malware

Cybersecurity company Hudson Rock disclosed that the Reddit verified account of the streaming service HBO Max was hijacked earlier this month and deployed 108 malicious ads within approximately 48 hours. These ads used a non-existent HBO Max native macOS application as bait, luring users to open Terminal or PowerShell and paste malicious commands, a technique known as ClickFix.Researchers named this operation PasteSwitch, and its delivery system adapts based on the visitor's device and the advertised software. Observed Mac payloads include MacSync and Atomic macOS (AMOS) information-stealing trojans, targeting browser credentials, Telegram data, Apple Notes, saved passwords, and cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases. The malware also utilized Binance Smart Chain contracts as variable C2 address delivery points and was associated with a cryptocurrency clipboard hijacker that replaces clipboard wallet addresses.According to Malwarebytes, Reddit administrators have suspended the related ads and initiated a security investigation following reports. The report did not specify how the account was compromised or the number of victims, nor was there evidence found that the HBO Max streaming service itself was breached. The ClickFix technique has previously been used multiple times in attacks targeting cryptocurrency users, including approximately 2,000 compromised WordPress sites and malicious activities disguised as CAPTCHA.

According to SlowMist monitoring, a Brazilian banking malware operation, active since at least May 2025, known as REF9334, has recently been disclosed. Its KREMLIN malware ecosystem uses a multi-stage loader and malicious browser extensions to steal credentials, session tokens, and sensitive data. The malicious extensions can be installed into Chrome and Edge without user approval by bypassing the Chromium integrity mechanisms, including Secure Preferences, HMAC, and App-Bound encrypted hashes.The operation also uses Ethereum smart contracts as "dead letter parsers" to dynamically update C2 endpoints and payload hosting locations. After registering the network Canary domain name, analysts observed 1,515 infected hosts checking in, with 98.75% located in Brazil. SlowMist recommends that security teams monitor related malware, browser extension activities, and infrastructure associated with this operation.

According to a report by Malwarebytes, scammers are using the hype around "GTA 6" to set up phishing websites, claiming to sell leaked versions of the game for $50 or 1 SOL, luring visitors to connect their wallets and sign malicious transactions. The website contains approximately 2.4 MB of malicious scripts that can identify wallet assets on seven chains: Ethereum, Polygon, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Base, and Fantom, and immediately transfer assets or gain permissions for subsequent transfers of tokens and NFTs based on the permissions signed by the victims.Before triggering, the script checks the visitor's IP to evade ten countries, including Armenia and Russia. Malwarebytes advises users to be cautious of any websites claiming to sell leaked versions of GTA 6, to carefully verify the authorization content before signing transactions, and to refuse operations that transfer the entire balance or request token access permissions.

According to Cointelegraph, cybersecurity company Morphisec has revealed that a counterfeit desktop application disguised as "Claude Opus 5 Free Desktop" from Anthropic is being used to spread the Windows malware RevStealer. This software can steal data from over 50 types of cryptocurrency wallets, while also collecting sensitive information such as browser passwords, cookies, VPN configurations, message logs, and screenshots.RevStealer has anti-detection mechanisms that perform environmental checks on the target device before execution; if it detects characteristics of a debugging or virtual environment, it will stop running. In addition, Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky has also disclosed another new malware framework targeting cryptocurrency investors called OkoBot, which can harvest wallet files, inject malicious extensions, and capture wallet application windows to steal assets.

According to security company Huntress, hackers are spreading theft malware to cryptocurrency users by forging Google Docs files, hosting malicious files on GitHub, and impersonating Claude.ai pages. Attackers disguise themselves as senior employees of CoinDesk on the social platform X, luring victims to open Google Docs documents containing malicious code under the pretext of inviting them to an online meeting, thereby guiding users to install the malicious program themselves.Mac users face the threat of Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS), which can steal browser passwords, cryptocurrency wallet data, and Telegram files; Windows users are pushed fake Google API Connector updates, which, once installed, implant NetSupport RAT and a counterfeit Ledger hardware wallet application. Additionally, hackers are placing false advertisements on search engines like Bing, enticing users to visit counterfeit Claude.ai pages and execute malicious commands. The related malware MacSync and SectopRAT can steal cookies, saved passwords, recovery phrases, and payment card information.Security company Socket also discovered 16 malicious extensions targeting Chrome and Edge, capable of emptying EVM, Solana, and Tron wallet assets.

