Malware

Pierluigi Paganini February 23, 2026
CVE-2026-1731 fuels ongoing attacks on BeyondTrust remote access products

Attackers are exploiting CVE-2026-1731 in BeyondTrust RS and PRA to deploy VShell, gain persistence, move laterally, and control compromised systems. Threat actors are actively exploiting a recently disclosed critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-1731 (CVSS score: 9.9), in BeyondTrust Remote Support (RS) and Privileged Remote Access (PRA). The flaw is being used to conduct a wide […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 22, 2026
SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 85

Security Affairs Malware newsletter includes a collection of the best articles and research on malware in the international landscape Malware Newsletter Ninja Browser & Lumma Infostealer   Ghost Tapped: Tracking the Rise of Chinese Tap-to-pay Android Malware   Hudson Rock Identifies Real-World Infostealer Infection Targeting OpenClaw Configurations   Divide and conquer: how the new Keenadu backdoor exposed links […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 20, 2026
PromptSpy abuses Gemini AI to gain persistent access on Android

PromptSpy is the first Android malware to abuse Google’s Gemini AI, enabling persistence and advanced spying features. Security researchers at ESET have uncovered PromptSpy, the first known Android malware to exploit Google’s Gemini AI to maintain persistence. The malware can capture lockscreen data, block uninstallation attempts, collect device information, take screenshots, and record screen activity […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 19, 2026
Intellexa’s Predator spyware infected Angolan journalist’s device, Amnesty reports

Amnesty reports Angolan journalist’s iPhone was infected by Intellexa’s Predator spyware via a WhatsApp link in May 2024. Amnesty International reports that in May 2024, Intellexa’s Predator spyware infected the iPhone of Teixeira Cândido, an Angolan journalist and press freedom advocate, after he opened a malicious link sent via WhatsApp. This incident highlights how attackers […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 18, 2026
Keenadu backdoor found preinstalled on Android devices, powers Ad fraud campaign

Kaspersky uncovered Keenadu, an Android backdoor used for ad fraud that can even take full control of devices. Kaspersky has identified a new Android malware called Keenadu. It can be preinstalled in device firmware, hidden inside system apps, or even distributed via official stores like Google Play. Currently used for ad fraud by turning infected […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 17, 2026
SmartLoader hackers clone Oura MCP project to spread StealC malware

Hackers used a fake Oura MCP server to trick users into downloading malware that installs the StealC info-stealer. Straiker’s AI Research (STAR) Labs team uncovered a SmartLoader campaign in which attackers cloned a legitimate MCP server linked to Oura Health to spread the StealC information stealer. The fake project appeared credible, complete with bogus forks […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 17, 2026
Polish cybercrime Police arrest man linked to Phobos ransomware operation

Officers from Poland’s Central Bureau of Cybercrime Control (CBZC) police arrested a 47-year-old man linked to the Phobos ransomware operation. Polish authorities arrested a 47-year-old man suspected of involvement in cybercrime and linked him to the Phobos ransomware operation. Police said they discovered evidence of illegal activities on his seized devices. “Officers from the Central […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 17, 2026
Hackers steal OpenClaw configuration in emerging AI agent threat

Researchers found an infostealer stole a victim’s OpenClaw configuration, marking a shift toward targeting personal AI agents. Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a new information stealer that exfiltrated a victim’s OpenClaw configuration environment, previously known as Clawdbot and Moltbot. According to cybersecurity firm Hudson Rock, the case highlights a new shift in infostealer activity, moving beyond […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 16, 2026
Microsoft alerts on DNS-based ClickFix variant delivering malware via nslookup

Microsoft warns of a new ClickFix variant that tricks users into running DNS commands to fetch malware via nslookup. Microsoft has revealed a new ClickFix variant that deceives users into running a malicious nslookup command through the Windows Run dialog to retrieve a second-stage payload via DNS. ClickFix typically uses fake CAPTCHA or error messages […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 15, 2026
Malicious npm and PyPI packages linked to Lazarus APT fake recruiter campaign

Researchers found malicious npm and PyPI packages tied to a fake recruitment campaign linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. ReversingLabs researcher uncovered new malicious packages on npm and PyPI connected to a fake job recruitment campaign attributed to the North Korea-linked Lazarus Group. The campaign uses deceptive hiring themes to trick developers into downloading infected […]