Malware & Botnets

Yoba Campaign Uses Signed ChatGPT and Claude Binaries for DLL Sideloading and XMRig Deployment

Researchers at Check Point Research have uncovered the Yoba malware campaign that distributes fake desktop clients for ChatGPT and Claude through GitHub repositories. The attackers bundle legitimate signed executables from OpenAI and Anthropic with a malicious DLL that gets loaded via classic sideloading. Once executed, the loader establishes persistence using the Windows Task Scheduler and retrieves additional payloads through Telegram, DNS over HTTPS, and the Catbox file hosting service. The campaign ultimately deploys the XMRig cryptominer, which pauses mining activity when user interaction is detected to avoid detection. No compromise of OpenAI or Anthropic infrastructure was found; the attackers simply repurpose the companies' signed binaries and reputation. The operation primarily targets home users and small-to-medium businesses with Windows systems.

uCreator Spyware Infiltrates Modified Telegram, WeChat and GCash Builds on Android

Security researcher Ovi has published a detailed analysis of uCreator, also known as YingGai, a commercial Android spyware platform designed for surveillance and remote app control. The malware intercepts messages, verification codes and account data directly inside legitimate applications without requiring root privileges. Infection vectors include tampered Telegram, WeChat and GCash APKs distributed through unofficial sources, as well as the Onion Box container that launches the target app inside a controlled environment. Once active, uCreator hooks into the host process, reads Telegram’s local message database through client interfaces, captures two-factor authentication passwords and hides its own session from the user. The operation is supported by cloud-based command panels and exposed GitLab repositories that revealed server-side code and development history. Compatibility problems have been noted on Android 17, and the total number of victims remains unknown.

Researchers Deploy Cowrie Honeypot Disguised as NVIDIA H100 Server to Study SSH Botnet Tactics

A cybersecurity team set up a realistic Cowrie honeypot on a fake server equipped with four NVIDIA H100 GPUs, 128 AMD EPYC cores, and terabytes of storage to observe what SSH brute-force bots actually do after gaining access. The trap used a custom StickyAuth module that allowed entry only after several failed attempts and locked in the successful credential pair per IP address. Over the first 12.5 hours the system recorded 1,846 connections from 126 unique IPs, 175 successful logins, and 1,524 commands executed, with the majority of activity traced to a single botnet linked to the Outlaw group. The attackers deployed SSH keys signed mdrfckr, changed the root password, killed competing processes, installed cron jobs, and downloaded a mining archive called dota3 containing an IRC backdoor and its own SSH scanner. The researchers also identified three realism issues in the base Cowrie setup—limited grep flags, outdated filesystem paths in Debian 12, and inconsistent hostname reporting—and patched them to keep sophisticated bots engaged longer. An auxiliary LLM service later summarized each session in Telegram for easier analysis.

Hirudo Android Banking Trojan Uninstalls Legitimate Bank Apps and Installs Attacker-Controlled Fakes

Researchers at ThreatFabric have detailed Hirudo, a sophisticated Android banking trojan that also serves as a remote access tool and replaces genuine bank applications with attacker-controlled copies. The malware spreads through decoy apps themed around shopping, adult video, and short series, including Shopora, 1V1 X, ZoyaTV, and KoiShort. Once installed, it uses accessibility services to detect target banking apps, verify their signatures, display a fake update prompt, and force uninstallation of the real application before installing a malicious replica signed with a publicly known test key. The trojan employs components from the open-source YAHFA and Dobby projects to intercept signature checks, hide accessibility services, bypass screenshot restrictions, and forward Play Integrity attestations to the attacker’s server. Eight ready-made replicas target seven Indonesian banks, while credential theft focuses on users in China, India, Mexico, Morocco, and Thailand. Server logs collected in August 2026 contained thousands of credentials, device data, and financial profiles, with the attestation key set confirmed as publicly leaked and partially revoked by Google.