Numa Lunah, co-founder of the crypto project Refi Hub, stated that he was hacked after installing a transcription application using a download link provided in the Claude chat window. The link pointed to a counterfeit website and bundled malware that attempted to steal all information from his device upon execution. Numa Lunah mentioned that he cleared and reinstalled the affected laptop and found no sensitive information leaked.Subsequently, he discovered a contaminated Claude Code skill file SKILL.md in his backup, which disguised itself as a style guide written by him and contained instructions to re-download the malware and steal credentials every time it was loaded. Microsoft Defender Experts had warned that attackers had shifted from search engine optimization poisoning to large language model response poisoning, with related tactics including recommending download links controlled by attackers, AI brand impersonation installers, and contaminated code libraries and proxy skills. Crypto industry practitioners may hold irrevocable credentials such as mnemonic phrases, private key files, hot wallet JSON, exchange API keys with withdrawal permissions, and deployer keys.

The Slow Fog security team recently disclosed the discovery of a malicious GitHub repository impersonating the "Qwen 3.8 27B local quantitative model." The repository claims that the model file should exceed 16GB, while the actual downloaded content is only about 487KB, containing disguised files, a LuaJIT interpreter, and obfuscated Lua scripts. Slow Fog emphasizes that the official Qwen project has not been compromised.Slow Fog's analysis indicates that after the malicious program runs, it will collect host information, capture the screen, and send it to the attacker's C2 server; when the hard-coded server fails, it will also read backup C2 addresses from contracts on the Polygon chain, allowing the attacker to rotate infrastructure through on-chain transactions.Subsequent payloads can steal browser login information, cookies, history, email, WinSCP, Steam credentials, as well as files and extension data related to cryptocurrency wallets. Slow Fog also found that at least 23 GitHub repositories and 29 similar compressed packages used the same Lua delivery chain.

Cybersecurity company Check Point Research discovered that the StopAndProtect ransomware campaign uses nearly 2,000 compromised WordPress sites to spread malware, steal data, monitor victims, and deploy ransomware. This campaign was identified in mid-May. As of July 24, it has compromised over 6,000 unique IP addresses, including 1,852 in the United States, and 630 each in Russia and India.The compromised websites were also used to host malware, send commands, and store stolen files, screenshots, and activity logs. Attackers lure Windows users into running PowerShell commands through fake CAPTCHAs, thereby stealing credentials and cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases, and spreading through networks and USB devices. Researchers have collected over 31,000 screenshots and more than 700 data compression packages, and believe that the attackers may have inadvertently infected themselves.

According to CNA, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) reported that a cryptocurrency scam involving fake job postings and compromised software systems resulted in losses of $11.8 million.The scam group impersonated cryptocurrency company recruiters on LinkedIn, used forged domain names to send emails, conducted video interviews, and induced victims to download malware on company devices to complete "technical tests," thereby stealing session tokens, bypassing multi-factor authentication, and ultimately transferring cryptocurrency.

