Topic
Kaspersky
Backblaze Responds in Minutes While reg.ru Delays Action on Banking Trojan Infrastructure
Malware & Botnets
CISA Adds Two Remotely Exploitable TrueConf Server Vulnerabilities to KEV Catalog
Vulnerabilities & Exploits
Kaspersky Adds Call Filtering to Kaspersky Secure Mobility Management for Android Devices
Fraud & Social EngineeringSpyware-Laden Modified iOS Apps Distributed via Russian Telegram Channel, Kaspersky Discovers
Kaspersky researchers have identified modified versions of popular iOS applications that are being distributed through a Russian-language Telegram channel and contain a malicious spying module. The infected apps include a marketplace platform for selling goods, a photo editor, and a video viewing service, all offered as ad-free versions with extra free features. Attackers embed the spyware directly into legitimate IPA files, while some clean apps simply promote the same channel to funnel users toward the malicious downloads. Installation requires users to obtain a developer certificate and sign the app using tools such as eSign or Scarlet, or to sideload via a computer or jailbroken device, completely bypassing the App Store. Once launched, the malware collects device name, battery level, regional settings, memory information, jailbreak status, geolocation, carrier code, and screenshots before sending the data to the attackers, although it stops when the app is closed. Kaspersky advises users to obtain applications only from official stores or verified developer websites rather than random Telegram sources.
macOS Users Encounter Phishing and Scams More Often Than Windows Users but Adopt Fewer Protections, Kaspersky Study Reveals
A new study from Kaspersky Lab shows that macOS users report higher rates of phishing encounters and various scams compared to Windows users, yet they are less likely to implement basic security measures. Over the past year, 12 percent of macOS users faced phishing attempts versus 9 percent of Windows users, while 16 percent encountered investment fraud schemes compared to 13 percent. Privacy violations and personal data theft were also reported more frequently by Mac owners at 11 percent and 12 percent respectively, against 8 percent and 7 percent for Windows. Security habits differ notably, with only 51 percent of macOS users avoiding suspicious links and emails versus 62 percent of Windows users, and just 35 percent installing additional protection tools compared to 42 percent. Password practices and multi-factor authentication usage follow the same pattern, with Mac users trailing in creating unique or complex passwords and enabling 2FA. Kaspersky notes that while macOS built-in defenses handle many threats effectively, they offer limited protection against social engineering and platform-specific attacks, underscoring that the Apple brand does not serve as automatic security.
From Free Game Cheats to Arson: Cybercriminals Recruit Children for Espionage and Violent Crimes
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting children not only to steal money from parents but also to turn them into unwitting accomplices in dangerous criminal activities. During school holidays, teenagers spend more time in games and messengers where scammers offer free in-game currency, mods, cheats, and pirated game versions to build trust. Once access is gained, fraudsters extract SMS codes, bank card details, or device control, escalating to threats and blackmail when initial tactics fail. Kaspersky Lab recorded over 19 million attempts to distribute malware disguised as popular games between April 2024 and April 2025, installing spyware and RAT trojans that monitor chats, keystrokes, cameras, and microphones. In severe cases, children are manipulated into believing they assist law enforcement, leading to real-world crimes such as photographing apartments, handing over keys, setting fires, or attacking people. Specific incidents include a 12-year-old boy from Leningrad Oblast forced to assault a police officer and a 13-year-old from Podolsk ordered to ignite a gas pump at a filling station. Izvestia reporting highlights that parents should watch for signs like hidden screens or strange tasks and teach children that no stranger can demand codes, money, or secret missions.
US Accuses Russian Cybersecurity Specialist D.O. of Void Blizzard Attacks on European Governments and US Companies, Kaspersky Ties Emerge
American authorities have charged Russian information security specialist D.O. with participating in cyberattacks by the Void Blizzard group, also known as Laundry Bear, targeting NATO-aligned European government agencies and at least 11 US companies since 2023. D.O., who previously held a senior position at one of Russia’s largest cybersecurity firms widely identified as Kaspersky, did not plead guilty during a court hearing in Boston. The US Department of Commerce banned the company’s software in 2024 over national security concerns, while European agencies had issued similar warnings earlier. Prosecutors also linked D.O. to a Nizhny Novgorod IT company where he served as deputy director from 2024, although his earlier Kaspersky employment was confirmed through salary records and a former colleague rather than the indictment itself. D.O. graduated from Bauman Moscow State Technical University with a degree in information security, an institution previously flagged by European journalists as a potential training ground for state-linked operatives. Experts note that movement between commercial cybersecurity roles and intelligence structures occurs across countries, but D.O.’s guilt remains to be proven in court.