Developer Releases PhishIntel Open-Source Tool for Phishing Site Analysis and Risk Scoring
A developer has released PhishIntel, an open-source Python tool for automated OSINT analysis of websites and assessment of phishing risk. The project was created after the author encountered reports of fraudsters using the classic “Mammoth” scheme with the fake brand Toplivo24 to sell gasoline, gas, and diesel at 20–30% below market price through phishing sites, netting at least 3.7 million rubles in one week.
The application runs with standard Python libraries and produces a structured JSON report after executing a single command. Core modules examine domain composition for suspicious keywords and subdomains, retrieve DNS records (A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, CAA, SOA), perform reverse DNS lookups, and collect registration data via both RDAP and WHOIS. Additional checks cover TLS certificate details, HTTP response headers, redirect chains, HTML forms, input fields, external scripts, and the presence of protective headers such as HSTS, CSP, and Referrer-Policy.
Further analysis includes static examination of JavaScript files for risky patterns (eval, fetch, cookie access, obfuscation), retrieval of robots.txt and security.txt, sitemap parsing, and historical comparison of DNS and TLS observations stored in a local JSONL file. Subdomain discovery combines Certificate Transparency logs from crt.sh with brute-force enumeration using a provided wordlist.
When optional tools and API keys are supplied, the report expands to include reputation results from VirusTotal, Google Safe Browsing, and URLhaus, dynamic browser behavior captured via Playwright, and active scans performed by Nmap, Nuclei, or ZAP. A final risk-scoring module aggregates all findings into a numeric score and severity level (informational to critical) with explicit supporting evidence.
The author emphasizes that the code was intentionally kept simple to allow easy customization. The repository is available on GitHub under the name PhishIntel, and the developer welcomes technical feedback from security practitioners on both existing functionality and potential new features.
Related articles
Avito and BI.ZONE Launch Cyberdetective CTF for Non-Technical Employees Focused on Phishing and Social Engineering
Avito's Security Awareness team, in partnership with BI.ZONE, created the Cyberdetective jeopardy-style CTF competition specifically for non-technical staff who do not write code. The three-day event targeted 104 registered participants, with 44 completing tasks and 16 achieving maximum scores across scenarios involving phishing, OAuth consent abuse, file metadata analysis, and prompt injection. Tasks awarded flags not only for investigation but also for refusing risky actions such as granting excessive application permissions or clicking suspicious links. The design incorporated MITRE ATT&CK techniques including T1566.002 Spearphishing Link, T1528 Steal Application Access Token, and T1204.004 Malicious Copy and Paste. Organizers emphasized indirect hints to help participants recognize when an object required action, avoiding the common barrier where employees fail to understand that a strange string or domain needs examination. Feedback highlighted the value of hands-on decision-making over passive lectures, though some technical employees completed the set rapidly.
Paper Mail Combined with Phishing: Russians Targeted by Fake FNS Tax Portal Copies
Russian scammers have started blending traditional postal mail with digital phishing to steal taxpayer credentials. Victims first receive official-looking paper letters from the Federal Tax Service demanding corrections to tax declarations or supporting expense documents. These letters are followed by emails directing users to a counterfeit version of the FNS personal account portal. The fake site captures login details, passwords, and other authentication data that can be reused for further identity theft and account takeovers. Senator Artem Sheikin highlighted the scheme, noting that the paper letter builds initial trust before the electronic follow-up appears legitimate. Users are advised to access tax information only by manually visiting the official FNS website or through the Gosuslugi platform without clicking any links. The attack relies primarily on psychological manipulation rather than technical sophistication.
The Human Factor in Phishing: Why Employees Wait Nine Days to Report Credential Theft
A detailed case analysis reveals how an employee clicked a phishing link, entered credentials, and realized the mistake within a minute, yet security teams only discovered the incident nine days later through an automated rule rather than a human report. The delay stemmed from immediate shame and motivated reasoning that allowed the victim to convince themselves no further action was needed, including the false belief that changing the password resolved the issue. This nine-day window left attacker sessions active, permitted potential mailbox forwarding rules to exfiltrate data, and risked rotating logs that erased forensic evidence. The article examines how corporate cultures that frame incidents as blameworthy events actively discourage reporting and turn minor phishing successes into prolonged investigations involving third parties. Recommendations include creating a no-blame reporting policy with clear boundaries, implementing one-click in-client reporting buttons, and shifting metrics from click rates to reporting speed and volume. The analysis stresses that even strong technical detection cannot fully replace rapid human signals when cultural barriers remain unaddressed.
Fake GTA and Ghost Casino Apps Flood Google Play Early Access with Scam Promises
Unscrupulous developers are exploiting Google Play's Early Access program to distribute applications that make false promises of earnings through fake games and casino experiences. These apps lack public ratings and reviews, preventing disappointed users from warning others before installation. Bitdefender reports that the scheme is heavily promoted via advertisements on TikTok, Facebook, and other social networks, often featuring deepfakes of actors, athletes, and celebrities to build credibility. Users are lured with offers of PayPal payments, cryptocurrency, gift cards, and casino jackpots, but the apps deliberately slow progress near withdrawal thresholds. After installation, the software displays generous virtual winnings that never translate into real payouts. The campaign relies on aggressive advertising and misleading interfaces to maximize installations before users realize the fraud.