Over 300 Tor Exit Nodes Hijacked to Intercept SSH Passwords and Deploy Ebury Backdoor

Attackers compromised hundreds of Tor exit nodes and repurposed them to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against SSH connections. Instead of reaching the intended server, users were redirected to attacker-controlled infrastructure where they could be tricked into accepting a forged host key and revealing their credentials. Researcher kaba identified 333 malicious exit nodes routing traffic through the same 12 interception servers after noticing an unexpected host-key warning on October 2. The campaign also attempted to install the Ebury Linux backdoor designed to steal authentication data. The Tor Project confirmed that operators' servers had their configurations altered and some middle relays were converted into exit nodes. The initial access vector remains unknown, but the activity window was limited to October 1-5. Users who connected via Tor during this period, accepted an unfamiliar key, and entered a password should treat their credentials as compromised.

LunaSpy Android Spyware Masquerades as FSB Antivirus and Bundles Right Dialer

Positive Technologies researchers discovered a malicious APK named Антивирус ФСБ.apk that installs the legitimate Right Dialer application from developer Goodwy while embedding the LunaSpy spyware. The sample uses package name com.syscore.toolsuite and requests extensive permissions including Accessibility Service to enable broad device control. Dynamic analysis in PT Sandbox revealed command-and-control communication, privilege escalation, and creation of hidden files. Static analysis showed XOR-encrypted strings and an expanded command set that includes call recording via CallService, call redirection rules in JSON format, screen tree extraction, gesture simulation, and anti-analysis commands such as RESET_REBOOT and DISABLE_PLAY_PROTECT. The malware can exfiltrate call recordings in WAV format, perform taps and swipes, and revive camera and microphone permissions through overlay notifications. Researchers published file and network indicators of compromise including multiple IP addresses used by the operators.

MegaFon Reports 34% Rise in Russian Mobile Malware Infections Driven by Android Trojans

MegaFon monitoring data shows a 34% year-over-year increase in Russian users with detected mobile malware during summer 2026, with the sharpest spike of 77% recorded in August. The growth is primarily attributed to Android trojans capable of installing apps without user consent, intercepting notifications, enabling remote access, and stealing personal data. At the same time, blocked suspicious calls dropped significantly, by 31% in June, 41% in July, and 75% in August, which the operator links to state and corporate anti-fraud measures. Scammers are adapting by hijacking messenger accounts through social engineering, malware, and even rental schemes, often combining calls with fake app installations that deploy spyware. Phishing remains active, with 30% of detected malicious resources tied to investments and crypto, 21% to social networks and messengers, and 9% to harmful APK files. Director Sergey Khrenov noted that smartphones are increasingly used as tools by the attackers themselves in these hybrid schemes.

Reflective DLL Injection: How Malware Executes DLLs Directly in Memory Without Disk Files

Reflective DLL Injection allows malicious code to load and execute a DLL entirely in memory, bypassing traditional file-based loading mechanisms on Windows. The technique uses a custom loader inside the DLL itself to handle PE format parsing, relocations, imports, TLS, and exception handling without calling LoadLibrary. Unlike standard loading, the resulting module often resides in MEM_PRIVATE regions and does not appear in conventional module lists, complicating forensic analysis. Tools such as Meterpreter and Cobalt Strike have historically employed reflective loaders, though Beacon Object Files represent a different COFF-based approach. Investigators must examine memory regions, thread start addresses, and Sysmon events 7, 8, and 10 rather than relying solely on file artifacts. The method does not bypass DEP, Arbitrary Code Guard, or access-control restrictions and leaves detectable traces when combined with behavioral indicators. Proper detection requires correlating private executable memory with process behavior and avoiding over-reliance on simplified signatures.

