Cyber criminals are using fake advertising to spread malware
By MYBRANDBOOK
According to Cisco's Talos threat intelligence organization, a new malicious campaign has been gaining traction as an effective method to harvest information from unknowing users. Known as malvertising, Cisco's Talos Intelligence believes a specific campaign known as "Magnat" uses fraudulent online advertising to trick users that are searching for legitimate software installers. The Cisco threat intelligence team believes the Magnat campaign may have started in late 2018 and targets users in Canada, the United States, Australia, and several other European nations.
Once a user is directed to the fraudulent download, they run a fake installer that deploys three distinct pieces of malware to their system. While the fake installer gets to work installing multiple malware components, it does not install the actual application the user was originally searching for.
The first piece of malware is a password stealer used to collect user credentials, often via a common tool known as Redline. Another malware, MagnatBackdoor sets up remote access to the user's device via Microsoft Remote Desktop. This access, combined with the user credentials stolen by Redline (or a similar tool), can provide unfettered access to the user's systems despite being secured and firewalled. The final piece of the malware trifecta is a Chrome browser extension known as MagnatExtension, which is used for keylogging, obtaining screenshots of sensitive information, etc.
Talos believes the Magnat tools have been developed and improved over the course of several years and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The installer package's name is constantly evolving and typically references the name of popular applications to lend credibility and trick users into deploying the package. Examples of past package names include viber-25164.exe, wechat-35355.exe, build_9.716-6032.exe, setup_164335.exe, nox_setup_55606.exe and battlefieldsetup_76522.exe.
BREAKING NEWS
TECHNO TRENDS
Legal Battle Over IT Act Intensifies Amid Musk’s India Plans
The outcome of the legal dispute between X Corp and the Indian government c...
Wipro inks 10-year deal with Phoenix Group's ReAssure UK worth
The agreement, executed through Wipro and its 100% subsidiary,...
Centre announces that DPDP Rules nearing Finalisation by April
The government seeks to refine the rules for robust data protection, ensuri...
Home Ministry cracks down on PoS agents in digital arrest scam
Digital arrest scams are a growing cybercrime where victims are coerced or ...
E-Magazine
TECHNOTAINMENT
Hrithik Roshan to endorse RuPay as Brand Ambassador
RuPay is reportedly planning to feature Bollywood superstar Hrithik Rosha
India Today Group launches – AI Pop Stars
Staying true to our industry leadership position in using cutting-edge tech
MOVERS & SHAKERS
TelioLabs ropes in Phaniraj V A as the Group CEO
TelioLabs has announced the onboarding of Phaniraj V A as its new Group CE
Wipro Appoints Amit Kumar as Managing Partner and Global Head
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading technology s
OPEN YOUR EYES
INTERVIEWS
Alpha Max offers high end solutions in the network space to en
The vision at Alpha Max is to attain quality as the trademark and create a
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Carrying a 100 year legacy ahead
A good amount of R&D works and global support services are operated out of
HOT PICK
MSI Announces the availability of RTX 50 series of laptops in
MSI, the innovative computing manufacturer in gaming, creator
Nothing Phone (3a) goes on sale today, starting at Rs 19,999
The phone was launched on March 4, featuring a 50MP main, ultra-wide, and t
MAKE IN INDIA BRANDS
WIPRO LTD.
VVDN TECHNOLOGIES
VERSA NETWORKS INDIA PVT. LTD.
SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS LTD.
ICONS OF INDIA
Icons Of India : Girish Mathrubootham
Girish Mathrubootham is the Founder of Freshworks (previously known ...
Icons Of India : Dr. Sanjay Bahl
Dr. Sanjay Bahl has around four decades of experience in the ICT indus...
ICONS OF INDIA : S KRISHNAN
S Krishnan as the secretary for the electronics and information techno...
PARTNER SPEAKERS
PSU
NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India
NPCI is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and set...
C-DAC - Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
C-DAC is uniquely positioned in the field of advanced computing...
CSC - Common Service Centres
CSC initiative in India is a strategic cornerstone of the Digital Indi...
VIDEOS
Top 25 Brands
Global Indian industry
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - RAVI KUMAR S, CEO- Cognizant
Ravi Kumar S, appointed as CEO of Cognizant in January 2023, sets the ...
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Anirudh Devgan , President, Cadence Design
Anirudh Devgan, the Global President and CEO of Cadence Design Systems...
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - NIKESH ARORA, Chairman CEO - Palo Alto Networks
Nikesh Arora, the Chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, is steering ...
ITFORUM 2025
CMO of the Year
WOMEN LEADERSHIP
IMAGE GALLERY
TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY
MORE VIDEOS
ADVERTISEMENTS
TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION
UNICORNS REVOLUTIONISING
of images belongs to the respective copyright holders
