of phishing for banking credentials that targets consumers via Microsoft's search engine. A Bing search query for 'Keybank login' currently returns malicious links on the first page, and sometimes as the top search result. We have reported the fraudulent sites to Microsof...

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:...

1,000+ web shops infected by “Phish ‘n Ships” criminals who create fake product listings for in-demand products

Researchers at the Satori Threat Intelligence and Research team have published their findings about a group of cybercriminals that infect legitimate web shops to create and promote fake product listings. The threat, dubbed "Phish ‘n Ships" by the researchers, reportedly infected more than 1,000...

Android malware FakeCall intercepts your calls to the bank

An Android banking Trojan called FakeCall is capable of hijacking the phone calls you make to your bank. Instead of reaching your bank, your call will be redirected to the cybercriminals. The Trojan accomplishes this by installing itself as the default call handler on the infected device. The...

Patch now! New Chrome update for two critical vulnerabilities

Google has released an update for its Chrome browser which includes patches for two critical vulnerabilities. The update brings the Stable channel to versions 130.0.6723.91/.92 for Windows and Mac and 130.0.6723.91 for Linux. The easiest way to update Chrome is to allow it to update automatically...

Update your iPhone, Mac, Watch: Apple issues patches for several vulnerabilities

Apple has released security patches for most of its operating systems, including iOS, Mac, iPadOS and watchOS. Especially important are the updates for iOS and iPadOS which tackle vulnerabilities which could potentially leak sensitive user information. You should make sure you update as soon as y...

Europol warns about counterfeit goods and the criminals behind them

With the holidays around the bend, many are looking for gifts for their family and friends. And since we somehow decided we want to give more each time, we’re also looking for good deals. But European law enforcement agency Europol issued a warning about buying fake goods. Sure, they are cheaper,...

A week in security (October 21 – October 27)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: 100 million US citizens officially impacted by Change Healthcare data breach Pinterest tracks users without consent, alleges complaint After concerns of handing Facebook taxpayer info, four companies found to have improperly shared data LinkedIn bots and spear...

100 million US citizens officially impacted by Change Healthcare data breach

In April, we reported that a “substantial proportion” of Americans may have had their health and personal data stolen in the Change Healthcare breach. That was based on a report provided by the UnitedHealth Group after the February cyberattack on its subsidiary Change Healthcare. The attack on...

Pinterest tracks users without consent, alleges complaint

Pinterest has received a complaint from privacy watchdog noyb None of your business over the unsolicited tracking of its users. Pinterest allows you to pin images to virtual pinboards; useful for interior design, recipe ideas, party inspiration, and much more. It started as a virtual replacement...

After concerns of handing Facebook taxpayer info, four companies found to have improperly shared data

Four tax preparation software companies failed to comply with government rules that require the sharing of tax-related info to be done only with specific disclosures and full tax-payer consent, according to an audit released by the Treasure Inspector General for Tax Administration TIGTA in the...

LinkedIn bots and spear phishers target job seekers

Microsoft's social network for professionals, LinkedIn, is an important platform for job recruiters and seekers alike. It's also a place where criminals go to find new potential victims. Like other social media platforms, LinkedIn is no stranger to bots attracted to special keywords and hashtags...

Upload a video selfie to get your Facebook or Instagram account back

Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram says its testing new ways to use facial recognition—both to combat scams and to help restore access to compromised accounts. The social media giant is testing the use of video selfies and facial recognition to help users get their hijacked accounts...

This industry profits from knowing you have cancer, explains Cody Venzke (Lock and Code S05E22)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast … On the internet, you can be shown an online ad because of your age, your address, your purchase history, your politics, your religion, and even your likelihood of having cancer. This is because of the largely unchecked “data broker” industry. Data brokers...

Internet Archive attackers email support users: “Your data is now in the hands of some random guy”

Those who hacked the Internet Archive haven't gone away. Users of the Internet Archive who have submitted helpdesk tickets are reporting replies to the tickets from the hackers themselves. Internet Archive, most known for its Wayback Machine, is a digital library that allows users to look at...

A week in security (October 14 – October 20)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Unauthorized data access vulnerability in macOS is detailed by Microsoft 23andMe will retain your genetic information, even if you delete the account "Nudify" deepfake bots remove clothes from victims in minutes, and millions are using them Tor Browser and Firefox...

