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Showing posts with label Infostealer. Show all posts
protecting sensitive data
Data Breach Data Sale data security Data Stolen Data Theft Database Leaked Database Security Infostealer Personal Data Personal Information protecting sensitive data

Startup Sells Stolen Personal Data Online for $50, Raising Alarms Over Privacy and Ethics

 

A new controversy is brewing over a U.S.-based startup accused of making stolen personal data widely accessible—for as little as $50. Farnsworth Intelligence, founded by 23-year-old Aidan Raney, is openly marketing a product called “Infostealers,” which allows customers to search a massive database of sensitive information, including passwords, browser autofill data, and private account credentials. 

According to investigative reporting by 404 Media, this information isn’t simply scraped from public directories or legally collected sources. Instead, it appears to come directly from major data breaches—information illegally obtained from hacked websites and platforms. Users can buy access through the company’s online portal, Infostealers.info, raising serious questions about the legality and ethics of such transactions. 

While services like people-search websites have long existed, Farnsworth’s platform seems to go far beyond what’s commonly available. Some of the information for sale includes usernames, passwords, browser history, addresses saved in auto-fill fields, and more—data types typically leaked only after breaches. Their advanced offering, the Infostealer Data Platform, promises even deeper access. Although not available to everyone, it can be granted upon request for uses like journalism, cybersecurity, private investigations, or law enforcement. The company doesn’t appear to require a court order or warrant for access. 

Farnsworth Intelligence makes bold claims about its reach and capabilities. Its website boasts about human intelligence operations and even claims to have infiltrated a North Korean laptop farm via social engineering. It promotes use cases like “corporate due diligence,” “background checks,” and “asset searches,” without clearly explaining how it acquires its “trillions” of data points. The lack of transparency, coupled with the open sale of sensitive data, is alarming. 

Experts argue that while security researchers and cybersecurity firms often monitor breach data to help protect users, monetizing it so brazenly is a different matter entirely. As Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation notes, “It would be illegal and unethical to sell stolen cell phones even if you didn’t steal them yourself, and I don’t see how this is any different.”  

Even more concerning is the potential for abuse. With no real verification or oversight, bad actors—including stalkers or authoritarian agencies—could exploit this platform to target individuals, especially those already at risk. The implications for personal safety, privacy rights, and digital ethics are profound. 

This development underscores how data breaches don’t just disappear—they become weapons for profit in the wrong hands.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Business Security Elasticsearch Infostealer Shellter Project Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Attackers Exploit Compromised Shellter Red Team Tool to Deploy Infostealers

 

Shellter Project, which makes a commercial AV/EDR evasion loader for penetration testing, admitted that hackers exploited its Shellter Elite product in assaults after a client leaked a copy of the software.

The exploitation has been ongoing for several months, and despite security researchers detecting the activity in the wild, Shellter has not received notification. The vendor stated that this is the first recorded case of misuse since implementing its stringent license policy in February 2023. 

"We discovered that a company which had recently purchased Shellter Elite licenses had leaked their copy of the software," Shellter noted in a statement. "This breach led to malicious actors exploiting the tool for harmful purposes, including the delivery of infostealer malware.”

Exploitation in the wild 

Security experts (red teams and penetration testers) employ Shellter Elite, a commercial AV/EDR evasion loader, to covertly install payloads inside authentic Windows binaries while avoiding EDR tools during security engagements. In addition to dynamic runtime evasion through AMSI, ETW, anti-debug/VM checks, call stack and module unhooking avoidance, and decoy execution, the product offers static evasion through polymorphism. 

Elastic Security Labs reported on July 3rd that numerous hacking outfits, including Rhadamanthys, Lumma, and Arechclient2, had been utilising Shellter Elite v11.0 to launch infostealers. Elastic researchers discovered that the activity began in at least April, with the distribution mechanism relying on YouTube comments and phishing emails. Based on the unique licensing timestamps, the researchers speculated that the threat actors were utilising a single leaked copy, which Shellter later validated.

