The malware generally known as Latrodectus has turn out to be the most recent to embrace the widely-used social engineering method referred to as ClickFix as a distribution vector.
“The ClickFix method is especially dangerous as a result of it permits the malware to execute in reminiscence fairly than being written to disk,” Expel mentioned in a report shared with The Hacker Information. “This removes many alternatives for browsers or safety instruments to detect or block the malware.”
Latrodectus, believed to be a successor to IcedID, is the title given to a malware that acts as a downloader for different payloads, corresponding to ransomware. It was first documented by Proofpoint and Workforce Cymru in April 2024.
By the way, the malware is one among the many many malicious software program to endure an operational setback as a part of Operation Endgame, which took down 300 servers worldwide and neutralized 650 domains associated to Bumblebee, Lactrodectus, QakBot, HijackLoader, DanaBot, TrickBot, and WARMCOOKIE between Might 19 and 22, 2025.
Within the newest set of Latrodectus assaults noticed by Expel in Might 2025, unsuspecting customers are tricked into copying and executing a PowerShell command from an contaminated web site, a tactic that has turn out to be a prevalent technique to distribute a variety of malware.
“When run by a consumer, these instructions will try to put in a file positioned on the distant URL utilizing MSIExec, after which execute it in reminiscence,” Expel mentioned. “This retains the attacker from having to write down the file to the pc and threat being detected by the browser or an antivirus that may detect it on disk.”
The MSI installer incorporates a legit utility from NVIDIA, which is used to sideload a malicious DLL, which then makes use of curl to obtain the primary payload.
To mitigate assaults of this kind, it is suggested to disable the Home windows Run program utilizing Group Coverage Objects (GPOs) or flip off the “Home windows + R” scorching key by way of a Home windows Registry change.
From ClickFix to TikTok
The disclosure comes as Pattern Micro revealed particulars of a brand new social engineering marketing campaign that as a substitute of counting on pretend CAPTCHA pages employs TikTok movies doubtless generated utilizing synthetic intelligence (AI) instruments to ship the Vidar and StealC data stealers by instructing customers to run malicious instructions on their techniques to activate Home windows, Microsoft Workplace, CapCut, and Spotify.
These movies have been posted from varied TikTok accounts corresponding to @gitallowed, @zane.houghton, @allaivo2, @sysglow.wow, @alexfixpc, and @digitaldreams771. These accounts are not energetic. One of many movies claiming to supply directions on the best way to “increase your Spotify expertise immediately” has amassed practically 500,000 views, with over 20,000 likes and greater than 100 feedback.
The marketing campaign marks a brand new escalation of ClickFix in that customers looking for methods to activate pirated apps are verbally and visually guided to open the Home windows Run dialog by urgent the “Home windows + R” scorching key, launch PowerShell, and run the command highlighted within the video, finally compromising their very own techniques.
“Risk actors are actually utilizing TikTok movies which might be probably generated utilizing AI-powered instruments to socially engineer customers into executing PowerShell instructions beneath the guise of guiding them to activate legit software program or unlock premium options,” safety researcher Junestherry Dela Cruz mentioned.
“This marketing campaign highlights how attackers are able to weaponize whichever social media platforms are at the moment widespread to distribute malware.”
Pretend Ledger Apps Used to Steal Mac Customers’ Seed Phrases
The findings additionally comply with the invention of 4 completely different malware campaigns that leverage a cloned model of the Ledger Stay app to steal delicate knowledge, together with seed phrases, with the purpose of draining victims’ cryptocurrency wallets. The exercise has been ongoing since August 2024.
The assaults make use of the malicious DMG recordsdata that, when launched, launches AppleScript to exfiltrate passwords and Apple Notes knowledge, after which obtain a trojanized model of Ledger Stay. As soon as the app is opened, it warns customers of a supposed account drawback and that it requires their seed phrase for restoration. The entered seed phrase is shipped to an attacker-controlled server.
Moonlock Lab, which make clear the marketing campaign, mentioned the rogue apps make use of macOS stealer malware like Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS) and Odyssey, the latter of which launched the novel phishing scheme in March 2025. It is price noting that the exercise overlaps with a macOS infostealer marketing campaign that targets Ledger Stay customers by PyInstaller-packed binaries, as revealed by Jamf this month.
“On darkish internet boards, chatter round anti-Ledger schemes is rising. The following wave is already taking form,” MacPaw’s cybersecurity division famous. “Hackers will proceed to take advantage of the belief crypto homeowners place in Ledger Stay.”
