Cisco Talos releases its Q2 IR trends report, ransomware groups target ESXi flaw, and scammers exploit GenAI in domain registration and network attacks.

In a notable development in the cybersecurity landscape, the emerging threat group known as Hunters International has added a novel remote access Trojan (RAT) to its arsenal. This group, which has quickly ascended the ranks of ransomware operators, is using the RAT, dubbed SharpRhino, to target IT professionals. Disguised as a legitimate network administration tool, SharpRhino facilitates initial access and persistence on targeted networks, setting the stage for ransomware attacks.

Researchers at Malwarebytes spotted a malvertising campaign that abused Google Ads to target people searching for Google Authenticator. If someone typed “Google Authenticator” into Google, the malicious ad would be at the top of the search results. The ad copied the website description from the real Google Authenticator, but would redirect users to a phishing site. “We can follow what happens when you click on the ad by monitoring web traffic,” the researchers explain.

Quasar RAT, also known as xRAT, is a malicious remote access trojan (RAT) that primarily targets Windows systems. Developed as an open-source project around 2015, it quickly garnered attention in the cybersecurity community due to its flexibility and ease of modification. Quasar RAT allows cybercriminals to gain unauthorized remote access to infected computers, making it a potent tool for espionage and theft. How Quasar RAT Operates.

In the last few weeks, there have been a few announcements made about a new malware threat known as FrostyGoop or BUSTLEBERM (as it was originally tracked by Mandiant). It is being recognized as the first custom malware to integrate Modbus for the purpose of causing physical damage. An associated incident has been reported where the malware was used to disrupt heating in Ukrainian homes in the context of a Russian cyberattack.

The staggering sum of US $75 million has reportedly been paid to a ransomware gang in what is believed to be the largest known ransom payment made by a cyber attack victim since records began. Researchers at Zscaler claim in a new report that the record-breaking figure was paid by an undisclosed Fortune 50 company to the Dark Angels ransomware group.

Read also: A Coinbase hacker jailed for a $900K crypto scam, a North Korean hacker indicted for ransomware attacks on hospitals, and more.

Evasive Panda deploys new versions of Macma backdoor and Nightdoor, cybercriminals work independently after RaaS takedowns, and a new Linux Play variant targets VMware ESXi systems.

Ransomware attacks continue to pose a growing threat to organizations as it has emerged as the number one threat, affecting 66% of organizations in 2023 and pulling over $1 billion from the victims. These attacks have increased in frequency and sophistication, resulting in significant financial loss, operation disruption, theft of sensitive data, and reduced productivity rates. Also, it damages the organization's reputation and results in the loss of customer trust and compliance violations.