Busted for book club? Why cops want to see what you’re reading, with Sarah Lamdan (Lock and Code S05E14)

This week on the Lock and Code podcast… More than 20 years ago, a law that the United States would eventually use to justify the warrantless collection of Americans phone call records actually started out as a warning sign against an entirely different target: Libraries. Not two months after...

A week in security (June 24 – June 30)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: TEMU sued for being "dangerous malware" by Arkansas Attorney General Driving licences and other official documents leaked by authentication service used by Uber, TikTok, X, and more "Poseidon" Mac stealer distributed via Google ads Federal Reserve "breached" data m...

TEMU sued for being “dangerous malware” by Arkansas Attorney General

Chinese online shopping giant Temu is facing a lawsuit filed by State of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, alleging that the retailers mobile app spies on users. “Temu purports to be an online shopping platform, but it is dangerous malware, surreptitiously granting itself access to virtually...

Driving licences and other official documents leaked by authentication service used by Uber, TikTok, X, and more

A company that helps to authenticate users for big brands had a set of administration credentials exposed online for over a year, potentially allowing access to user identity documents such as driving licenses. As more and more legislation emerges requiring websites and platforms—like gambling...

‘Poseidon’ Mac stealer distributed via Google ads

On June 24, we observed a new campaign distributing a stealer targeting Mac users via malicious Google ads for the Arc browser. This is the second time in the past couple of months where we see Arc being used as a lure, certainly a sign of its popularity. It was previously used to drop a Windows...

[updated] Federal Reserve “breached” data may actually belong to Evolve Bank

A shockwave went through the financial world when ransomware group LockBit claimed to have breached the US Federal Reserve, the central banking system of the United States. On LockBits dark web leak site, the group threatened to release over 30 TB of banking information containing Americans banki...

Malwarebytes Premium Security stops 100% of malware during AV Lab test

Malwarebytes Premium Security has maintained its long-running, perfect record in protecting users against online threats by blocking 100% of the malware samples deployed in the AV Lab Cybersecurity Foundation’s “Advanced In-The-Wild Malware Test.” For its performance in the May 2024 evaluation,...

Neiman Marcus confirms breach. Is the customer data already for sale?

Luxury retail chain Neiman Marcus has begun to inform customers about a cyberattack it discovered in May. The attacker compromised a database platform storing customers personal information. The letter tells customers: “Promptly after learning of the issue, we took steps to contain it, including ...

Change Healthcare confirms the customer data stolen in ransomware attack

For the first time since news broke about a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, the company has released details about the data stolen during the attack. First, a quick refresher: On February 21, 2024, Change Healthcare experienced serious system outages due to a cyberattack. The incident led...

A week in security (June 17 – June 23)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Microsoft Recall delayed after privacy and security concerns Almost everything you always wanted to know about cybersecurity, but were too afraid to ask, with Tjitske de Vries: Lock and Code S05E13 43% of couples experience pressure to share logins and locations,...

First million breached Ticketmaster records released for free

The cybercriminal acting under the name "Sp1d3r" gave away the first 1 million records that are part of the data set that they claimed to have stolen from Ticketmaster/Live Nation. The files were released without a price, for free. When Malwarebytes Labs first learned about this data breach, it...

US bans Kaspersky, warns: “Immediately stop using that software”

The US government will ban the sale of Kaspersky antivirus products to new customers in the United States starting July 20, with a follow-on deadline to prohibit the cybersecurity company from providing users with software updates after September 29. The move follows years of allegations that the...

Was T-Mobile compromised by a zero-day in Jira?

A moderator of the notorious data breach trading platform BreachForums is offering data for sale they claim comes from a data breach at T-Mobile. The moderator, going by the name of IntelBroker, describes the data as containing source code, SQL files, images, Terraform data, t-mobile.com...

TikTok facing fresh lawsuit in US over children’s privacy

The Federal Trade Commission FTC has announced its referred a complaint against TikTok and parent company ByteDance to the Department of Justice. The investigation originally focused on Musical.ly which was acquired by ByteDance on November 10, 2017, and merged it into TikTok. The FTC started a...

Explained: Android overlays and how they are used to trick people

Sometimes you’ll see the term "overlays" used in articles about malware and you might wonder what they are. In this post we will try to explain what overlays—particularly on Android devices—are, and how cybercriminals deploy them. Most of the time, overlays are used to make people think they are...

43% of couples experience pressure to share logins and locations, Malwarebytes finds

All isn’t fair in love and romance today, as 43% of people in a committed relationship said they have felt pressured by their own partners to share logins, passcodes, and/or locations. A worrying 7% admitted that this type of pressure has included the threat of breaking up or the threat of physic...

