Atomic Stealer malware advertises itself by means of ClearFake browser updates disguised as Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari.
Anti-malware software program supplier Malwarebytes has described a brand new variant of Atomic Stealer (often known as AMOS), which is malware focusing on Apple customers. The brand new malware variant, distributed by means of the pretend browser replace supply mechanism ClearFake, advertises itself as updates for Apple’s Safari browser and Google’s Chrome browser. The malware is able to grabbing a person’s information and sending it to an attacker’s command and management server.
Jérôme Segura, senior director of menace intelligence at Malwarebytes, famous in his put up concerning the assault that ClearFake is actively being up to date and that its use of good contacts specifically makes it “one of the prevalent and harmful social engineering schemes.”
“Pretend browser updates have been a typical theme for Home windows customers for years, and but up till now the menace actors didn’t increase onto MacOS in a constant manner,” Segura identified.
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Timeline of Atomic Stealer malware
Atomic Stealer was first marketed as a malware supply possibility for menace actors in April 2023. Malwarebytes present in September 2023 that Atomic Stealer was focusing on Mac customers by means of pretend software program updates marketed on Google searches. Atomic Stealer was significantly suited to grabbing passwords and Apple keychain codes used for bitcoin wallets. Atomic Stealer also can carry bank card info.
Whereas Atomic Stealer had been focusing on Mac customers for a while, ClearFake was traditionally used solely towards Home windows machines. That is exceptional as a result of ClearFake is without doubt one of the first Home windows social campaigns made for Home windows that then expanded to not solely a unique geolocation however a unique working system. Safety researcher Randy McEoin found ClearFake in August 2023.
Safety researcher Ankit Anubhav identified on Nov. 17 that, whereas ClearFake had been seen focusing on Home windows, the Mac model is a brand new growth.
How ClearFake poses as Safari and Chrome updates
ClearFake is a sequence of malicious web sites that purport to supply updates for Safari (Determine A) and Chrome (Determine B). Potential victims will see websites posing as reputable browser updates.
Determine A
Determine B
Then, the ClearFake rip-off will ship Atomic Stealer. Victims who click on by means of to the false updates will obtain a .dmg file that may steal passwords and extract recordsdata.
SEE: Some menace actors have used Apple units for surveillance over the past 12 months, and it’s a pattern that will proceed, in line with Kaspersky. (TechRepublic)
Malwarebytes discovered that the next malicious domains are related to this menace:
- Longlakeweb [dot] com
- Chalomannoakhali [dot] com
- Jaminzaidad [dot] cm
- Royaltrustrbc [dot] com
The AMOS stealer might be recognized utilizing the next indicators:
- 4cb531bd83a1ebf4061c98f799cdc2922059aff1a49939d427054a556e89f464
- be634e786d5d01b91f46efd63e8d71f79b423bfb2d23459e5060a9532b4dcc7b
Find out how to defend towards this malware menace
Safety admins or IT professionals ought to maintain the next in thoughts to guard workers from ClearFake and Atomic Stealer:
- Maintain your group’s net safety instruments updated.
- Remind workers to not obtain functions from untrusted websites. Mac customers ought to obtain functions solely from the Mac App Retailer or company-approved areas.
- Talk clearly about anticipated browser updates and different software updates.