Leaked DarkSword iOS Exploit Chain 'P7' Now Steals Crypto Wallet Seeds and Keystores

A third build of the P7 variant of the leaked DarkSword iOS exploit chain has been identified, featuring a new lure site themed around Chinese online casinos and a fresh command server. The chain exploits six vulnerabilities, including three zero-days, to deploy an implant that decrypts the keychain directly on the device and extracts seed phrases from wallets such as imToken, Trust Wallet, and Phantom. Unlike the original GHOSTBLADE, P7 rewrites the C2 agent to focus exclusively on wallet data while retaining the core TaskRop and MIG-filter bypass modules. Passive analysis of public sources also uncovered the long-running 'qqtime' delivery cluster that pairs DarkSword with the older Coruna chain for broader iOS coverage. The operator uses channel codes to support multiple affiliate distributors and employs an AppleKeyStore oracle to decrypt keychain items locally before exfiltration.

Censys Exposes DarkSword iOS Exploit Platform and Coruna Crypto Wallet Stealer

Censys has disclosed the inner workings of DarkSword, a commercial platform that sells remote access to iOS devices, along with its associated malware Coruna that targets cryptocurrency wallet recovery keys. The infrastructure was exposed between September 15 and 17, allowing researchers to analyze the full attack chain starting from a WebKit and JavaScriptCore exploit delivered through the browser. After escaping the Safari sandbox and reaching the kernel, the platform deploys three layers including a flag, controller, and main implant. Coruna then scans the device for BIP39-compliant seed phrases stored in photos and Apple Notes across 19 targeted wallet applications such as MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet, Coinbase, Exodus, imToken, Bitpie, and BitKeep. The exposed server contained 11 victim recovery keys, 179 directories of extracted data, and 75 operator accounts, indicating a structured commercial operation with agent accounts, commissions, and device quotas. Confirmed infections affect devices running iOS 16.1 and 16.3.1, while Apple has extended patches to additional iOS 18 devices. Maintaining updated iOS versions remains the primary defense against this threat.

How Malware Evades Sandboxes: Detection Techniques and Defense Strategies

Sandboxes have become a standard tool for analyzing suspicious files delivered via email, websites, messengers, and cloud storage. Modern malware often avoids detection by identifying virtual environments rather than directly attacking the sandbox. Techniques include checking for virtualization artifacts, system parameters, hardware signatures, network indicators, user activity, and timing delays. Reports such as Picus Red Report 2026 show technique T1497 returning to the top five most common MITRE ATT&CK methods. Examples like Blitz, GootLoader, and LummaC2 demonstrate environment checks and behavioral evasion. Effective defense requires combining multiple analysis methods, realistic sandbox profiles, pre-delivery inspection, and integration with other security controls.

Realtek Jungle SDK Flaw CVE-2021-35394 Fuels Cling Botnet Spread Across Routers

Researchers at Nozomi Networks have observed a sharp rise in exploitation attempts against CVE-2021-35394, a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the Realtek Jungle SDK. The flaw, rated 9.8 on the CVSS scale and disclosed five years ago, is being used to deploy the Cling botnet on routers and video recorders. The affected SDK is embedded in products from multiple vendors, leaving large numbers of devices exposed because firmware updates are rarely applied. Cling carries exploits for seven distinct vulnerabilities targeting Realtek, Linksys, MVPower, TBK, LB-LINK, FiberHome and China Mobile hardware. Once installed, the malware performs recursive scanning, spreads like a worm, manipulates TCP tunnels and proxies, and participates in DDoS attacks. Its command-and-control channel hides instructions inside STUN protocol transaction IDs, impersonating legitimate responses from Google public STUN servers. FortiGuard Labs has confirmed the findings and tracks the variant as ClingSTUN.

Attackers Abuse Legitimate Microsoft Defender Exclusions to Conceal Malware

Huntress researchers have detailed an evasion technique in which threat actors avoid disabling Microsoft Defender entirely. Instead, they create targeted exclusions for specific folders or file extensions, allowing malware to operate undetected while the protection status remains apparently active. These exclusions are configured through PowerShell commands, Windows Management Instrumentation, Group Policy, or direct registry modifications, all requiring administrator privileges after initial compromise. A registry key named HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins can further conceal the list of exclusions from local administrators viewing the interface. The approach has been linked to campaigns involving GootKit in 2019, WhisperGate in 2022 that excluded the entire C: drive, and Muddled Libra in 2024. Defenders are advised to monitor registry changes directly, as this bypasses interface hiding, and to flag exclusions of entire drives or common directories such as temporary and downloads folders.