Elastic has designed detections for v11.0-based samples, thus payloads created using that version of Shellter Elite are now detectable. Shellter launched Elite version 11.1, which will only be available to authorised clients, excluding the one who leaked the prior version. Elastic Security Labs' lack of contact was deemed "reckless and unprofessional" by the vendor, who criticised Elastic for failing to notify them of their findings earlier. 

"They were aware of the issue for several months but failed to notify us. Instead of collaborating to mitigate the threat, they opted to withhold the information in order to publish a surprise exposé—prioritizing publicity over public safety," Shellter noted. 

However, Elastic gave Shellter the necessary samples to identify the problematic client. The firm apologised to its "loyal customers" and underlined that it does not interact with cybercriminals, stating a willingness to work with law authorities when necessary.
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PylangGhost
Crypto Scam Infostealer malware North Korean Hackers PylangGhost

North Korean Hackers Target Crypto Professionals With Info-Stealing Malware

 

North Korean hackers are tricking crypto experts into attending elaborate phoney job interviews in order to access their data and install sophisticated malware on their devices. 

Cisco Talos disclosed earlier this week that a new Python-based remote access trojan called "PylangGhost" links malware to a North Korean hacking group dubbed "Famous Chollima," also known as "Wagemole.” "Based on the advertised positions, it is clear that the Famous Chollima is broadly targeting individuals with previous experience in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies," the researchers explained. 

The effort uses fake employment sites that mimic reputable businesses like Coinbase, Robinhood, and Uniswap to recruit blockchain and crypto experts in India. The scam begins with bogus recruiters guiding job seekers to skill-testing websites, where they submit personal information and answer technical questions. 

Following completion of the assessments, candidates are directed to allow camera access for a video interview, and then urged to copy and execute malicious commands masked as video driver installations. 

Dileep Kumar H V, director of Digital South Trust, told Decrypt that to combat these scams, "India must mandate cybersecurity audits for blockchain firms and monitor fake job portals.” “CERT-In should issue red alerts, while MEITY and NCIIPC must strengthen global coordination on cross-border cybercrime,” he stated, calling for “stronger legal provisions” under the IT Act and “digital awareness campaigns.” 

The recently identified PylangGhost malware has the ability to harvest session cookies and passwords from more than 80 browser extensions, including well-known crypto wallets and password managers like Metamask, 1Password, NordPass, and Phantom. The Trojan runs remote commands from command-and-control servers and gains continuous access to compromised systems. 

This most recent operation fits in with North Korea's larger trend of cybercrime with a crypto focus, which includes the infamous Lazarus Group, which has been involved in some of the biggest heists in the industry. The regime is now focussing on individual professionals to obtain intelligence and possibly infiltrate crypto organisations from within, in addition to stealing money straight from exchanges. 

With campaigns like "Contagious Interview" and "DeceptiveDevelopment," the gang has been launching hiring-based attacks since at least 2023. These attacks have targeted cryptocurrency developers on platforms like GitHub, Upwork, and CryptoJobsList.
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personal data leak
Data Breach Data Leak data security Data stealing malware Database Breach Infostealer Infostealer Malware Login Credentials Login Security Malware attacks personal data leak

Massive Data Leak Exposes 16 Billion Login Records from Major Online Services

 

A recent investigation by Cybernews has uncovered a staggering 30 separate online datasets containing approximately 16 billion stolen login credentials from services including Apple, Google, and Facebook. These data dumps, discovered through open sources, appear to be the result of large-scale malware attacks that harvested user information through infostealers. 

Each dataset contains a URL alongside usernames and passwords, suggesting that malicious software was used to collect login details from infected devices. While some overlap exists among the records, the overall size and spread of the leak make it difficult to determine how many unique users have been compromised. 

Except for one dataset previously identified by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler—which included over 185 million unique credentials—most of the remaining 29 databases had not been publicly reported before. These leaked collections are often only temporarily available online before being removed, but new compilations are regularly uploaded, often every few weeks, with fresh data that could be weaponized by cybercriminals. The exact sources and individuals behind these leaks remain unknown. 

