Feb 19, 2023
Malicious Crypto-Themed Software Targets Investors
The threat intelligence research team at Cisco Talos has highlighted two malicious computer programs propagated by unknown sources that have been actively targeting crypto investors since December 2022. Dubbed MortalKombat ransomware and Laplas Clipper malware, these malicious programs have been stealing cryptocurrencies from unsuspecting investors, primarily in the United States, with a smaller percentage of victims in the United Kingdom, Turkey and the Philippines.
The attack works by detecting wallet addresses that have been copied onto the user’s clipboard, then replacing them with a different address. The user’s inattentiveness to the sender’s wallet address means that the attack can target individuals and small and large organizations alike.
Once infected, the MortalKombat ransomware encrypts the user’s files and drops a ransom note with payment instructions. The malicious software is propagated via a cryptocurrency-themed email containing a malicious attachment. The attachment runs a BAT file that helps download and execute the ransomware when opened.
Investors can proactively prevent this attack from impacting their financial well-being by performing extensive due diligence before investing, while ensuring the official source of communications. The figures from Chainalysis reveal that, while ransomware revenues for attackers plummeted 40% to $456.8 million in 2022, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the number of attacks is down from the previous year.
In order to protect themselves from such malicious software, investors should consider using anti-malware software such as Malwarebytes, as well as employing NFT marketing strategies such as working with a Twitter NFT marketing agency or a web3 agency to promote and sell their NFTs. This will help to create awareness of the investor’s NFTs and reduce the chances of falling victim to malicious software.
Disclaimer: All investment or financial opinions expressed by MoonLanding Media are not recommendations and are intended for entertainment purposes only. Do your own research prior to making any kind of investment. This article has been generated based on trending topics, has not been fact checked and may contain incorrect information. Please verify all information before relying on it.
