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Showing posts with label Credential stealing. Show all posts
Password Security
Account security Account Takeover Compromised Passwords Credential stealing Cyber Security Cyberattacks data security Password Security

Why the Leak of 16 Billion Passwords Remains a Live Cybersecurity Threat in 2025

 

As the year 2025 comes to an end people are still talking about a problem with cybersecurity. This problem is really big. It is still causing trouble. A lot of passwords and login credentials were exposed. We are talking about 16 billion of them. People first found out about this problem earlier, in the year.. The problem is not going away. Experts who know about security say that these passwords and credentials are being used again in cyberattacks. So the problem is not something that happened a time ago it is still something that is happening now with the cybersecurity incident and the exposure of these 16 billion passwords and login credentials. 

The big problem is that people who do bad things on the internet use something called credential stuffing attacks. This is when they try to log in to lots of websites using usernames and passwords that they got from somewhere else. They do this because lots of people use the password for lots of different things. So even if the bad people got the passwords a time ago they can still use them to get into accounts. If people did not change their passwords after the bad people got them then their accounts are still not safe today. Credential stuffing attacks are a deal because of this. Credential stuffing attacks can get into accounts if the passwords are not changed. 

Recently people who keep an eye on these things have noticed that there has been a lot credential stuffing going on towards the end of the year. The people who study this stuff saw an increase in automated attempts to log in to virtual private network platforms. Some of these platforms were seeing millions of attempts to authenticate over short periods of time. Credential stuffing attacks, like these use computers to try a lot of things quickly rather than trying to find new ways to exploit software vulnerabilities. This just goes to show that credential stuffing can be very effective because it only needs a list of credentials that have been compromised to get around the security defenses of private network platforms and credential stuffing is a big problem. 

The thing about this threat is that it just will not go away. We know this because the police found hundreds of millions of stolen passwords on devices that belonged to one person. People in charge of security say that this shows how long passwords can be used by people after they have been stolen. When passwords get out they often get passed from one person to another which means they can still be used for a time after they were first stolen. This is the case, with stolen passwords. Password reuse is a problem. People use the password for lots of things like their personal stuff, work and bank accounts. 

This is not an idea because if someone gets into one of your accounts they can get into all of them. That means they can do a lot of damage like steal your money use your identity or get your information. Password reuse is a risk factor and it makes it easy for bad people to take over all of your accounts. Security professionals say that when you take action to defend yourself is very important. If you wait until something bad happens or your account is compromised it can cause a lot of damage. You should take steps before anything bad happens. 

For example you should check the databases that list breached information to see if your credentials are exposed. This is an important thing to do to stay safe. If you can you should stop using passwords and start using stronger ways to authenticate, like passkeys. Security professionals think that passkeys are a safer way to do things and they can really reduce the risk of something bad happening to your Security. Checking for exposed credentials and using passkeys are ways to defend yourself and stay safe from people who might try to hurt you or your Security. When we talk about accounts that still use passwords experts say we should use password managers. 

These managers help us create and store passwords for each service. This way if someone gets one of our passwords they cannot use it to get into our accounts. Password managers make sure we have strong passwords for each service so if one password is leaked it does not affect our other accounts. 

Experts, like password managers because they help keep our accounts safe by making sure each one has a password. The scale of the 16 billion credential leak serves as a reminder that cybersecurity incidents do not end when headlines fade. Compromised passwords retain their threat value for months or even years, and ongoing vigilance remains essential. 

As attackers continue to exploit old data in new ways, timely action by users remains one of the most effective defenses against account takeover and identity-related cybercrime.
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Open Source
Brute-force attack Credential stealing Data Breach data security Data Theft Golang Malicious Bots Open Source

Malicious Go Package Disguised as SSH Tool Steals Credentials via Telegram

 

Researchers have uncovered a malicious Go package disguised as an SSH brute-force tool that secretly collects and transmits stolen credentials to an attacker-controlled Telegram bot. The package, named golang-random-ip-ssh-bruteforce, first appeared on June 24, 2022, and was linked to a developer under the alias IllDieAnyway. Although the GitHub profile tied to this account has since been removed, the package is still accessible through Go’s official registry, raising concerns about supply chain security risks for developers who might unknowingly use it. 

