• Press Releases
    • Submit a press release
    • Read All
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
Crypto.com Logo Crypto.com Logo
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Btcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Btcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
Bitcoinist_Amazon
Nexo

Amazon Spear Phishing Campaign Spreads Locky Ransomware

Jp Buntinx by Jp Buntinx
6 years ago
in Bitcoin Breaking News Brief, Breaking News, Companies, News, News teaser, Technology
0

Editor’s note (5-28-2016, 1:36 PM EST): This article has been amended to add a technical correction. The attackers’ method of bypassing spam filters can be detected and prevented by email gateways with sender policy framework (SPF) enabled.

Locky ransomware has been infecting computers and networks all over the world in the past few months. Amazon customers have been deliberately targeted through malicious Microsoft Word documents to spread this malware.

5 BTC + 300 Free Spins for new players & 15 BTC + 35.000 Free Spins every month, only at mBitcasino. Play Now!

Comodo Threat Research Labs discovered this spear phishing campaign. Security researchers labeled it as one of the largest spam ransomware attacks of 2016. This attack took place on May 17 and last for twelve hours. During this time, 30 million spam messages have been sent out to Amazon users under the disguise of being an order shipment update notification.

Spreading Locky Through Amazon-labeled Emails

Bitcoinist_Amazon Spear Phishing Locky

A spam email campaign can only be successful if the emails appear to be genuine. The assailants tricked recipients into thinking these were emails originating from Amazon. This would be detected by controls on email gateways with sender policy framework [SPF] enabled. The attackers, however, cold bypass email gateway controls without this setting and deliver the Locky-infected Word files directly to Internet users. 

BitStarz Player Lands $2,459,124 Record Win! Could you be next big winner?
Get 110 USDT Futures Bonus for FREE!

According to Proofpoint, this Locky attack was spread from the US to European mail servers mainly. With legitimate email headers, users would open the email and any attachment associated with the message. Opening the document itself does not create the Locky ransomware infection, though, as users were prompted to enable macros. Once that step has been completed, the malware would download and install itself.

It is not the first time a spear phishing attack using Locky takes place. In March of 2016, there was a huge spike in ransomware distribution through spam messages. There is a growing concern over these Microsoft Office macro attacks, as they seem to be growing in popularity once again.

This wave of spam messages was not just aimed at Amazon customers, though. The assailants used a large email list in the hopes of enticing as many users to open the email. Consumers tend to forget they ordered something online, and seeing a shipping notification piques their interest. Not knowing what item this is about, they are more prone to opening the infected Word file.

Emails were sent through spam botnets running on hijacked virtual machines. Additionally, there were a fair amount of consumer PCs involved in the attack as well. Comodo Threat Research Labs mentioned how every Locky ransom message ranged from 0.5 to 1 Bitcoin.At this time, it is impossible to tell how many people have fallen for this spam message, and Amazon did not comment on the situation yet.

What are your thoughts on this new spear phishing campaign to spread Locky ransomware? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Threatpost

Images courtesy of Amazon, Shutterstock

ShareTweetShareShare

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.
Jp Buntinx

Jp Buntinx

JP Buntinx is a freelance Bitcoin writer and Bitcoin journalist for various digital currency news outlets around the world. In other notes, Jean-Pierre is an active member of the Belgian Bitcoin Association, and occasionally attends various Bitcoin Meetups in Ghent and Brussels

Related Posts

FTX Robinhood

Breaking: FTX Exploring Ways To Purchase Robinhood

3 days ago
Three Arrows

Three Arrows Capital Gets Notice Of Default On $660 Million Voyager Loan

3 days ago
Morgan Creek

Morgan Creek Said To Be In Bid To Secure $250-M To Counter FTX BlockFi Bailout

3 days ago
Harmony

Harmony Dangles $1M Reward For Return Of $100M Stolen Funds – Is It Enough?

3 days ago
Cryptocurrency Firm Babel Finance Strikes Debt Agreement With Counterparties

Cryptocurrency Firm Babel Finance Strikes Debt Agreement With Counterparties

6 days ago
Crypto

Crypto ATMs To Be Installed At Top Hispanic Grocery Chain In 3 U.S. States

6 days ago

Bitcoin news portal providing breaking news, guides, price analysis about decentralized digital money & blockchain technology.

Bitcoin

  • News
  • Price
  • Businesses
  • Acceptance
  • Technology
  • Investment
  • Regulation
  • Reviews

Altcoins

  • News
  • Price
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Litecoin
  • EOS
  • NAGA

Categories

  • Blockchain
  • Security
  • FinTech
  • Technology
  • Trending
  • Breaking News
  • Press Releases
  • How to

Pages

  • Contact us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertise
  • Crypto Prices from Nomics
© 2022 Bitcoinist.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
  • Industry
    • Press releases
  • Price
    • Bitcoin Price
    • Ethereum Price
    • Litecoin Price
    • Binance Coin Price
    • Monero Price
    • MimbleWimbleCoin Price
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Btcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Play Games
  • BET&WIN

© 2021 Bitcoinist. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.