(Almost) everything you always wanted to know about cybersecurity, but were too afraid to ask, with Tjitske de Vries: Lock and Code S05E13

This week on the Lock and Code podcast… Ready to know what Malwarebytes knows? Ask us your questions and get some answers. What is a passphrase and what makes it—what’s the word? Strong? Every day, countless readers, listeners, posters, and users ask us questions about some of the most commonly...

Microsoft Recall delayed after privacy and security concerns

Microsoft has announced it will postpone the broadly available preview of the heavily discussed Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs. Copilot+ PCs are personal computers that come equipped with several artificial intelligence AI features. The Recall feature tracks anything from web browsing to voice...

A week in security (June 10 – June 16)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Truist bank confirms data breach Update now! Google Pixel vulnerability is under active exploitation Adobe clarifies Terms of Service change, says it doesn’t train AI on customer content 23andMe data breach under joint investigation in two countries When things go...

Truist bank confirms data breach

On Wednesday June 12, 2024, a well-known dark web data broker and cybercriminal acting under the name "Sp1d3r" offered a significant amount of data allegedly stolen from Truist Bank for sale. Truist is a US bank holding company and operates 2,781 branches in 15 states and Washington DC. By assets...

Update now! Google Pixel vulnerability is under active exploitation

Google has notified Pixel users about an actively exploited vulnerability in their phones firmware. Firmware is the code or program which is embedded into hardware devices. Simply put, it is the software layer between the hardware and the applications on the device. About the vulnerability, Googl...

Adobe clarifies Terms of Service change, says it doesn’t train AI on customer content

Following days of user pushback that included allegations of forcing a "spyware-like" Terms of Service ToS update into its products, design software giant Adobe explained itself with several clarifications. Apparently, the concerns raised by the community, especially among Photoshop and Substance...

23andMe data breach under joint investigation in two countries

The British and Canadian privacy authorities have announced they will undertake a joint investigation into the data breach at global genetic testing company 23andMe that was discovered in October 2023. On Friday October 6, 2023, 23andMe confirmed via a somewhat opaque blog post that cybercriminal...

When things go wrong: A digital sharing warning for couples

“When things go wrong” is a troubling prospect for most couples to face, but the internet—and the way that romantic partners engage both with and across it—could require that this worst-case scenario become more of a best practice. In new research that Malwarebytes will release this month, romant...

Google’s Chrome changes make life harder for ad blockers

Despite protests, Google is rolling out changes in the Chrome browser that make it harder for ad blockers to do their job. Starting last Monday, June 3, 2024, Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary channels will see the effects of the implementation of the new extension platform Manifest V3. The gradual...

A week in security (June 3 – June 9)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Google will start deleting location history Advance Auto Parts customer data posted for sale Husband stalked ex-wife with seven AirTags, indictment says Microsoft Recall snapshots can be easily grabbed with TotalRecall tool Financial sextortion scams on the rise Sa...

Google will start deleting location history

Google announced that it will reduce the amount of personal data it is storing by automatically deleting old data from "Timeline"—the feature that, previously named "Location History," tracks user routes and trips based on a phone’s location, allowing people to revisit all the places theyve been ...

Advance Auto Parts customer data posted for sale

A cybercriminal using the handle Sp1d3r is offering to sell 3 TB of data taken from Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Advance Auto Parts is a US automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do it yourself customers. Allegedly the customer data includes: Names Email...

Husband stalked ex-wife with seven AirTags, indictment says

Following their divorce, a husband carried out a campaign of stalking and abuse against his ex-wife—referred to only as “S.K.”—by allegedly hiding seven separate Apple AirTags on or near her car, according to documents filed by US prosecutors for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The document...

Microsoft Recall snapshots can be easily grabbed with TotalRecall tool

Microsofts Recall feature has been criticized heavily by pretty much everyone since it was announced last month. Now, researchers have demonstrated the risks by creating a tool that can find, extract, and display everything Recall has stored on a device. For those unaware, Recall is a feature...

Financial sextortion scams on the rise

“Hey there!” messaged Savannah, someone 16-year-old Charlie had never met before, but looked cute in her profile picture. She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and an adorable smile, so he decided to DM with her on Instagram. Soon their flirty exchanges grew heated, and Savannah was sending Charli...

Say hello to the fifth generation of Malwarebytes

Announcing the latest version of Malwarebytes, which brings a faster, responsive, and consistent user interface, integrated security and privacy, and expert guidance to keep you secure. Heres what you can expect: 1. Unified user experience across platforms The new generation of Malwarebytes now...

Big name TikTok accounts hijacked after opening DM

High profile TikTok accounts, including CNN, Sony, and—er­—Paris Hilton have been targeted in a recent attack. CNN was the first account takeover that made the news, with Semafor reporting that the account was down for several days after the incident. According to Forbes, the attack happens witho...