Unauthorized data access vulnerability in macOS is detailed by Microsoft

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence team disclosed details about a macOS vulnerability, dubbed "HM Surf," that could allow an attacker to gain access to the user’s data in Safari. The data the attacker could access without users’ consent includes browsed pages, along with the device’s camera,...

23andMe will retain your genetic information, even if you delete the account

Deleting your personal data from 23andMe is proving to be hard. There are good reasons for people wanting to delete their data from 23andMe: The DNA testing platform has a lot of problems, so let’s start with a recap. A little over a year ago, cybercriminals put up information belonging to as man...

“Nudify” deepfake bots remove clothes from victims in minutes, and millions are using them

Millions of people are turning normal pictures into nude images, and it can be done in minutes. Journalists at Wired found at least 50 "nudify" bots on Telegram that claim to create explicit photos or videos of people with only a couple of clicks. Combined, these bots have millions of monthly...

Tor Browser and Firefox users should update to fix actively exploited vulnerability

Mozilla has announced a security fix for its Firefox browser which also impacts the closely related Tor Browser. The new version fixes one critical security vulnerability which is reportedly under active exploitation. To address the flaw, both Mozilla and Tor recommend that users update their...

AI scammers target Gmail accounts, say they have your death certificate

Several reputable sources are warning about a very sophisticated Artificial Intelligence AI supported type of scam that is bound to trick a lot of people into compromising their Gmail account. The most recent warning comes from CEO of Y Combinator Garry Tan who posted on X, saying the scammers...

Election season raises fears for nearly a third of people who worry their vote could be leaked

As the United States enters full swing into its next presidential election, people are feeling worried, unsafe, and afraid. And none of that has to do with who wins. According to new research from Malwarebytes, people see this election season as a particularly risky time for their online privacy...

Robot vacuum cleaners hacked to spy on, insult owners

Multiple robot vacuum cleaners in the US were hacked to yell obscenities and insults through the onboard speakers. ABC news was able to confirm reports of this hack in robot vacuum cleaners of the type Ecovacs Deebot X2, which are manufactured in China. Ecovacs is considered the leading service...

A week in security (October 7 – October 13)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Modern TVs have "unprecedented capabilities for surveillance and manipulation," group reveals Internet Archive suffers data breach and DDoS Google Search user interface: A/B testing shows security concerns remain AI girlfriend site breached, user fantasies stolen...

Modern TVs have “unprecedented capabilities for surveillance and manipulation,” group reveals

Your television is debuting the latest, most captivating program: You. In a report titled “How TV Watches Us: Commercial Surveillance in the Streaming Era,” the Center for Digital Democracy CDD spotlighted a massive data-driven surveillance apparatus that ensnares the public through modern...

Internet Archive suffers data breach and DDoS

A non-profit that benefits millions of people has fallen victim to a data breach and a DDoS attack. Internet Archive, most known for its Wayback Machine, is a digital library that allows users to look at website snapshots from the past. It is often used for academic research and data analysis...

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...

AI girlfriend site breached, user fantasies stolen [updated]

A hacker has stolen a massive database of users’ interactions with their sexual partner chatbots, according to 404 Media. The breached service, Muah.ai, describes itself as a platform that lets people engage in AI-powered companion NSFW chat, exchange photos, and even have voice chats. As you can...

MoneyGram confirms customer data breach

Money transfer company MoneyGram has notified its customers of a data breach in which it says certain customers had their personal information taken between September 20 and 22, 2024. The investigation into the incident that was discovered on September 27 is still ongoing, and the number of...

Exposing the Facebook funeral livestream scam (Lock and Code S05E21)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast … Online scammers were seen this August stooping to a new low—abusing local funerals to steal from bereaved family and friends. Cybercrime has never been a job of morals calling it a "job" is already lending it too much credit, but, for many years, scams...

Comcast and Truist Bank customers impacted by debt collector’s breach

A data breach at Financial Business and Consumer Solutions FBCS, a US debt collection agency, has led to the loss of data of some Comcast Cable Communications and Truist Bank customers. FBCS is in the business of collecting unpaid debts on behalf of its customers. The data breach occurred in...