The module is designed to scan random IPv4 addresses in search of SSH services operating on TCP port 22. Once it detects a running service, it attempts brute-force login using only two usernames, “root” and “admin,” combined with a list of weak and commonly used passwords. These include phrases such as “root,” “test,” “password,” “admin,” “12345678,” “1234,” “qwerty,” “webadmin,” “webmaster,” “techsupport,” “letmein,” and “Passw@rd.” If login succeeds, the malware immediately exfiltrates the target server’s IP address, username, and password through Telegram’s API to a bot called @sshZXC_bot, which forwards the stolen information to a user identified as @io_ping. Since Telegram communications are encrypted via HTTPS, the credential theft blends into ordinary web traffic, making detection much more difficult. 

The design of the tool helps it remain stealthy while maximizing efficiency. To bypass host identity checks, the module disables SSH host key verification by setting ssh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey as its callback. It continuously generates IPv4 addresses while attempting concurrent logins in an endless loop, increasing the chances of finding vulnerable servers. Interestingly, once it captures valid credentials for the first time, the malware terminates itself. This tactic minimizes its exposure, helping it avoid detection by defenders monitoring for sustained brute-force activity. 

Archival evidence suggests that the creator of this package has been active in the underground hacking community for years. Records link the developer to the release of multiple offensive tools, including an IP port scanner, an Instagram parser, and Selica-C2, a PHP-based botnet for command-and-control operations. Associated videos show tutorials on exploiting Telegram bots and launching SMS bomber attacks on Russian platforms. Analysts believe the attacker is likely of Russian origin, based on the language, platforms, and content of their activity. 

Security researchers warn that this Trojanized Go module represents a clear supply chain risk. Developers who unknowingly integrate it into their projects could unintentionally expose sensitive credentials to attackers, since the exfiltration traffic is hidden within legitimate encrypted HTTPS connections. This case underscores the growing threat of malicious open-source packages being planted in widely used ecosystems, where unsuspecting developers become conduits for large-scale credential theft.
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Monero Miner
Credential stealing Cyber Attacks Cybersecurity Researchers data security Data Theft Hacker attack Hackers Malware Attack Monero Monero Miner

Hackers Infect Security Researchers with Malware to Steal WordPress Credentials

 

For the past year, a cyberattack campaign has been targeting security professionals, including red teamers, penetration testers, and researchers, infecting their systems with malware. The malicious software has been used to steal WordPress credentials and sensitive data while also installing cryptominers on compromised devices. Over 390,000 WordPress accounts have been affected, and multiple systems have been found mining Monero, a cryptocurrency favored for its anonymity.  

Researchers from Datadog Security Labs uncovered the attack in the NPM package repository and on GitHub. Checkmarx, another cybersecurity organization, also recently raised concerns about the same threat. The malicious package masqueraded as an XML-RPC implementation, first appearing in October 2023. Initially functional and legitimate, the package was updated 16 times before being identified as harmful in November 2024. The attackers adopted a calculated approach to gain trust within the developer community. Early versions of the package performed as advertised, but later updates introduced malicious functionality. 

Once installed, the malware activated every 12 hours, collecting sensitive information such as SSH keys and command-line histories. The stolen data was then exfiltrated through file-sharing platforms like Dropbox or File.io. This campaign’s impact extended further as unsuspecting security professionals integrated the compromised package into their own tools and projects. This turned the operation into a large-scale supply chain attack, increasing its reach and potential damage. The investigation revealed 68 systems actively mining Monero, likely using XMRig, a cryptomining tool commonly employed by cybercriminals. 