According to Cointelegraph, Mauro Eldritch, the founder of cybersecurity company BCA LTD, and Heiner García, a network threat intelligence analyst at Telefónica Tech, jointly established a fake cryptocurrency startup "Ballena Azul," successfully luring suspected North Korean IT workers to work in a controlled virtual desktop environment for up to five weeks while monitoring their behavior throughout.Investigations show that the external servers used by the workers are linked to North Korean cyber operations that previously distributed malware such as InvisibleFerret, BeaverTail, and OtterCookie; the workers also heavily relied on ChatGPT for programming assistance and Google Gemini to forge identity documents. Researchers pointed out that North Korean IT workers obtained remote jobs by faking U.S. identities, with their earnings ultimately flowing into Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction programs. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, such programs are expected to generate nearly $800 million for North Korea in 2024.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence posted on the X platform that a cluster of compromised websites has been found using ClickFix and EtherHiding technologies to spread malware, with attacks targeting thousands of enterprise and consumer devices worldwide every day.Attackers inject Base64 encoded JavaScript to connect to the BNB Smart Chain RPC gateway, obtaining the next stage instructions stored by smart contracts. Since the contract content can only be modified by the deployer's wallet, traditional takedown methods are difficult to counter. The attack deceives users into opening a run dialog box with fake verification codes, pasting clipboard content, and executing commands from the attacker, while also involving the abuse of various system tools such as conhost, cmd, PowerShell, and mshta, as well as command obfuscation techniques. Successful execution may lead to credential exposure, persistence establishment, lateral movement, and even ransomware attacks.Microsoft recommends that enterprises enable Defender's multi-layer protection, restrict command line tools, enable PowerShell script logging, and remind users not to paste commands from unknown sources into the run window or terminal for execution.

SlowMist announced that a new recruitment scam targeting Web3 practitioners has recently been discovered. Attackers impersonate recruiters, luring victims to install an AI meeting software called "Relay," which is actually an information-stealing malware.This malware targets both macOS and Windows users and can steal sensitive information such as browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallet-related data, Keychain data, Telegram sessions, and more. SlowMist has completed sample analysis and disclosed how this attack chain operates. SlowMist reminds that when participating in online interviews or recruitment processes, one should be cautious about installing unfamiliar software, avoid running unverified applications, and pay attention to unusual installation requests or system password prompts.

According to Crypto.news, the hacker organization BlueNoroff, linked to North Korea, uses fake Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings to analyze cryptocurrency users before deploying malware.The hackers first take control of accounts belonging to trusted contacts in the cryptocurrency industry, then send seemingly normal meeting links via Calendly and other platforms, directing users to counterfeit Zoom/Teams domains. Once users enter the fake meeting page, it quietly scans the wallets in their browsers and decides whether to continue the attack based on the wallet's value. The fake meeting will prompt users to "update Zoom/Teams" or run commands, which actually download malware (supporting Windows and macOS). The malware will steal browser keys, system data, and Telegram sessions.

According to the security agency Slow Fog, the malicious TRAE IDE extension juannegro.solidity disguises itself as a Solidity plugin and acts as a cross-platform malware delivery mechanism. This extension automatically executes and establishes persistence after the IDE starts, and it also uses Ethereum smart contracts to store and retrieve dynamic C2 configurations, allowing attackers to update C2 endpoints and payloads without needing to re-release the extension.Although the extension has been removed from Open VSX, it was still available through the TRAE marketplace as of July 18. Users who have installed it should immediately delete it and check their systems for compromise.

According to Bits.media, Kaspersky security researchers have discovered new malware OkoBot, which steals cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases and credentials through about 20 modules. Attackers use ClickFix social engineering techniques to trick users into executing malicious commands and spread the malware through GitHub repositories disguised as legitimate tools like SQL Server Management Studio.OkoBot's modules include: SeedHunter, which injects into hardware wallets like Trezor and Ledger, displaying a fake interface when recovering recovery phrases; MC Keylogger, which records keyboard and clipboard activity; and OkoSpyware, which tracks wallet passwords and records window videos.Once attackers obtain the recovery phrases, they can gain complete control over the victim's cryptocurrency assets, making it nearly impossible to recover the funds. Kaspersky stated that OkoBot has been active for over a year, with most victims located in Brazil, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, and Turkey. Attackers have also implemented geographical blocking on IP addresses from Russia and CIS countries.