Large scale Google Ads campaign targets utility software

After what seemed like a long hiatus, we've observed threat actors returning to malvertising to drop malware disguised as software downloads. The campaign we identified is high-impact, going after utility software such as Slack, Notion, Calendly, Odoo, Basecamp, and others. For this blog, we...

iPhone flaw could read your saved passwords out loud. Update now!

Apple has issued security updates for iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 which includes a fix for a bug that could allow a user's saved passwords to be read aloud by its VoiceOver feature. VoiceOver allows users to use their iPhone or iPad even if they can't see the screen. It gives audible description...

A week in security (September 30 – October 6)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Facebook and Instagram passwords were stored in plaintext, Meta fined Android users targeted on Facebook and porn sites, served adware Fake Disney+ activation page redirects to pornographic scam Radiology provider exposed tens of thousands of patient files Not Blac...

Browser Guard now flags data breaches and better protects personal data

Two things are true of data online: It will be collected and, just as easily, it will be lost. But a major update to Malwarebytes Browser Guard will better protect users from opaque data collection that happens every day online, as well as raising their awareness about corporate data breaches tha...

Not Black Mirror: Meta’s smart glasses used to reveal someone’s identity just by looking at them

Like something out of Black Mirror, two students have demonstrated a way to use smart glasses and facial recognition technology to immediately reveal people’s names, phone numbers, and addresses. The Harvard students have dubbed the system I-XRAY and it works like this: When you look at someone’s...

Radiology provider exposed tens of thousands of patient files

An anonymous person has disclosed that they gained online access to a radiologist's platform that hosted patient information using stolen credentials. I-MED Radiology is Australia’s leading medical imaging provider. Their clinics offer a range of imaging procedures including MRI, CT, x-ray,...

Fake Disney+ activation page redirects to pornographic scam

A common way to activate digital subscriptions such as Netflix, Prime or Disney+ on a new TV is to visit a website and enter the code seen on your screen. It's much easier than having to authenticate using a remote and typing a username and password. Scammers are creating fake activation pages th...

Android users targeted on Facebook and porn sites, served adware

Android users, be on your guard against adware trying to infect your device. The adware—known as MobiDash—is spreading via several channels, according to ThreatDown research. One of the characteristics that makes MobiDash stand out is that it can be added to legitimate apps without changing how t...

Facebook and Instagram passwords were stored in plaintext, Meta fined

Ireland’s privacy watchdog Data Protection Commission DPC has fined Meta €91M $101M after the discovery in 2019 that Meta had stored 600 million Facebook and Instagram passwords in plaintext. The DPC ruled that Meta was in violation of GDPR on several occasions related to this breach. It determin...

A week in security (September 23 – September 29)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Millions of Kia vehicles were vulnerable to remote attacks with just a license plate number Privacy watchdog files complaint over Firefox quietly enabling its Privacy Preserving Attribution Telegram will hand over user details to law enforcement Don’t share the vir...

Millions of Kia vehicles were vulnerable to remote attacks with just a license plate number

In June of 2024 security researchers uncovered a set of vulnerabilities in the Kia dealer portal that allowed them to remotely take over any Kia vehicle built after 2013—and all they needed was a license plate number. According to the researchers: "These attacks could be executed remotely on any...

Privacy watchdog files complaint over Firefox quietly enabling its Privacy Preserving Attribution

A European privacy watchdog has filed a complaint against Mozilla for quietly enabling Privacy Preserving Attribution PPA in its Firefox browser. Noyb none of your business argues that despite its reassuring name, the feature allows the browser to track your online behavior. By design, Privacy...

Telegram will hand over user details to law enforcement

Last month we reported how Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was indicted on charges of complicity in the distribution of child sex abuse images, aiding organized crime, drug trafficking, fraud, and refusing lawful orders to give information to law enforcement. Now, in a potentially related development,...

Don’t share the viral Instagram Meta AI “legal” post

A new variation of a hoax that has been doing the rounds on Facebook for years has crossed over to Instagram. We’re seeing this post on Instagram Stories a lot suddenly over the last few days. The post is usually posted as a shareable screenshot on Instagram Stories, but it’s also been spotted on...

Romance scams costlier than ever: 10 percent of victims lose $10,000 or more

Romance scams continue to plague users, but their costs have risen to staggering heights, according to a Malwarebytes survey carried out last month via our weekly newsletter. More than 66 percent of 850 respondents have been targeted by a romance scam, and those that were ensnared paid a hefty...