Fake Telegram Proxy Repositories on GitHub Deliver Stealer Malware to Home Users Seeking to Bypass Restrictions
Home users searching for ways to bypass Telegram restrictions are falling victim to a new wave of malware distributed through GitHub and its mirror sites. Experts from Solar 4RAYS, part of GC Solar, have identified numerous fake repositories that appear in top positions of Russian search engine results and deliver information-stealing trojans instead of functional proxy tools.
Attackers have rapidly capitalized on increased demand for Telegram proxies. When legitimate repository links disappear from search results, malicious pages immediately occupy the freed space. Users encounter familiar names, polished descriptions, and seemingly authentic project pages, leading them to download what they believe is legitimate software.
The counterfeit repositories are crafted with considerable attention to detail. Fraudsters replicate the original README files, project layout, and even the donation information of genuine developers, making the deception difficult to detect at first glance. Once executed, the payloads—identified as Salat Stealer, Santa Stealer, and similar variants—harvest browser sessions, login credentials, and files of targeted formats.
How the Infection Works
The attack chain begins with users seeking proxy solutions to restore access to Telegram. Instead of obtaining working tools, they receive malware capable of extracting sensitive data that can be used for account hijacking and further fraud. The high level of trust placed in GitHub as a reputable hosting platform significantly increases the success rate of these campaigns.
While GitHub provides the infrastructure, the platform cannot always review the large volume of newly uploaded files in real time. This gap is actively exploited by threat actors who create convincing replicas of popular utilities.
Recommendations from Researchers
Security experts advise against downloading utilities automatically. Key red flags include:
- A brand-new author account with no history
- Absence of stars, forks, or issue reports
- Lack of commit history or bug tracking
- Explicit instructions to disable antivirus software before installation
Any of these signs should prompt users to avoid the repository entirely and seek verified sources through official channels.
Related articles
Cloudflare Blocks 18.2 Million DDoS Attacks in Q3 2026 Amid Shifting Attack Patterns
Cloudflare reported blocking 18.2 million network-layer DDoS attacks between July and September 2026, marking a 208% increase from the same period in 2025. The company recorded an average of roughly 8,200 attacks per hour, with 96% lasting under ten minutes and 98% staying below 1 Gbps. Large-scale attacks exceeding 1 Tbps dropped sharply from 805 in Q2 to 251 in Q3, a decline Cloudflare links to early 2026 law enforcement actions against four IoT botnets. Attack vectors shifted notably, with CLDAP reflection falling 99.5% while DNS amplification rose 215% and UDP floods grew 122%. The United States led targeted countries, followed by China and Indonesia, while media and publishing remained the most affected industry. Mirai variants accounted for 46.5% of network-layer bytes, with new families such as Dysphoria and Evooo1Bot emerging to replace dismantled botnets.
Freshko: Open-Source Rust Tool Offers Local File and URL Scanning Without Data Upload
A developer has released Freshko, a compact 400x640 pixel desktop application built in Rust that performs quick local checks on files, folders, and URLs without sending data to external services. The tool uses YARA-X rules for file scanning, follows up to eight redirects while querying Cloudflare's filtering DNS, and scores processes for potential cryptocurrency miners based on names, arguments, and launch paths. It explicitly avoids acting as a full antivirus solution, instead providing transparent results that list any skipped items or incomplete checks. Freshko runs on macOS and Windows, keeps all scan results in memory only, and disables system proxies during URL checks to prevent DNS rebinding attacks. The project includes performance benchmarks on Apple Silicon and addresses common pitfalls such as high CPU usage false positives and incomplete disk scans. Unlike VirusTotal or Cloudflare URL Scanner, Freshko performs all file analysis locally and never makes scan reports public.
Yoba Campaign Uses Signed ChatGPT and Claude Binaries for DLL Sideloading and XMRig Deployment
Researchers at Check Point Research have uncovered the Yoba malware campaign that distributes fake desktop clients for ChatGPT and Claude through GitHub repositories. The attackers bundle legitimate signed executables from OpenAI and Anthropic with a malicious DLL that gets loaded via classic sideloading. Once executed, the loader establishes persistence using the Windows Task Scheduler and retrieves additional payloads through Telegram, DNS over HTTPS, and the Catbox file hosting service. The campaign ultimately deploys the XMRig cryptominer, which pauses mining activity when user interaction is detected to avoid detection. No compromise of OpenAI or Anthropic infrastructure was found; the attackers simply repurpose the companies' signed binaries and reputation. The operation primarily targets home users and small-to-medium businesses with Windows systems.
uCreator Spyware Infiltrates Modified Telegram, WeChat and GCash Builds on Android
Security researcher Ovi has published a detailed analysis of uCreator, also known as YingGai, a commercial Android spyware platform designed for surveillance and remote app control. The malware intercepts messages, verification codes and account data directly inside legitimate applications without requiring root privileges. Infection vectors include tampered Telegram, WeChat and GCash APKs distributed through unofficial sources, as well as the Onion Box container that launches the target app inside a controlled environment. Once active, uCreator hooks into the host process, reads Telegram’s local message database through client interfaces, captures two-factor authentication passwords and hides its own session from the user. The operation is supported by cloud-based command panels and exposed GitLab repositories that revealed server-side code and development history. Compatibility problems have been noted on Android 17, and the total number of victims remains unknown.