Threat Actors Start Hiding Malware within Website Images

archive.org, generative AI, malicious code, Obj3tivityStealer, Ophtek, Phishing, VIP Keylogger, website images, , , , , , ,
11
Feb 2025

Cybercriminals are increasingly embedding malware within website images to evade detection and compromise IT systems.

Recent investigations have revealed a growing trend among threat actors: hiding malicious code within image files hosted on trusted websites. This approach allows the attackers to bypass traditional security measures, which tend to trust well-known and widely used websites. As ever, the attack begins with a phishing email designed to trick the victim into unleashing the malware. The phishing email in question has taken numerous forms such as invoices or purchase orders. Once opened, the file exploits a Microsoft Office vulnerability.

Emails are an essential part of business, so it’s crucial that you understand how this attack works to keep your IT infrastructure safe.

Unpacking the Image Attack

The vulnerability at the heart of the attack can be found in Microsoft Office’s Equation Editor (CVE-2017-11882). This vulnerability enables a malicious script to run, downloading an image file from a trusted website (such as archive.org). The image may, to the average PC user, look harmless, but hidden within its metadata is a malicious code. This is used to automatically install spyware and keyloggers such as VIP Keylogger and Obj3tivityStealer. These slices of malware allow the threat actors to monitor your systems, harvest sensitive data, and gain access to financial information.

What’s interesting – or disturbing, depending on your perspective – about the attack is that it appears to harness the power of AI. Cybercriminals are increasingly turning to generative AI to create convincing phishing emails, malicious scripts, and even HTML web pages which can host malicious payloads. This is making attacks much easier to launch while also lowering the barriers to entry around your IT networks.

Keeping Your IT Systems Secure

No business wants keyloggers and spyware downloaded onto their IT infrastructure, so it’s vital that you keep it secure and protected. It’s impossible to keep it 100% safe, but you can optimize its strength by following these three tips:

  1. Regularly Update Your Software: make sure all your software, especially Microsoft Office applications, is up to date. Software developers release regular updates to patch vulnerabilities – like CVE-2017-11882 – which attackers seek to exploit. As well as enabling automatic updates, schedule regular checks for patches to ensure that critical updates are not missed. And remember, this applies to all software on your networks.
  2. Use Advanced Email Security: always utilize email filtering tools to automatically block phishing emails before they reach your staff. These highly effective solutions can scan all incoming messages for suspicious links, attachments, or blacklisted senders to prevent them from reaching your employee inboxes. Also, make sure your team are educated on the danger signs of a phishing email. Regular training and refresher sessions can help maximize the security of your first-line defenses.
  3. Monitor Network Activity: Use network monitoring tools to detect unusual activities, such as unexpected downloads or unauthorized connections. These tools can indicate potential threats early, allowing you to respond quickly before threat actors secure a foothold within your systems. Make sure that you establish a program of regular reviews for your activity logs, this approach will enable you to spot anomalies and take action.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Malicious Chrome Extensions Threaten Millions

Bard AI Chat, ChatGPT, Cyber Attack, Facebook Ads, Google Chrome, Google Meet, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, , , , , , ,
04
Feb 2025

A recent cyberattack has compromised several popular Google Chrome extensions, infecting millions of users with data-stealing malware.

In early January 2025, cybersecurity researchers at Extension Total discovered a malicious campaign targeting Chrome extensions which offer AI services. The threat actors hijacked at least 36 extensions – including Bard AI Chat, ChatGPT for Google Meet, and ChatGPT App – with approximately 2.6 million users affected. This widespread attack has raised the alarm among users and software developers as, previously, these extensions were highly trusted.

With 3.45 billion people using Chrome as their browser, it’s no surprise that threat actors would target it. This attack is especially ingenious, so we’re going to take a deep dive into it.

How Were the Chrome Extensions Compromised?

The affected extensions may be named after popular AI tools like Bard and ChatGPT, but they are third-party applications with no development from Google or OpenAI. Third-party extensions can, of course, be legitimate, but these compromised extensions were far from helpful. Instead, they were used to deliver fake updates containing malware.

The malware was designed to steal sensitive user information, specifically targeting data related to Facebook Ads accounts. Therefore, this posed a significant threat to businesses which rely on Facebook for marketing and sales. With this stolen data, the threat actors could use it for unauthorized access, financial and identity theft, or to fuel phishing attacks.

In response to the attack, many of the affected extensions have been removed from the Chrome Store to limit further infections. However, others remain available, exposing users to the malware. Chrome, as we’ve already mentioned, is hugely popular with around 130,000 extensions are available to install. The risk of a security incident, as you would imagine, is high; this recent attack underscores the importance of practicing vigilance when installing extensions.