SC Malware on WordPress Restores Deleted Backdoors in Seconds via Eight Persistence Points

Researchers at Sucuri have analyzed the SC malware targeting WordPress sites, which rapidly restores any removed backdoor components through a minimum of eight interconnected persistence mechanisms. The infection hides across PHP configuration settings, hidden loaders, theme files, and plugins, with some elements executing before standard WordPress plugins load. Copies of the malicious code are also stored in the database and System V shared memory on supported servers, allowing full reinfection from surviving sources after file cleanup. The backdoor evades plugin listings, gathers site and administrator session data, deploys additional PHP code, and disables security plugins while injecting JavaScript for payment data theft in online stores. Command-and-control occurs through public Ethereum RPC gateways and smart contracts with multiple fallback channels. Sucuri warns that PHP caching of the loader directive can crash request handling if the referenced file is deleted without prior preparation, and recommends a sequenced cleanup process.

RATHat Trojan Leverages Google Gemini to Infect and Control Android Devices

The banking trojan RATHat has begun using Google Gemini as an assistant to infect Android smartphones and maintain persistence. Researchers at Cleafy report that the malware first disguises itself as a legitimate application and tricks users into granting Accessibility permissions. Once inside, RATHat activates wireless debugging, connects via ADB, and deploys a separate Go-based service running with system-level privileges. Gemini helps the trojan interpret unfamiliar Android interfaces across different versions, languages, and manufacturer skins by analyzing UI structures and suggesting the correct taps. On the attacker side, the same model processes intercepted SMS messages, evaluates bank balances, and ranks compromised devices by financial value. Since April, Cleafy has observed nearly 100 deployments of the command-and-control infrastructure, pointing to a possible malware-as-a-service model. Removing the original APK is insufficient because the Go service survives independently until reboot and can reinstall the dropped payload.

Mimbrob Malware Uses Fake Dronner App to Target Russian Military and Industrial Firms

Researchers at F6 have identified a new malware campaign dubbed Mimbrob that leverages a fake drone-tracking application called Dronner. The lure promises data on heavy Baba Yaga drones and remote mining locations but instead deploys malicious payloads aimed primarily at Russian military personnel near the front line. The malware checks system language, keyboard layouts, and interface preferences, remaining dormant or terminating if Russian or certain CIS and Romanian languages are absent. Since April 2026 the same operators have conducted phishing campaigns against Russian industrial and IT companies using FBULoader disguised as a Yandex Browser update and the RAT-Go remote access trojan. The attackers register lookalike domains of legitimate Russian enterprises to deliver fake metrology notices and court documents. While espionage appears the most probable objective, researchers have not yet obtained the final payload and therefore refrain from definitive attribution.

Group-IB Discovers RemControl Android Banking Trojan Using Dynamic Overlay Attacks to Steal Banking PINs

Group-IB has identified a new Android banking trojan named RemControl with samples dating back to July 2026. The malware targets more than 30 financial institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and Canada, with Italy and France as primary focus areas. RemControl employs an overlay technique that displays a full-screen phishing replica of the legitimate banking app when the victim launches the real application, capturing PINs, access codes, and card details before seamlessly returning control to the authentic app. Phishing screens are not bundled in the APK but are fetched dynamically from operator-controlled servers reachable via Telegram channels, allowing rapid target changes without reinfection. Distribution relies on fake Google Play listing pages that mimic a streaming application, with geo-targeted delivery for Italian visitors. The trojan requests VPN permissions to block Play Store traffic and bypass real-time security checks, followed by accessibility service access that enables screen reading, keystroke logging, remote taps, and unlock pattern reconstruction.