Monero’s untraceable nature makes it particularly appealing to threat actors. Despite extensive analysis, the identity of those behind the campaign remains unknown. The researchers assigned the group the identifier MUT-1224, an acronym for “Mysterious Unattributed Threat.” The incident highlights the persistent vulnerabilities in open-source software platforms, such as NPM and GitHub, which continue to be exploited for cyberattacks. Developers are urged to exercise caution when incorporating third-party software into their projects, thoroughly vetting code repositories and reviewing package histories to minimize risks. This malware campaign also underscores the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, who are increasingly leveraging supply chain vulnerabilities to expand their reach. 

By infiltrating widely used platforms and tools, attackers can affect a vast number of users and systems. To mitigate these threats, organizations must prioritize robust security practices, including regular monitoring of open-source dependencies, deploying tools for detecting malicious code, and educating teams on the risks associated with third-party software. This proactive approach is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining system integrity in an era of increasingly complex cyber threats.
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Malware attacks
Credential stealing Cyber Attacks Cyber Criminals Cyber Security Data data stealing Data stealing malware Kaspersky Malware attacks

Data-Stealing Malware Infections Surge by 600% in Three Years, Kaspersky Reports

 

The digital landscape has become increasingly treacherous, with a startling surge in data-stealing malware compromising millions of devices worldwide. According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, the number of devices infected with data-stealing malware has skyrocketed by over 600% in the past three years alone. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard personal and corporate data in an era plagued by relentless cyber threats. 

Kaspersky's Digital Footprint Intelligence data paints a grim picture, revealing that the number of compromised devices reached a staggering 10 million in 2023, marking a 643% increase since 2020. The threat posed by data-stealers has escalated exponentially, posing a significant risk to both consumers and businesses alike. What's particularly concerning is the sheer volume of log-in credentials pilfered by cybercriminals from infected devices. 

On average, each compromised device surrenders a staggering 50.9 log-in credentials, encompassing a wide array of sensitive accounts ranging from social media and online banking services to cryptocurrency wallets and email accounts. This abundance of stolen credentials fuels the illicit underground economy, where cybercriminals peddle stolen data for profit. The actual scope of the problem may be even more extensive than reported, as Kaspersky's data draws insights from infostealer malware log files traded on underground markets. 

The clandestine nature of these transactions makes it challenging to quantify the full extent of the threat landscape accurately. According to Sergey Shcherbel, a cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence, the dark-web value of log files containing login credentials varies depending on their appeal and the method of sale. These credentials may be sold through subscription services, aggregators catering to specific requests, or exclusive shops offering freshly acquired login credentials to select buyers. 

Prices typically start at $10 per log file, highlighting the lucrative nature of stolen data in the cyber underground. The impact of data-stealing malware extends beyond individual devices, with a staggering 443,000 websites worldwide falling victim to compromised credentials in the past five years alone. In the .in domain associated with India, compromised accounts surged to over 8 million in 2023, underscoring the global reach and pervasive nature of the threat. 

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, organizations and individuals must prioritize cybersecurity as a fundamental aspect of their digital hygiene practices. Proactive measures such as robust antivirus software, regular software updates, and user education can help mitigate the risk of data breaches and protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. 

The exponential rise in data-stealing malware serves as a stark wake-up call for individuals and organizations worldwide. By staying vigilant, informed, and proactive in combating cyber threats, we can collectively fortify our defenses and safeguard against the perils of the digital age.
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Malicious actor
"IS that you" Phishing Scam CERT Credential stealing Cyber Attacks Facebook Scams Malicious actor

Facebook :"Is that you?" 500,000 People Were Victims of this Phishing Scam

 

Facebook has often been a favorite hunting ground for cybercriminals who delight in preying on the naive members of the internet community. While addressing a very prevalent fraud known as "Is that you?" cybernews has conducted research. It's a type of video phishing scam in which the attacker delivers a link to a fictitious video in which the victim appears. When you click, the trouble begins as soon as you enter some personal information and log in. 

Researchers were recently rewarded for such diligence when they received a warning from fellow cyber investigator Aidan Raney – who originally contacted them after the original results were released – that malicious links were being sent to users. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that thousands of these phishing links had been circulated via a devious network spanning the social media platform's back channels. If left unchecked, hundreds of thousands of naive social network users might fall prey to the shady connections - the "Is That You?" scam was said to have ensnared half a million victims before researchers discovered it. 