Staying Safe from Rogue Chrome Extensions

Browser extensions are designed to help users by enhancing functionality and making everyday browsing easier. However, this recent attack has also demonstrated that they’re a security risk. Ophtek wants to keep you safe from similar attacks, so we’ve put together our top tips for protecting your PC from rogue extensions:

  • Install Extensions from Trusted Sources: you should only ever download extensions from reputable developers and official web stores. Before hitting that install button, always carry out some research on the developer, read user reviews, and check ratings to assess how legitimate it is.
  • Limit Extension Permissions: extensions often require permissions to function correctly on your PC but be very careful of any extension which requests a long list of permissions e.g. access to browsing data, microphone control, and cookies. You should only ever grant permissions to what is necessary for the extension to operate. If in doubt of a permission request, seek help from an IT professional.
  • Update Extensions: always ensure your extensions are kept up to date, as developers often release patches to fix security vulnerabilities. Regularly check for updates and keep an eye out for any unusual browser behavior such as strange pop-ups, redirects to other sites, or performance issues. Additionally, if you have extensions you no longer use, remove these to reduce your exposure to risk

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Hackers Unmasked: Who Are They and What Motivates Them?

Black Hat, Hackers, Hacktivists, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, security, White Hat, , , , , , , ,
19
Nov 2024

The headlines generated by cybersecurity attacks always focus on the damage caused by hackers, but who exactly are the hackers and why do they hack?

Financial losses associated with cybercrime hit a mighty $12.5 billion in 2023, so it’s clear to see that hackers have a major impact on society. And yet we know so little about them. Characterized as shady, hidden figures, hackers rely on this mysterious air to create panic and fear when they strike. Technically savvy, they pose a major threat to computer systems all over the world, and they often get away with it through a mixture of ingenuity and bravado.

To help you understand their motives better, we’re going to pull back the digital curtain and show you who these hackers are and what drives them to attack IT infrastructures.

The Main Types of Hackers

There are many different types of hackers, with different methods of operation and varying skillsets. The main variants you’re likely to encounter are:

  • Black Hat Hackers: Perhaps the most infamous type of hacker, black hat hackers are regularly discussed on the Ophtek blog due to their love of breaking into IT systems. Their main activities involve launching malware, compromising software vulnerabilities, and setting up phishing campaigns.
  • White Hat Hackers: In contrast to their black hat counterparts, white hat hackers are a force for good. Typically, they work in conjunction with organizations to identify weak spots in their IT security e.g. demonstrating where software vulnerabilities are present or highlighting the use of default passwords on routers.
  • Hacktivists: These hackers aren’t out to commit cybercrime in the same way as a black hat hacker, but hacktivists operate on the wrong side of the law in order to bring about social or political change. A good example of this can be found in the 2022 attacks launched against Russian websites by the hacking group Anonymous, an attack designed in response to the Russian war on Ukraine.

What are the Motivations Behind Hacking?

Every hack will have a motive behind it and it’s important to understand these motives in order to better protect our computer systems. The main driving forces behind cyberattacks include:

  • Financial Gain: As with all crime, money acts as a significant motivating factor. Stolen credentials, for example, can be sold on the dark web for large amounts of cash. Likewise, the rise of Malware-as-a-Service has proved highly lucrative for hackers and been responsible for some devastating attacks.
  • Challenging Themselves: Hackers love the prestige of a successful hack, and this hit of dopamine is enough to encourage them to set about launching increasingly audacious attacks. This not only challenges them and provides a firm motivation, but it also encourages them to hone their skills and make their attacks harder to defend against.
  • Personal Grievances: Often, the main motivation behind a hack is simply a slice of old-fashioned revenge. An ex-employee, perhaps terminated unfairly in their eyes, may seek revenge by exploiting their knowledge of an organization’s IT system. This insider knowledge may offer them the opportunity to strike back and hurt the organization.

Final Thoughts

Hackers, with their varying objectives and motivations, are a complex set of individuals and groups. While some may be a force for good, just as many have taken up their craft to inflict damage and benefit financially from their digital chaos. Whatever their circumstances, one thing remains clear: it’s crucial to strengthen your IT systems against all threats all the time.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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SnipBot Malware Used to Steal Data from Victims

contact_sender, malware, Ophtek, Palo Alto Networks, Phishing, RomCom, SnipBot, spam_filters, Suspicious links, verify sources, , , , , , ,
22
Oct 2024

A new malware attack has been discovered which uses the SnipBot malware to dig deep into the victim’s network and harvest data.