To avoid falling victim to similar malware attacks, experts advise staying away from third-party download platforms, especially when obtaining software for macOS. Users are encouraged to download apps directly from the Mac App Store or, if not available there, from a developer’s official website. Using cracked or pirated software significantly increases the risk of malware infection. 

Phishing scams remain another common threat vector. Users should be cautious about clicking on links in unsolicited emails or messages. Even if a message appears to come from a trusted company, it’s vital to verify the sender’s address and inspect URLs carefully. You can do this by copying the link and pasting it into a text editor to see its actual destination before clicking. 

To reduce the chance of visiting malicious sites, double-check the spelling of URLs typed manually and consider bookmarking commonly used sites. Alternatively, using a search engine and clicking on verified results can reduce the risk of visiting typo-squatting domains. 

If you suspect your credentials may have been compromised, take immediate action. Start by updating passwords on any affected services and enabling two-factor authentication for added security. It’s also wise to check your financial statements for unauthorized activity and consider placing a freeze on your credit file to prevent fraudulent account openings. 

Additionally, tools like Have I Been Pwned can help verify if your email address has been part of a known breach. Always install the latest system and app updates, as they often include crucial security patches. Staying current with updates is a simple but effective defense against vulnerabilities and threats.
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Stolen Credentials
Cyber Crime Data Theft Infostealer Russian Market Stolen Credentials

Russian Market Sells Millions of Stolen Credentials

 

The "Russian Market" cybercrime marketplace has developed as one of the most popular places for purchasing and selling credentials stolen by info stealer malware. Although the marketplace has been functioning for almost six years and has grown in popularity by 2022, ReliaQuest believes that the Russian market has lately reached new heights.

Part of this spike in popularity can be attributed to the Genesis Market's demise, which left a significant gap in the market. Although the bulk (85%) of credentials provided on the Russian Market are "recycled" from existing sources, it has attracted enormous cybercrime audiences due to its diverse range of commodities for sale and the availability of logs for as little as $2. 

An infostealer log is typically a text file (or numerous files) written by infostealer malware that contains account passwords, session cookies, credit card data, cryptocurrency wallet data, and system profiling data obtained from an infected device. 

Each log includes dozens or even thousands of credentials, bringing the total amount of stolen credentials to hundreds of millions or more. Once captured, the logs are sent to an attacker's server, where they are stored for future nefarious action or sold on marketplaces such as Russian Market. 

Infostealers have become a common tactic for attackers, with numerous campaigns now aimed at the enterprise to steal session cookies and corporate credentials. According to ReliaQuest, this is evident in the Russian market, where 61% of stolen logs include SaaS credentials from platforms such as Google Workspace, Zoom, and Salesforce. Additionally, 77% of the logs had SSO (Single Sign-On) credentials.

Lumma stumbles, Acreed rises

ReliaQuest analysed over 1.6 million posts on the Russian market to chart the growth and decrease in popularity of specific info theft malware. Until recently, Lumma stole the majority of logs, accounting for 92% of all credentials sold on the Russian market. 

Lumma ruled the market when Raccoon Stealer collapsed due to law enforcement action. Lumma may face the same fate, as its operations were recently stopped by a global law enforcement operation that resulted in the seizure of 2,300 domain names.

The long-term outcomes of this operation are unknown, but Check Point said that Lumma's creators are already working to rebuild and resume their cybercrime operations. 

Meanwhile, ReliaQuests reports a significant spike in popularity of a new infostealer named Acreed, which is quickly gaining traction following Lumma's elimination. Acreed's rapid rise in the Russian market is evidenced by the over 4,000 logs submitted in its first week of operation, according to Webz. 

Acreed is similar to a conventional info-stealer in that it targets data stored in Chrome, Firefox, and their derivatives, such as passwords, cookies, cryptocurrency wallets, and credit card information. 

