malware

Pierluigi Paganini May 07, 2026
From Android TVs to routers: the xlabs_v1 Mirai-based botnet built for DDoS attacks

A new Mirai‑based botnet, xlabs_v1, hijacks ADB‑exposed IoT devices for powerful DDoS attacks, with 21 flooding methods and DDoS‑for‑hire use. A new Mirai‑derived botnet called xlabs_v1 is hijacking internet‑exposed devices running Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and using them for large‑scale DDoS attacks. Hunt.io discovered the bot on an unsecured server, it includes 21 flood techniques […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 06, 2026
Iranian cyber espionage disguised as a Chaos Ransomware attack

Iran-linked APT MuddyWater used ransomware-style tactics to mask espionage, combining phishing, credential theft, data exfiltration, and extortion without encryption. A newly discovered cyber intrusion attributed to the Iran-linked APT MuddyWater (aka SeedWorm, TEMP.Zagros, Mango Sandstorm, TA450, and Static Kitten) reveals how state-sponsored attackers are increasingly leveraging ransomware tactics to disguise espionage operations. The campaign, uncovered by security researchers at Rapid7, blended […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 06, 2026
Malicious PyTorch Lightning update hits AI supply chain security

A malicious PyTorch Lightning update (v2.6.3) on PyPI spread briefly, stealing credentials and raising major concerns about AI supply chain security. A malicious update of the PyTorch Lightning library exposed developers to credential theft and remote compromise. Attackers uploaded version 2.6.3 to the Python Package Index (PyPI), where it spread among developers before maintainers removed […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 05, 2026
U.S. court sentences Karakurt ransomware negotiator to 8.5 years

Deniss Zolotarjovs was sentenced to 8.5 years in the U.S. after pleading guilty to money laundering and fraud tied to ransomware. Deniss Zolotarjovs, a Latvian national linked to the Karakurt ransomware gang, has been sentenced to 8.5 years in U.S. prison, marking a significant step in efforts to combat global ransomware operations. “A Latvian national […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 03, 2026
SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 95

Security Affairs Malware newsletter includes a collection of the best articles and research on malware in the international landscape Malware Newsletter fast16 | Mystery ShadowBrokers Reference Reveals High-Precision Software Sabotage 5 Years Before Stuxnet  73 Open VSX Sleeper Extensions Linked to GlassWorm Show New Malware Activations   An alarm clock you can’t ignore: How CapFix attacks […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 03, 2026
Security Affairs newsletter Round 575 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

A new round of the weekly Security Affairs newsletter has arrived! Every week, the best security articles from Security Affairs are free in your email box. Enjoy a new round of the weekly SecurityAffairs newsletter, including the international press. Two US cybersecurity experts sentenced in ransomware case, third awaits July ruling Trellix discloses the breach […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 02, 2026
Two US cybersecurity experts sentenced in ransomware case, third awaits July ruling

Two US security experts were sentenced to 4 years for helping ransomware attacks. A third accomplice pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. Two US cybersecurity professionals, Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin, were sentenced to four years in prison for their role in supporting ransomware attacks. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy involving extortion. A third individual, Angelo […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 02, 2026
New Deep#Door RAT uses stealth and persistence to target Windows

Deep#Door hides a Python RAT inside a batch file, kills Windows defenses, survives via multiple persistence methods, and exfiltrates data through a public TCP tunnel. Security researchers at Securonix uncovered a sophisticated malware campaign called Deep#Door. Threat actors employed a stealthy Python-based backdoor that uses a surprisingly simple delivery method to achieve deep, persistent access […]

Pierluigi Paganini April 28, 2026
New Android spyware Morpheus linked to Italian surveillance firm

Osservatorio Nessuno uncovered Morpheus spyware spreading via fake Android apps to steal data, highlighting rising covert surveillance tools. The non-partisan, non-religious, nonprofit organization Osservatorio Nessuno exposed a new spyware called Morpheus, distributed through fake Android apps posing as updates. Once installed, it can steal extensive data from the infected devices. The report shows strong demand […]

Pierluigi Paganini April 27, 2026
Fast16: Pre-Stuxnet malware that targeted precision engineering software

Fast16 is a pre-Stuxnet malware that tampered with precision software and spread itself. Evidence suggests links to U.S. operations during early cyber tensions. SentinelOne uncovered Fast16, a sabotage malware used in 2005, years before Stuxnet. The malicious code is written in Lua and targeted high-precision calculation software, altering results and spreading across systems. The malware […]