SnipBot is a variant of the RomCom malware, which has previously been used for data harvesting and financially motivated attacks such as the Cuba ransomware attack. SnipBot’s malicious campaign has been widespread, with victims identified in multiple industries including legal, agriculture, and IT sectors. SnipBot performs what is referred to as a pivot, a process by which malware moves between compromised systems on the same network to access as many workstations as possible. This maximizes the amount of data SnipBot can steal and marks it out as a major threat.

SnipBot Unleashed

With 3.4 billion phishing emails sent daily, it’s clear that phishing attacks are incredibly popular with threat actors. And this is the exact approach adopted by SnipBot.

The SnipBot malware attack starts with phishing emails which trick recipients into downloading fake files disguised as legitimate PDFs. When the victim clicks on a link contained within the PDF, a malicious downloader is activated. As these downloaders are signed using real security certificates, they avoid detection by security software.

The malware can then inject itself into core system processes such as explorer.exe, and it can maintain this presence even after a reboot. Once inside the victim’s system, SnipBot sets about collecting sensitive data from popular folders, like Documents and OneDrive. This harvested data is then sent back to the attacker via a remote server.

Palo Alto Networks researchers, who discovered the SnipBot campaign, are unsure as to the true objectives of SnipBot. At present, there appears to be no financial motive present in the attack, so it has been labelled purely as an espionage threat.

How Can You Stay Safe from SnipBot?

Luckily, phishing attacks such as SnipBot can be easily managed. By following these best practices, you’ll not only prevent malware being executed, but also avoid it in the first place:

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Malicious Macros Target Old Versions of MS Office

anti-malware_software, Brute_Ratel, Havoc, macros, malware, MS_Office, Ophtek, PhantomCore, Phishing, security_updates, , , , , , , , , ,
01
Oct 2024

Macros make our lives easier when it comes to repetitive tasks on PCs, but they’re also a potential route for malware to take advantage of.

The most up to date version of MS Office prevents macros from running automatically, and this is because macros have long been identified as a major malware risk. However, older versions of MS Office still run macros automatically, and this puts the PC running it at risk of being compromised. Legacy software, such as outdated versions of MS Office, comes with a number of risks and drawbacks, but budgetary constraints mean many businesses are unable to update.

Malicious MS Office Macro Clusters

A macro is a mini program which is designed to be executed within a Microsoft application and complete a routine task. So, for example, rather than taking 17 clicks through the Microsoft Word menu to execute a mail merge, you can use a single click of a macro to automate this process. Problems arise, however, when a macro is used to complete a damaging process, such as downloading or executing malware. And this is exactly what Cisco Talos has found within a cluster of malicious macros.

Several documents have been discovered which contain malware-infected macros, and they all have the potential to download malware such as PhantomCore, Havoc and Brute Ratel. Of note is that all of the macros detected so far appear to have been designed with the MacroPack framework, typically used for creating ‘red team exercises’ to simulate cybersecurity threats. Cisco Talos also discovered that the macros contained several lines of harmless code, this was most likely to lull users into a false sense of security.

Cisco Talos has been unable to point the finger of blame at any specific threat actor. It’s also possible that these macros were originally designed as a part of a legitimate cybersecurity exercise. Regardless of the origins of these macros, the fact remains that they have the potential to expose older versions of MS office to dangerous strains of malware.

Protect Your Systems from Malicious Macros

The dangers of malicious macros require you to remain vigilant about their threat. Clearly, with this specific threat, the simplest way to protect your IT systems is to upgrade to the latest version of MS Office. This will enable you to block the automatic running of macros and buy you some thinking time when you encounter a potentially malicious macro. As well as this measure, you should also ensure you’re following these best practices:

  • Always Verify Email Attachments: a common delivery method for malicious macros is through attachments included with phishing emails. This is why it’s crucial that you avoid opening macros in documents which have been received from unknown sources. As with all emails, it’s paramount that you verify the sender before interacting with any attachments.
  • Install All Security Updates: almost all software is regularly updated with security patches to prevent newly discovered vulnerabilities from being exploited. Macros are often used to facilitate the exploitation of software vulnerabilities, so it pays to be conscientious and install any security updates as soon as they’re available.
  • Use Anti-Malware Software: security suites, such as AVG, perform regular, automated scans of your PCs to identify any potential malware infections. In particular, many of these security suites target malicious macros, so they make a useful addition to your arsenal when targeting the threat of macros.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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