Phishing emails, "ClickFix" attacks, premium software malvertising, and YouTube or TikTok videos are all used by info-stealers to infect consumers. To avoid this broad risk, it is recommended that you be vigilant and use good software download habits.
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takedown
CloudFlare Cybersecurity DOJ Europol FBI Infostealer Lumma malware Microsoft takedown

Global Operation Dismantles Lumma Malware Network, Seizes 2,300 Domains and Infrastructure

 

In a sweeping international crackdown earlier this month, a collaborative operation involving major tech firms and law enforcement agencies significantly disrupted the Lumma malware-as-a-service (MaaS) operation. This effort resulted in the seizure of thousands of domains and dismantling of key components of Lumma's infrastructure across the globe.

A major milestone in the operation occurred on May 13, 2025, when Microsoft, through legal action, successfully took control of around 2,300 domains associated with the malware. Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) dismantled online marketplaces used by cybercriminals to rent Lumma’s services, while Europol’s European Cybercrime Center (EC3) and Japan’s Cybercrime Control Center (JC3) helped take down Lumma’s infrastructure in their respective regions.

"Between March 16, 2025, and May 16, 2025, Microsoft identified over 394,000 Windows computers globally infected by the Lumma malware. Working with law enforcement and industry partners, we have severed communications between the malicious tool and victims," said Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel of Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit.

Cloudflare, one of the key players in the effort, highlighted the impact of the takedown.

“The Lumma Stealer disruption effort denies the Lumma operators access to their control panel, marketplace of stolen data, and the Internet infrastructure used to facilitate the collection and management of that data. These actions impose operational and financial costs on both the Lumma operators and their customers, forcing them to rebuild their services on alternative infrastructure,” Cloudflare stated.

The operation saw contributions from companies like ESET, CleanDNS, Bitsight, Lumen, GMO Registry, and law firm Orrick. According to Cloudflare, the Lumma malware misused their platform to mask server IP addresses that were used to siphon off stolen credentials and sensitive data.

Even after suspending malicious domains, the malware managed to bypass Cloudflare’s interstitial warning page, prompting the company to reinforce its security measures.

"Cloudflare's Trust and Safety team repeatedly flagged domains used by the criminals and suspended their accounts," the company explained.

“In February 2025, Lumma’s malware was observed bypassing Cloudflare’s interstitial warning page, which is one countermeasure that Cloudflare employs to disrupt malicious actors. In response, Cloudflare added the Turnstile service to the interstitial warning page, so the malware could not bypass it." 

Also known as LummaC2, Lumma is a sophisticated information-stealing malware offered as a subscription-based service, ranging from $250 to $1,000. It targets both Windows and macOS systems, enabling cybercriminals to exfiltrate data from browsers and apps.

Once installed, Lumma can extract a broad range of data, including login credentials, credit card numbers, cryptocurrency wallets, cookies, and browsing history from popular browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and other Chromium-based platforms. The stolen data is packaged and sent to attacker-controlled servers, where it is either sold on dark web marketplaces or used in follow-up cyberattacks.

Initially spotted in December 2022 on cybercrime forums, the malware quickly gained traction. Cybersecurity firm KELA reported its rapid rise in popularity among cybercriminals.

IBM X-Force’s 2025 threat intelligence report revealed a 12% year-on-year increase in the number of stolen credentials being sold online, largely driven by the use of infostealers like Lumma. Phishing campaigns delivering such malware have surged by 84%, making Lumma the most dominant player in this threat landscape.

Lumma has been linked to major malvertising campaigns affecting hundreds of thousands of users and has been used by notorious groups such as the Scattered Spider cybercrime collective.

Recently, stolen data linked to Lumma has played a role in high-profile breaches at companies like PowerSchool, HotTopic, CircleCI, and Snowflake. In some cases, infostealer malware has been used to manipulate internet infrastructure, such as the Orange Spain RIPE account hijacking incident that disrupted BGP and RPKI configurations.

On the day of the crackdown, the FBI and CISA jointly issued a security advisory outlining indicators of compromise (IOCs) and detailing the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by threat actors using Lumma malware.


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Microsoft
Infostealer Lumma Stealer Malicious Campaign malware Microsoft

Microsoft Uncover Password Stealer Malware on 4 lakh Windows PCs

 

Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) and global partners have halted Lumma Stealer, one of cybercriminals' most common info-stealing malware tools. On May 13, Microsoft and law enforcement agencies seized nearly 2,300 domains that comprise Lumma's infrastructure, inflicting a significant blow to cybercrime networks targeting sensitive private and institutional data. 