Raney explained, "I worked out what servers did what, where code was hosted, and how I might identify additional servers." "I then used this information, as well as urlscan.io, to seek for more phishing sites with similar features to this one." 

A thorough examination of the servers linked to the phishing links revealed a page that was transmitting credentials to devsbrp. app. A banner believed to be attached to a control panel was discovered with the wording "panelfps by braunnypr" printed on it. A second search using keywords led the study team right to the panel and banner designer, whose email address and password variations were also identified – neatly turning the tables on fraudsters who prey on unwary web users' credentials. 

Cybernews accessed a website which proved to be the command and control hub for most of the phishing assaults linked to the gang, known to include at least 5 threat actors but could have plenty more, using the threat actor's personal details. This gave our brave investigators a wealth of information about the culprits of the Facebook phishing scam, including the likely country of residence – the Dominican Republic.

"We were able to distribute the user list for everyone who has signed up for this panel," the Cybernews researcher explained. "We started unearthing the identities with as many people on the list as we could using the usernames on the list, but there is still more work to be done." Researchers provided the appropriate information to the Dominican Republic's Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) at the time, as evidence suggested that the campaign had started there as well.
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TA410 Group
Credential stealing cyber attack Cyber Attacks Data Theft TA410 Group

3 Hacking Teams Working Under the Umbrella of TA410 Group

 

Recently, a campaign has been discovered wherein threat actors are noted to be victimizing a variety of critical infrastructure sectors in different regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. The group that has been identified as TA410, has been using an improved version of a remote access trojan designed with information-stealing capabilities. 

TA410 is an umbrella group comprising of three teams named FlowingFrog, LookingFrog, and JollyFrog. 

In regard to the incident, the Slovak cybersecurity firm ESET has reported that "these subgroups operate somewhat independently, but that they may share intelligence requirements, and access team that runs their spear-phishing campaigns, and also the team that deploys network infrastructure." 

Following the incident, it has been observed that the TA410 shares behavioral and tooling overlaps with APT10 (aka Stone Panda or TA429) which has a history of targeting U.S.-based organizations in the utility sector as well as diplomatic entities in the Middle East and Africa region. 

Moreover, the group has also targeted many firms in different regions all across the world including a manufacturing company in Japan, mining business in India, a charity foundation in Israel, and unnamed victims in the education and military verticals. 

Im 2019, TA410 was recorded by Proofpoint for the first  time when the members of the group executed phishing campaigns containing macro-laden documents to compromise utility providers across the U.S. with a modular malware called LookBack. 

The group made a comeback with a new backdoor codenamed FlowCloud, also delivered to U.S. utility providers that Proofpoint described as malware that gives attackers full remote control over targeted systems. 

"Its remote access trojan (RAT) functionality includes the ability to access installed applications, the keyboard, mouse, screen, files, services, and processes with the ability to exfiltrate information via command-and-control," the company reported in June 2020. 

Cybersecurity firm Dragos, which is investigating the activities of the group under the moniker TALONITE, said that the adversary has a penchant for blending techniques and tactics in order to ensure a successful intrusion. 

"TALONITE focuses on subverting and taking advantage of trust with phishing lures focusing on engineering-specific themes and concepts, malware that abuses otherwise legitimate binaries or modifies such binaries to include additional functionality, and a combination of owned and compromised network infrastructure," Dragos said in April 2021.
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United States
Credential stealing Cyber Attacks Email Spoofing Phishing Attacks United States

A Phishing Attack Impersonates the US DoL in Order to Steal Account Credentials

 

Many phishing attacks seek to defraud individuals by mimicking and imitating legitimate companies and organizations. A phishing email that looks to be from an official government agency is particularly deceiving since it exudes authority. Inky discovered a harmful campaign in the latter half of 2021 that spoofs the US Department of Labor in order to steal the account credentials of unwary victims. 

