Cybercrime tactics & techniques Q2 2018
A generally slow quarter reflects an overall lull in cybercrime, picking up where Q1 left off with cryptominers continuing to dominate, ransomware continuing to evolve through experimentation, and exploits making a small but significant comeback. In nearly every malware category for both business and consumer detections, we saw a decrease in volume, corroborating our general…
New Crossrider variant installs configuration profiles on Macs
A new variant of the Crossrider adware has been spotted that is infecting Macs in a unique way. For the most part, this variant is still quite ordinary, doing some of the same old things that we’ve been seeing for years in Mac adware. However, the use of a configuration profile introduces a unique new…
Google’s whack-a-mole with Android adware continues
Why can’t Google put a stop to adware on their official Android app marketplace? The analysis by Trend Micro researchers of a Trojan Android ad library dubbed Xavier tells the story. The Xavier ad library is third stage of evolution of the AdDown family, which was initially able to install apps behind the user’s back,…
Fireball: Adware with potential nuclear consequences
Advertising can sometimes be annoying — and sometimes it can be malicious. Businesses that make their money selling advertisements sometimes go too far trying to make sure you see their ads. Recently researchers found that one such business — a big digital-marketing agency — went as far as installing adware on 250 million computers running…
Adware vs. Ad Fraud: Viva la Difference!
Both earn their money in the advertising trade but they each have very different means of operation and targets. Adware and ad fraud are in basically the same business, and neither care very much how they make money as long as it keeps pouring in. But there are some major differences. To understand these differences…