November 28, 2024 at 02:38AM
A phishing campaign targets individuals by falsely claiming their employment has been terminated, using a legal-sounding email to induce panic. The scam preys on economic fears, spreading malware disguised as legal documents. Attackers aim to steal sensitive information, using tactics that may evolve across different platforms.
### Meeting Takeaways
1. **Phishing Campaign Overview**:
– A new phishing campaign is targeting individuals by sending emails that falsely inform them of job termination.
– The goal is to scare recipients into clicking malicious links, leading to the installation of infostealers and other types of malware.
2. **Nature of the Attack**:
– Attack begins with an email disguised as a legal notice, often containing alarming subject lines such as “Action Required: Tribunal Proceedings Against You.”
– Scammers leverage economic fears, especially during slowing economic periods, to increase the effectiveness of their campaigns.
3. **Targeted Industries**:
– Cloudflare identified 14 customers across various sectors (aerospace, insurance, state government, consumer electronics, travel, education) who were targeted by this campaign.
4. **Email Characteristics**:
– Attack emails have originated from four different email addresses believed to be controlled by the same actor.
– Emails feature the UK coat of arms and a case number to appear legitimate, urging recipients to take immediate action.
5. **Malware Delivery Method**:
– The malicious link directs users to a fake Microsoft website, targeting Windows users specifically; Mac and iPhone users cannot open the file.
– The file is disguised as a RAR archive containing a Visual Basic script that, when executed, downloads additional malware.
6. **Type of Malware**:
– Detected malware includes the Ponteiro banking trojan, which steals credentials from financial websites.
7. **Future Considerations**:
– Scammers may adapt their methods in the future, potentially using platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook for their phishing attempts.
– Continuous vigilance is necessary as threat actors are constantly iterating their tactics.
8. **Recommendation**:
– Organizations should enhance awareness and security training among employees to recognize potential phishing scams and avoid engagement with suspicious communications.