The U.S. federal prosecutors have charged a 21-year-old Florida man, Zyaire Wilkins, accusing him of implanting malware to steal cryptocurrency assets in at least 8 games with accomplices between May 2024 and February 2026, spreading it through gaming platforms, resulting in approximately 8,000 devices being infected and about 80 cryptocurrency wallets being stolen, with the amount involved exceeding $220,000.The indictment documents show that the games involved include BlockBlasters, Chemia, Dashverse, DashFPS, Lampy, Lunara, PirateFi, and Tokenova. Some of these games had previously been removed from Steam due to security risks. Investigators stated that the suspect promoted these games through platforms such as Discord, Telegram, X, and LinkedIn, luring users to download and install them, after which the malware stole sensitive information from victims and siphoned off cryptocurrency wallet assets.The FBI indicated that law enforcement identified the suspect through on-chain fund flow analysis and digital payment records. The investigation found that his associated cryptocurrency wallet had purchased over 150 gift cards on the cryptocurrency gift card platform Bitrefill, including Uber Eats gift cards, ultimately helping investigators confirm his phone number and address. The case has now been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

According to FinanceFeeds, security researchers have discovered an information-stealing malware targeting macOS devices that is attacking cryptocurrency users. This malware can hijack Telegram Desktop sessions, steal passwords and wallet databases, further controlling user accounts and stealing digital assets. Currently affected wallets and applications include software wallets like Exodus, Atomic, Electrum, Wasabi, and Monero.The malware is capable of extracting sensitive information from macOS Keychain, Safari Cookies, Apple Notes, Telegram Desktop, and multiple cryptocurrency wallet-related databases, including login credentials, authenticated session files, wallet data, and browser extension information. Security analysis points out that the danger of this attack chain lies in its reliance not on a single wallet vulnerability, but on collecting various types of data from the device, linking device intrusion, account takeover, wallet cracking, and mnemonic phrase theft together. Among these, Telegram Desktop sessions have become a key target.Attackers can copy authenticated Telegram local session data and restore the login on another Mac device without needing to enter a phone number, verification code, or Telegram two-factor authentication password. This means that Telegram 2FA cannot provide complete protection in this attack scenario, as the attacker is not performing a new login but is exploiting an already trusted local session. For cryptocurrency users, the risks are further amplified. Since Telegram is widely used for exchange customer service, project communities, OTC trading, and wallet communication, once attackers gain access to user session permissions, they could impersonate the victim, read private chats, locate asset information, and even spread malicious links to contacts.

Microsoft's Threat Intelligence team has announced a Windows clipboard trojan threat that has been active since February 2026. This malware combines "worm-like propagation + clipboard hijacking + Tor anonymous communication" to target digital asset users for attacks.

The Microsoft Security Blog reported that the Microsoft security research team discovered a new type of cryptocurrency stealing Trojan named Crypto Clipper. This malware has been active since February 2026, primarily spreading through USB devices that infect Windows users with malicious .lnk shortcuts. Crypto Clipper has a built-in Tor client that connects to .onion hidden services via a local SOCKS5 proxy, enabling covert C2 communication. Its main functions include high-frequency monitoring of the clipboard, stealing mnemonic phrases and private keys, replacing cryptocurrency transfer addresses, capturing screenshots and uploading them, as well as receiving remote code execution commands.Microsoft stated that this malware has worm propagation capabilities, automatically hiding original documents on USB drives and generating malicious shortcuts with the same name, while also creating scheduled tasks for persistent control. Researchers detected it as Trojan:Win32/CryptoBandits.A and recommended that users disable autorun for removable devices, restrict script interpreter execution permissions, and closely monitor localhost:9050 Tor proxy traffic and abnormal clipboard access behaviors.

According to Slow Fog's disclosure, a new variant of Shai-Hulud Hades has been found attacking PyPI. The malicious package drops a .pth file that executes automatically when Python starts, and checks if Bun is installed locally; if not installed, it downloads the official Bun binary from GitHub Releases, and then executes a multi-layer obfuscated JavaScript payload to steal credentials from GitHub, npm, AWS, and cloud services.Slow Fog stated that this variant uses the same RSA public key and infrastructure as previous Shai-Hulud attacks, and has capabilities such as encrypted exfiltration, persistence, CI/CD injection, and GitHub Actions injection.