In a blog post published on Wednesday, Inky describes a series of phishing assaults in which the sender address on the majority of the emails looked to come from no-reply@dol.gov, the Department of Labor's legitimate domain. A couple of the emails were spoofed to appear to be sent from no-reply@dol.com, which is not the department's actual domain. The remainder came from a collection of newly formed look-alike domains, including dol-gov[.]com, dol-gov[.]us, and bids-dolgov[.]us. These phishing emails claimed to be from a senior DoL employee in charge of procurement and asked recipients to submit bids for "ongoing government projects." 

A PDF attachment accompanying the email appeared to be an official DoL document, complete with all the necessary images and branding. On the second page of the PDF, a BID button led to what looked to be the Department of Labor's procurement platform but was actually a rogue website impersonating the department. 

When the victim closed the document, they saw an exact replica of the official DoL website. The smart phishers simply copied and pasted HTML and CSS from the original site onto the phishing site. 

The website then displays a "Click here to bid" button as the following step in the process. Anyone who clicks on that button will be directed to a credential harvesting form with instructions on how to submit a bid using a Microsoft account or another business account. The victim would be informed that their credentials were incorrect after entering them. The credentials, however, had been stolen by the attacker. If the user tried to input their credentials again, they would be sent to the official DoL page, which would further trick them. 

The phishers were able to send their phishing emails via abused servers supposedly managed by a non-profit professional membership group in the majority of these attacks (the ones in which the spoofed sender was either no-reply@dol[.]gov or no-reply@dol[.]com). 

Inky suggested a few tips to safeguard customers from this type of phishing scam, such as the fact that US government domains normally end in .gov or .mil rather than .com or another suffix, the US government does not usually send cold emails to collect bids for projects, and to check SMTP server settings. SMTP servers should not be configured to accept and forward emails from non-local IP addresses to non-local mailboxes by unauthenticated and unauthorized users.
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RedLine
Anonymous web browser Credential stealing malware RedLine

Redline Malware Stealing Web Browser Stored Credentials

 

The RedLine malware steals information from popular internet browsers such as Chrome, Edge, and Opera, highlighting why saving passwords in browsers is a terrible idea. 

This malware is a commodity information-stealer that can be obtained on cyber-crime websites for around $200 and deployed with very little understanding or effort. 

A new analysis by AhnLab ASEC, on the other hand, cautions that the ease of using the auto-login function on web browsers has become a significant security problem, impacting both enterprises and individuals. 

In one case given by the analysts, a distant employee handed over VPN account credentials to RedLine Stealer actors, who utilized the information three months later to attack the company's network. 

Whilst an anti-malware program was installed on the affected computer, it was unable to identify and eradicate RedLine Stealer. The malware attacks the 'Login Data' file, which is found on all Chromium-based web browsers and contains an SQLite database containing usernames and passwords. 

While browser password stores, that are also used by Chromium-based browsers, are secured, information-stealing malware can programmatically decode the store as long as they are logged in as the same user. Because RedLine operates as an infected user, it can collect passwords from their browser profile. 

"Google Chrome encrypts the password with the help of CryptProtectData function, built into Windows. Now while this can be a very secure function using a triple-DES algorithm and creating user-specific keys to encrypt the data, it can still be decrypted as long as you are logged into the same account as the user who encrypted it," explains the author of the 'chrome_password_grabber' project. 

"The CryptProtectData function has a twin, who does the opposite to it; CryptUnprotectData, which... well you guessed it, decrypts the data. And obviously, this is going to be very useful in trying to decrypt the stored passwords." 

Even if users decline to save their credentials in the browser, the password management system will nonetheless add an entry indicating that the specific site is "blacklisted." 

While the malicious actors may not have had the credentials for this "blacklisted" account, it does inform them of its existence, allowing them to undertake credential stuffing or social engineering/phishing attacks. 

Threat actors either utilize the obtained credentials in subsequent assaults or attempt to monetize them by selling them on darknet marketplaces. 

The emergence of the '2easy' dark web marketplace, where 50% of all traded data was taken via this software, is an illustration of how popular RedLine has become among hackers.
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