Solar and F6 Integrate Solar webProxy with F6 Malware Detonation Platform to Filter Web Threats

GC Solar and F6 have confirmed compatibility between the Solar webProxy web access management system and the F6 Malware Detonation Platform. The integration allows Solar webProxy to pre-filter web objects and forward only suspicious files via the ICAP protocol to F6 MDP for reputation checks, static analysis, and dynamic detonation in an isolated virtual environment. Administrators can tune the level of filtering to avoid sending benign items such as fonts and icons to the sandbox, preserving resources for genuine threats. Data from the Solar webProxy team shows that archives accounted for an average of 37 percent of web threats in 2025, with malware frequently hidden inside ZIP, RAR, and 7Z containers. The solution targets medium and large organizations in finance, industry, and the public sector that handle high volumes of web traffic daily.

Engineer Tackles Jane Street ASIC Reverse Engineering Puzzle with Custom Simulator and Verilog Extraction

A detailed technical account describes how one engineer spent weeks reverse engineering an ASIC from GDS files provided in a Jane Street puzzle. The process began with parsing the GDS layout using the gdstk Python library to identify 27 cells in the warmup challenge and thousands of elements in the main task. The engineer built a custom logic simulator backed by SQLite, developed a domain-specific hardware description language, and eventually extracted a netlist that could be converted into Verilog for simulation. Key components identified included shift registers, an adder, and a comparator named comparitor496 in the warmup round. In the full challenge, nearly 10,000 instances of 81 different sky130 standard cells were processed, revealing an unexpected floating net that prompted a bug report to Jane Street. The effort combined manual schematic tracing, graph-based connectivity analysis, and waveform inspection with Surfer to confirm functional behavior.

EtherHiding Campaign Hides Banking Trojan C2 in Polygon Smart Contracts

Security researchers have detailed the EtherHiding campaign, which conceals command-and-control infrastructure inside smart contracts on the Polygon blockchain. The final payload is a malicious browser extension that functions as a banking trojan, intercepting credentials and two-factor codes from approximately 479 financial and cryptocurrency websites. Instead of embedding fixed addresses in its code, the malware queries an encrypted C2 server address from the smart contract, allowing operators to change destinations through low-cost blockchain transactions that bypass domain blocking. Infection begins when victims visit one of 31 compromised legitimate sites that inject JavaScript displaying a fake CAPTCHA prompt. The prompt instructs users to press Windows+R and execute a PowerShell command, a social engineering technique known as ClickFix that downloads the malicious scripts without exploiting any software vulnerability. The campaign has remained active from November 2025 through at least September 2026, demonstrating the resilience of blockchain-based infrastructure against traditional takedown methods.

Group-IB Uncovers HEAVYGRAM Multi-Stage Windows Spyware Controlled via Telegram Bot API

Researchers at Group-IB have identified 29 new samples of HEAVYGRAM, a sophisticated multi-stage Windows malware designed to target journalists, Iranian dissidents, and government critics. The campaign begins with social engineering lures that deliver archives containing fake Telegram, KeePass, or video editor files, along with WSF, HTA, and Persian-language screensaver payloads. Once executed, the malware uses PowerShell to fetch additional components, establishes persistence through Windows startup mechanisms, and adds its directories to Microsoft Defender exclusions. The core implant, written in Python and packed with PyInstaller, supports DLL side-loading and communicates exclusively through Telegram Bot API to receive commands, capture screenshots, enumerate processes, and exfiltrate data. A particularly damaging capability allows theft of Telegram Desktop session files, enabling account hijacking without password re-entry. Group-IB attributes the operation to the Handala Hack group, linked to the Void Manticore persona also tracked as Storm-0842 and Red Sandstorm, believed to operate on behalf of Iranian intelligence services.