US residents targeted by utility scammers on Google

Back in February, we reported on malicious ads related to utility bills electricity, gas that direct victims to call centers where scammers will collect their identity and try to extort money from them. A few months later, we checked and were able to find as many Google ads as before, following...

Debt collection agency FBCS leaks information of 3 million US citizens

The US debt collection agency Financial Business and Consumer Solutions FBCS has filed a data breach notification, listing the the total number of people affected as 3,226,631. FBCS is a nationally licensed, third-party collection agency that collects commercial and consumer debts, with most of i...

800 arrests, 40 tons of drugs, and one backdoor, or what a phone startup gave the FBI, with Joseph Cox: Lock and Code S05E12

This week on the Lock and Code podcast… This is a story about how the FBI got everything it wanted. For decades, law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the world have lamented the availability of modern technology that allows suspected criminals to hide their communications from legal...

WhatsApp cryptocurrency scam goes for the cash prize

This weekend a scammer tried his luck by reaching out to me on WhatsApp. It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but trust me, it’s bad for your business. I received one message from a number hailing from the Togolese Republic. WhatsApp message from an unknow sender “Jay, your financial account has...

A week in security (May 27 – June 2)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Data leak site BreachForums is back, boasting Live Nation/Ticketmaster user data. But is it a trap? The Ticketmaster "breach"—what you need to know Ticketmaster confirms customer data breach How to tell if a VPN app added your Windows device to a botnet Beware of...

Ticketmaster confirms customer data breach

Live Nation Entertainment has confirmed what everyone has been speculating on for the last week: Ticketmaster has suffered a data breach. In a filing with the SEC, Live Nation said on May 20th it identified "unauthorized activity within a third-party cloud database environment containing Company...

How to tell if a VPN app added your Windows device to a botnet

On May 29, 2024, the US Department of Justice DOJ announced it had dismantled what was likely the world’s largest botnet ever. This botnet, called “911 S5,” infected systems at over 19 million IP addresses across more than 190 countries. The main sources of income for the operators, who stole a...

Beware of scammers impersonating Malwarebytes

Scammers love to bank on the good name of legitimate companies to gain the trust of their intended targets. Recently, it came to our attention that a cybercriminal is using fake websites for security products to spread malware. One of those websites was impersonating the Malwarebytes brand. Image...

The Ticketmaster “breach”—what you need to know

Earlier this week, a cybercriminal group posted an alleged database up for sale online which, it says, contains customer and card details of 560 million Live Nation/Ticketmaster users. The data was offered for sale on one forum under the name "Shiny Hunters". ShinyHunters is the online handle for...

How to turn off location tracking on iOS and iPadOS

On iOS and iPadOS, location services are typically turned on when you first set up your device. However, there may be reasons why you don’t want your device to be located, perhaps because you don’t want to be found but need to keep the device with you. There are a few options to hide your locatio...

How to turn off location tracking on Android

Android devices come with location services. Some apps need access to location services to function properly. However, there may be reasons why you don’t want your device to be located, often because you don’t want to be found and the device is always with you. Depending on who you are trying to...

Data leak site BreachForums is back, boasting Live Nation/Ticketmaster user data. But is it a trap?

Notorious data leak site BreachForums appears to be back online after it was seized by law enforcement a few weeks ago. At least one of BreachForums domains and its dark web site are live again. However, questions have been raised over whether it is a genuine attempt to revive the forums once aga...

pcTattletale spyware leaks database containing victim screenshots, gets website defaced

The idea behind the software is simple. When the spying party installs the stalkerware, they grant permission to record what happens on the targeted Android or Windows device. The observer can then log in on an online portal and activate recording, at which point a screen capture is taken on the...

A week in security (May 20 – May 26)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: How AI will change your credit card behind the scenes Criminal record database of millions of Americans dumped online Microsoft AI "Recall" feature records everything, secures far less How to remove a user from a shared Android device How to remove a user from a...

How AI will change your credit card behind the scenes

Many companies are starting to implement Artificial Intelligence AI within their services. Whenever there are large amounts of data involved, AI offers a way to turn that pile of data into actionable insights. And theres a big chance that our data are somewhere in that pile, whether they can be...

Criminal record database of millions of Americans dumped online

A cybercriminal going by the names of EquationCorp and USDoD has released an enormous database containing the criminal records of millions of Americans. The database is said to contain 70 million rows of data. Post by USDoD on a breach forum The leaked database is said to include full names, date...

Microsoft AI “Recall” feature records everything, secures far less

Developing an AI-powered threat to security, privacy, and identity is certainly a choice, but its one that Microsoft was willing to make this week at its “Build” developer conference. On Monday, the computing giant unveiled a new line of PCs that integrate Artificial Intelligence AI technology to...