Rahul Zota’s Post

North Korea actors use OtterCookie malware in Contagious Interview campaign: North Korea-linked threat actors are using the OtterCookie backdoor to target software developers with fake job offers. North Korea-linked threat actors were spotted using new malware called OtterCookie as part of the Contagious Interview campaign that targets software developer community with fake job offers. The Contagious Interview campaign was first detailed by Palo Alto Networks […]

At the heart of Operation In(ter)ception lies a web of deception spun by the Lazarus Group, employing social engineering tactics to lure unsuspecting victims into their trap. Attackers disguised themselves as reputable HR representatives from esteemed industry players like Collins Aerospace and General Dynamics, dangling enticing yet fabricated job offers. The deployment of password-protected RAR archives housing LNK files marked the inception of a covert infiltration strategy. The attackers' deployment of malicious LNK files cleverly disguised to mimic legitimate processes bypassed conventional defenses and secured persistence through a series of nefarious maneuvers. The intricate dance continued as the attackers employed various techniques, exploiting legitimate tools and operating system functions to obfuscate their malicious activities. Be wary of unsolicited job offers from unknown sources. It's crucial to verify the authenticity of the sender and the job offer before opening any attachments or clicking on any links. Don't let your curiosity compromise your cybersecurity!! https://lnkd.in/eBrZJV84

#TechTerms -💡Ever encountered the method of 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 in network attacks? Swipe to read about it... Stay tuned to our channel for more such informative content. To stay updated with latest technology news & trends, visit our Knowledge Hub (blog)▶ https://lnkd.in/gQAJe4Jj For relevant job openings with us, visit our careers' page▶ https://lnkd.in/gsYs6xaX #techterm #cybersecurityawareness #securityawareness #cyberattacks #cyberthreats #password #passwordspraying #cyberawareness #cyberattack #cyberattacks #cyberthreat

Lazarus Group tricks developers to load malware via fake recruiting tests New malicious software packages tied to the North Korean Lazarus Group were observed posing as a Python coding skills test for developers seeking a new job at Capital One, but were tracked to GitHub projects with embedded malware. Researchers at ReversingLabs explained in a Sept. 10 blog post that the scheme was a follow-on to the VMConnect campaign that they first identified in August 2023 in which developers were lured into downloading malicious code via fake job interviews. For this most recent campaign, the instructions sent by the threat actor set a timeframe for completing an assignment, which was to find a code flaw in the package and fix it. The researchers said the lure was clearly intended to create a sense of urgency for the job-seeker, making it more likely that they would download the malicious package. Stay Connected to Sidharth Sharma, CPA, CISA, CISM, CFE, CDPSE for content related to Cyber Security. #CyberSecurity #JPMC #Technology #InfoSec #DataProtection #DataPrivacy #ThreatIntelligence #CyberThreats #NetworkSecurity #CyberDefense #SecurityAwareness #ITSecurity #SecuritySolutions #CyberResilience #DigitalSecurity #SecurityBestPractices #CyberRisk #SecurityOperations 

"If it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone"... and the fact that it happened to KnowBe4, a very well known security awareness thought leader confirms that it #absolutely can happen to anyone. This case of #insiderthreat is as concerning as it is fascinating: A fake US worker who actually hails from North Korea taking a job and then trying to hack the hiring organisation from within... And they were able to do this despite KnowBe4 conducting 4 video interviews and a background check. All of that said, there are some great lessons learnt from this incident that we should all consider when designing our own insider threat defence programs. https://lnkd.in/gkXKQTkP

As with many scams, a sense of urgency and the inability to verify the identity of the person behind the request may feel unsettling. While people are generally cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources, executing code in a job interview—especially for a role they applied for—may not raise immediate suspicion. "Typically, developers include necessary packages in a requirements.txt file and import them, so adding binary versions instead should raise red flags. Additionally, if developers have excluded their development folders or paths from security checks—a common practice—they reduce the chances of security protections detecting or blocking malicious activity. To mitigate this risk, it’s advisable to use a sandbox environment for such scenarios." - Balázs Greksza, Lead Threat Response. Read more: https://bit.ly/3zpBjYr #LazarusGroup #VMConnect #cyberthreats

🚀 Day 29 of the 30-Day SOC Analyst Challenge with MyDFiR! 🚀 Today, I set up Elastic Defend, Elastic's Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution, and performed a quick investigation into malware prevention alerts. Here's how it went: Step 1: Set Up Elastic Defend Navigated to Integrations > Elastic Defend, then clicked "Add Elastic Defend." Named the integration, selected Traditional Endpoints, and added it to the existing Windows Server policy. Saved and deployed the configuration. Step 2: Monitor Endpoint Activity Went to Manage > Security > Endpoints and selected Actions for the endpoint under management. Step 3: Investigate Malware Alerts In Discover, entered malware as a query and searched for any malware prevention alerts. Also checked Security > Alerts for any recent malware-related activity and opened an alert for further assessment. Step 4: Response Action Upon finding a malware alert, I initiated a response by isolating the endpoint. This was done by: Clicking on the alert. Selecting Edit Rule Settings > Elastic Defend and choosing Isolate. Saved the changes to complete the action. Step 5: Investigate the Malware I investigated the malware that triggered the alert, following the breadcrumbs in Elastic Discover to understand the origin and actions of the malware. Conclusion: Day 29 was all about setting up Elastic Defend and testing its EDR capabilities. I successfully identified, isolated, and investigated malware activity, enhancing our incident response capabilities. #SOCAnalyst #Cybersecurity #ElasticDefend #ElasticStack #MalwarePrevention #EDR #IncidentResponse #30DayChallenge #MyDFIR #SecurityOperations MyDFIR.com

North Korean Hackers Steal $10M+ via LinkedIn Scams 1. VC Ploy: Fake investors send malware during “connection fixes.” 2. Recruiter Trap: Phony job offers with malware-laced assessments. 3. Fake profiles with Faceswap, voice changers, and portfolios. 4. Verify profiles and domains. 5. Avoid unknown downloads. 6. Enable multi-factor authentication.

North Korean Hackers Deploy OtterCookie Malware in Contagious Interview Campaign https://ift.tt/zxFpcf7 North Korean threat actors behind the ongoing Contagious Interview campaign have been observed dropping a new JavaScript malware called OtterCookie. Contagious Interview (aka DeceptiveDevelopment) refers to a persistent attack campaign that employs social engineering lures, with the hacking crew often posing as recruiters to trick individuals looking for potential job opportunities into via The Hacker News https://ift.tt/GjICDzv December 27, 2024 at 11:42AM

🚨 Cyber Alert: North Korean Hackers Target Developers with Fake Job Interviews! 🚨 Cybersecurity experts at ReversingLabs have uncovered a new campaign, VMConnect, believed to be orchestrated by the notorious Lazarus Group from North Korea. Their latest attack method? Fake job interviews! 🕵️♂️💼 The hackers are luring developers with fake job opportunities, convincing them to download malicious software disguised as coding skills tests. The malware, hidden in Python files, is triggered when the candidates attempt to complete tasks like fixing a bug in a password manager app. Notably, they’ve even impersonated major financial firms like Capital One to trick their victims. 🏦 This dangerous campaign is ongoing, with new malware detected as recently as July 2024. Developers and organizations are urged to stay vigilant and avoid executing code from unknown sources! Stay safe and informed. 🛡️ #CyberSecurity #HackerAlert #TechNews #LazarusGroup #StayVigilant