Kaspersky Details MovieReaper Malware Framework Distributed via Compromised Torrent Trackers

Kaspersky researchers have uncovered MovieReaper, a previously unknown modular malware framework that spreads through popular torrent sites by masquerading as movies, games, and other content. The campaign began after attackers compromised the itorrents repository in October 2025, allowing malicious torrents to propagate across multiple trackers and infect hundreds of users across Europe, Asia, and Africa. MovieReaper uses a multi-stage infection chain that includes a fake executable with a VLC icon, shellcode delivery from an initial C2, and a secondary C2 address retrieved from the Solana blockchain to improve resilience against takedowns. Subsequent stages bypass Windows UAC for persistence before deploying a final module with 21 commands for file system access, exfiltration, and potential additional payload deployment. The same report also covers NightEagle attacks on Russian infrastructure and the PAYLOAD extortion campaign using Active Directory Group Policy. Separate research highlights new side-channel attacks such as InjectEave on headphones and DDRop against Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP protections, along with a zero-day in Google Pixel radio modules and the arrest of TeamPCP members facilitated by Google Threat Intelligence Group.

MacSync Malware Evolves to Steal Cryptocurrency and Conceal Components in iCloud

Updated MacSync malware for macOS now arrives bundled with a stealer and backdoor, allowing attackers to harvest browser history, cookies, passwords, Telegram data, and cryptocurrency wallet details while maintaining persistent remote access. Discovered by Kaspersky researchers in September 2026, the new variant uses a multi-stage infection chain that begins with a fake application download, such as a document collaboration tool or crypto wallet. One component is delivered through a publicly shared iCloud calendar entry in ICS format, bypassing traditional loaders. After execution, MacSync requests administrator credentials, displays a fake macOS damage notification, and installs the stealer alongside a Finder-masquerading backdoor. The backdoor enables arbitrary code execution, file theft, browser extension installation, and replacement of the legitimate Ledger application with a malicious version to drain cryptocurrency funds. Users are advised to download software only from trusted sources and remain cautious of unexpected administrator password prompts.

Network Traffic Analysis Reveals 75% Malware Threats Over 10 Months of Monitoring

Positive Technologies analyzed anonymized data from PT Sandbox and PT Network Attack Discovery collected between October 2025 and July 2026. The study found that malicious software accounted for 75% of all detected threats in organizational network traffic. Information-stealing trojans made up 24% of malware samples, with 85% of those focused on credential theft. RATs, loaders, and ransomware each represented smaller but high-impact shares. Legacy vulnerabilities such as CVE-2017-0199 and CVE-2017-11882 remained active attack vectors. Activity from groups including MustangPanda, TA505, and APT37 was observed across finance, manufacturing, and government sectors.

HEAVYGRAM Spyware Uses Telegram Bots for Command and Control Against Iranian Targets

Researchers at Group-IB have published a detailed analysis of HEAVYGRAM, a spyware family that abuses the Telegram messaging platform as its command-and-control infrastructure. The malware family was first observed in the second half of 2023 and has since been linked with moderate confidence to the Handala Hack group. Instead of operating dedicated servers, the operators rely on Telegram bots, accounts, and groups to register infected hosts, receive commands, exfiltrate stolen data, and deliver additional payloads. Once active, HEAVYGRAM captures screenshots, records audio, harvests cached files, and steals data from Telegram Desktop installed on the victim machine. The campaign primarily targets Iranian journalists, dissidents, and individuals opposed to the Iranian government. Infection vectors include malicious files distributed via messengers, disguised as legitimate applications such as Pictory, KeePass, or Telegram-related tools, sometimes delivered as HTML applications or scripts.

KREMLIN Banking Malware Hijacks Chrome and Edge to Steal Credentials and Session Tokens in Brazil

Elastic Security Labs researchers have detailed the operations of the KREMLIN banking malware, tracked under the identifier REF9334, which targets Chrome and Edge browsers to harvest credentials and session tokens. The campaign focuses almost exclusively on Brazil, with 98 percent of the 1,515 identified infections located in the country and impersonating a dozen Brazilian banks. Infection begins with multi-stage JavaScript loaders disguised as banking documents, invoices, or corporate papers that require manual execution by the victim. The loaders then deploy C++ installers and malicious browser extensions that modify the Secure Preferences file, enable developer mode, and overwrite protection objects with forged metadata using a technique called Phantom Extension. Once active, the extension collects session tokens, cookies, sessionStorage and localStorage data, 15 days of browsing history, screenshots, open tab information, and full HTML of visited pages. The operation has run since May 2025 across seven distinct campaigns and began using Ethereum smart contracts for infrastructure on 19 May 2026.

