BlackBerry Identifies Top Crypto-Centric Malware Amid Escalating Cyber Threats

In its latest report, BlackBerry, the renowned former smartphone giant, reveals the primary crypto-focused malware strains that have surged to the forefront of cyber threats. During the period spanning from March to May, BlackBerry’s cybersecurity division thwarted over 1.5 million cyberattacks, pinpointing specific malware families that actively target computer systems for cryptocurrency theft and mining.

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According to BlackBerry’s findings, the sectors hardest hit by these cyber onslaughts include finance, healthcare, and government. Among the malware variants highlighted, RedLine, a commodity malware, poses a prolonged threat to the financial sector, diligently amassing cryptocurrency and banking data for illicit purposes.

Think only enterprises get hacked? If you’re a mid-market or small business, you still have a big target on your small or mid-size back. BlackBerry's @aboutsecurity shares why cybercriminals select targets based on impact & how much they're willing to pay. https://t.co/2LBlurWMiL

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) August 3, 2023

One prominent instance of cyber extortion emerged in the form of Clop ransomware, a CryptoMix ransomware lineage. This insidious software particularly targeted banking and financial institutions, being responsible for the compromising breach of Hatch Bank’s fintech banking platform.

The list of preeminent malware families compiled by BlackBerry spotlights

SmokeLoader, RaccoonStealer (also recognized as RecordBreaker), and Vidar as the leading offenders. SmokeLoader, a legacy financial rogue tool dating back to 2011, has been harnessed predominantly by Russian threat actors to infiltrate systems with crypto miners and other malicious payloads.

On the illicit marketplaces of the dark web, RaccoonStealer has gained notoriety for pilfering cryptocurrency wallet data. Meanwhile, Vidar remains a widespread tool for harvesting cryptocurrency wallets.

Surprisingly, Linux stands out as the prime target for cyberattacks across various operating systems. BlackBerry’s advice to organizations is to regularly apply security patches to safeguard against hackers capitalizing on Linux vulnerabilities for cryptocurrency mining. A novel infostealer variant named Atomic macOS has been identified, targeting macOS users specifically. It is designed to extract credentials from keychains, browsers, and cryptocurrency wallets, among other sources.

CoinTelegraph and BlackBerry’s combined efforts to uncover and expose these cyber threats underline the urgency of fortifying cybersecurity measures. Notably, OpenAI, the visionary entity behind advancements like ChatGPT and DALL-E, recently unveiled a substantial $1 million cybersecurity grant initiative. The program aims to propel the development and gauge the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cybersecurity technologies, a pivotal stride toward reinforcing our digital defenses.

Article credit: CoinTelegraph