Lumma is a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) that has been advertised on underground forums since 2022. It specialises in siphoning passwords, banking credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and other information. Its victims include individual consumers, schools, banks, and critical service providers. Between March and May 2025, Microsoft found about 394,000 Lumma-infected Windows systems. The majority of these systems were located in Brazil, the United States, and other parts of Europe.

The operation, which was permitted by the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, involved Microsoft, the US Department of Justice, Europol, and Japan's Cybercrime Control Centre. The DOJ removed Lumma's command infrastructure, while law enforcement assisted in the suspension of local networks that supported the malware. 

Microsoft is sending over 1,300 confiscated or transferred domains to its "sinkholes"—a defensive infrastructure that intercepts malicious traffic in order to detect and prevent further attempts. The insights gained from these sinkholes will help public and private cybersecurity operations to investigate, track, and neutralise Lumma-related threats. 

Lumma, which is designed to avoid detection, has been popular among ransomware gangs such as Octo Tempest (also known as Scattered Spider). It spreads via phishing attacks, malvertising, and impersonation frauds, such as a recent attack that used Booking.com to perpetrate financial theft. Lumma has been used against sectors like healthcare, telecom, and logistics in addition to financial fraud, highlighting the wide-ranging and persistent threat it poses.

“We know cybercriminals are persistent and creative. We, too, must evolve to identify new ways to disrupt malicious activities. Microsoft’s DCU will continue to adapt and innovate to counteract cybercrime and help ensure the safety of critical infrastructure, customers, and online users,” noted Microsoft in a blog post.
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Noodlophile
AI Video Generator Deepfake Infostealer malware Noodlophile

Cybercriminals Employ Fake AI tools to Propagate the Infostealer Noodlophile

 

A new family of malware that steals information, dubbed 'Noodlophile,' is being spread using fake AI-powered video generating tools that pose as generated media content.

The websites are promoted on Facebook groups with a high level of visibility and use catchy names like the "Dream Machine" to make themselves seem like sophisticated artificial intelligence tools that create videos from user files that are uploaded. The latest effort by Morphisec adds a new infostealer to the mix, even though the idea of using AI tools to spread malware is not new and has been used by experienced hackers. 

Morphisec claims that Noodlophile is a new malware-as-a-service enterprise associated with Vietnamese-speaking operators because it is being offered for sale on dark web forums, often in conjunction with "Get Cookie + Pass" services. 

Once the victim visits the malicious website and submits their files, they are given a ZIP folder that is intended to include an artificial intelligence film. Instead, the ZIP includes a fraudulently called application (Video Dream MachineAI.mp4.exe) as well as a hidden folder containing numerous files required for following phases. If a Windows user disables file extensions (which should never be done), the file will appear to be an MP4 video file. 

"The file Video Dream MachineAI.mp4.exe is a 32-bit C++ application signed using a certificate created via Winauth," notes Morphisec."Despite its misleading name (suggesting an .mp4 video), this binary is actually a repurposed version of CapCut, a legitimate video editing tool (version 445.0). This deceptive naming and certificate help it evade user suspicion and some security solutions.”

Double-clicking on the fraudulent MP4 will open a sequence of executables, culminating in the launch of a batch script (Document.docx/install.bat). The script uses the genuine Windows program 'certutil.exe' to decode and extract a base64-encoded password-protected RAR package masquerading as a PDF document. At the same time, it creates a new registry key for persistence.

Subsequently, the script runs'srchost.exe,' which executes an obfuscated Python script (randomuser2025.txt) retrieved from a hardcoded remote server address, ultimately executing the Noodlophile Stealer in memory. If Avast is found on the infected system, PE hollowing is employed to inject the payload into RegAsm.exe. Shellcode injection is used for in-memory execution. 

The best defence against malware is to stay away from files downloaded and run from unidentified websites. Always check file extensions before opening them, and run an antivirus scan on any downloaded files before running them.
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