Malicious Twitch Extension Steals OAuth Tokens from Nearly 31,000 Users

A browser extension posing as an enhancement for Twitch has been stealing OAuth authentication tokens from approximately 31,000 users across Chrome and Firefox. The extension, known as Twitch Enhanced Viewer or JeetBot, was discovered by researcher Kush Pandya of Socket. It promised 1080p streaming in restricted regions and an ad-free experience while covertly exfiltrating session tokens to attacker-controlled servers. The tokens were transmitted in plaintext via network-layer redirects, allowing full access to chat functions, private messages, and account settings. Both the Chrome version with around 30,000 installations since June 26, 2025, and the Firefox version with 604 users since July 7, 2025, remained available in official stores at the time of reporting. Users are advised to immediately disable the extension and revoke active Twitch sessions to invalidate stolen tokens.

Casbaneiro Banking Trojan Targets Financial Institutions in Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Mexico

Fortinet researchers identified a Casbaneiro campaign in August that specifically targets bank customers across four Latin American countries. The infection begins with a PDF attachment that displays the recipient's own email address to build credibility and creates urgency around an unpaid invoice or judicial notice. The PDF link performs IP-based geofencing, redirecting non-target visitors to Google or YouTube while delivering a Base64-encoded ZIP only to victims in the selected countries. Inside the archive, an HTA file downloads the legitimate AutoIt interpreter along with a compiled script and compressed payload, helping evade binary-focused defenses. The malware stays dormant until the victim visits a monitored banking website, at which point it activates its C2 channel, exfiltrates Outlook contact data, and can display bank-specific credential-harvesting overlays. Additional remote-access capabilities allow operators to control the keyboard, manipulate the clipboard, and execute arbitrary commands on the infected system.

Cybercriminals Distribute NJRAT, DCRAT and Chaos via Fake GTA 6 Downloads

Threat actors are leveraging anticipation around GTA 6 to spread multiple malware families through fake game downloads. Security researchers at Huntress identified campaigns that combine search-engine poisoning, gaming forums, torrent sites and social-media posts to deliver oversized fake ISO files exceeding 100 GB. Victims who execute the installer see Russian-language messages claiming an invalid crack or missing license, while remote-access tools and data stealers run silently in the background. The delivered payloads include NJRAT and DCRAT for keystroke logging, screen capture and webcam access, Mercurial Grabber for harvesting browser credentials and Discord tokens, and the Chaos wiper that encrypts small files and overwrites larger ones. The operation primarily targets Russian-speaking gamers, as indicated by the ransom note and error messages. Analysts recommend avoiding unofficial downloads and isolating any compromised systems immediately.

Smartphone Spyware: How Devices Collect and Exfiltrate Data Even Without Internet Access

Modern smartphones continue gathering sensor data including microphone, camera, gyroscope, and satellite navigation even when Wi-Fi and mobile data are disabled. Information is stored locally and transmitted only when connectivity is restored. The Find My Device feature from Google and Find My from Apple allow location reporting for hours after the device is powered off via a separate Bluetooth chip. In August 2026, ThreatFabric disclosed the Manic trojan that uses Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth RFCOMM, and BLE GATT to relay encrypted data through nearby infected devices when direct internet access is unavailable. The malware supports multi-hop routing of up to four intermediate devices. Everyday users face greater risk from over-privileged applications and pre-installed malware on gray-market devices than from sophisticated offline exfiltration techniques. A detailed checklist covers purchase hygiene, permission audits, and recovery steps after suspected compromise.