Crypto-Stealing Virus Found in Torrented Movie File, Targeting Windows

[Pegasus]

A package of extensive exploits found in a fake copy of a torrented movie falsifies search results and redirects cryptocurrency payments, if it can, reports the security website Bleepingcomputer.com.

The exploit suite, found in a fake copy of the movie The Girl in the Spider’s Web (garnering a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes), targets the Windows operating system only. While very robust, the exploit can only target fast-clickers, as the malicious file is not even a media playing filetype, but instead a .LNK shortcut. Bleepingcomputer cited security experts in saying that “weaponized .LNK files are common in pirated content.”

The file opens many attack vectors. One of them produces fake ads and search results on Google and Yandex, by hijacking both Chrome and Firefox browsers to do its bidding, and downloads extensions it needs to function. It deviously redirects searches for things like “spyware” to custom, fake anti-spyware software which is in fact yet more malicious software.

Wikipedia is also targeted when users visit the site, with a fake donation box injected into the page that appears presenting bitcoin and ether addresses (neither has seemed to phish too much coin).

The exploit specifically targets crypto, too, by scanning websites for crypto addresses and replacing them with the attackers’ own addresses. The user, probably not noticing anything wrong, could then simply copy the wrong address into a transaction field. To protect themselves from these attacks, users are always advised to double check the addresses they're sending funds to.

Security in General

CryptoGlobe recently reported on the persisting vulnerability of South Korean exchanges, despite passing government-led security audits. Another report from ICORating, released only a week ago, claimed that a mere 16% of the top 135 cryptoasset exchanges got top marks on security. The majority of exchanges, the report found, had significant security oversites - including some big ones like Binance.

The overall trend of security involving cryptocurrency is that so-called “cryptojacking” - hijacking an unwitting user’s computer and using it to surreptitiously mine cryptocurrency (usually Monero) - is on the wane, while data theft targeting public and private organizations - a style of attack known as “ransomware" - is on the rise.

Businesses and other entities are often targeted by ransomware attacks by having their vital data encrypted, with attackers demanding cryptocurrency payments for the decryption keys.

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