Silent Scam Calls Used to Verify Active Phone Numbers, Cybersecurity Experts Warn  Many people have answered calls from unfamiliar numbers only to hear silence on the other end. In some cases, no one speaks at all. In others, there is a short delay before a caller finally responds. While this may appear to be a simple mistake or a wrong number, cybersecurity experts say these calls are often part of a deliberate scam tactic used to verify active phone numbers.  According to security specialists, these silent calls function as a form of automated reconnaissance. Fraud operations run large-scale calling systems that dial thousands of numbers to determine which ones belong to real people. When someone answers, the system confirms that the number is active and marks it as a potential target for future scams.  Keeper Security Chief Information Security Officer Shane Barney explained that such calls are rarely accidental. Instead, they help attackers filter out inactive numbers before investing more time and resources into scams. Verified contact information has value in modern cybercrime networks, where data about reachable individuals can be bought, sold, and reused across different fraud campaigns.  Once a phone number is confirmed as active, it may be used in several ways. In some cases, scammers follow up with phishing calls or messages designed to trick victims into revealing personal or financial information. In more advanced attacks, a verified phone number could be combined with leaked email addresses from data breaches or used in schemes such as SIM-swap fraud, where attackers attempt to gain control of a victim’s mobile account.  Another variation occurs when callers respond only after a brief pause. This delay is typically caused by predictive dialing systems that automatically place large volumes of calls. These systems detect when a human answers and then route the call to a live operator. The short silence represents the time it takes for the system to transfer the connection.  Some people also worry that speaking during these calls could allow scammers to clone their voice using artificial intelligence. While voice cloning technology exists, experts say creating a convincing replica generally requires longer and clearer audio samples than a brief greeting.  However, voice cloning could still become part of larger scams if criminals already possess other personal details about a victim. Security professionals recommend simple precautions when receiving suspicious calls. If an unknown number produces silence, hanging up immediately is usually the safest option.  Another tactic is answering without speaking, which prevents automated systems from detecting a human voice. Spam-filtering tools can also help reduce nuisance calls. Applications such as Truecaller, RoboKiller, and Hiya identify numbers previously reported as spam. However, experts caution that no filtering system is perfect because scammers frequently change phone numbers.  Ultimately, while call-blocking tools can reduce the volume of unwanted calls, maintaining strong account security and being cautious with unknown callers remain the most effective ways to avoid phone-based scams.

Silent Scam Calls Used to Verify Active Phone Numbers, Cybersecurity Experts Warn #blockscamcalls #callscams #CyberPhishing

Malicious Outlook Add-In Hijack Steals 4,000 Microsoft Credentials   A breach transformed the AgreeTo plug-in for Microsoft Outlook - once meant for organizing meetings - into a weapon that harvested over four thousand login details. Though built by a third-party developer and offered through the official Office Add-in Store starting in late 2022, it turned against its intended purpose. Instead of simplifying calendars, it funneled user data to attackers. What began as a practical tool ended up exploited, quietly capturing credentials under false trust.  Not every tool inside Office apps runs locally - some pull data straight from web addresses. For AgreeTo, its feature lived online through a link managed via Vercel. That address stopped receiving updates when the creator walked away, even though people kept using it. With no one fixing issues, the software faded into silence. Yet Microsoft still displayed it as available for download. Later, someone with harmful intent took control of the unused webpage. From there, they served malicious material under the app’s trusted name. A login screen mimicking Microsoft’s design appeared where the real one should have been, according to analysts at Koi Security.  Instead of authentic access points, users faced a counterfeit form built to harvest credentials. Hidden scripts ran alongside, silently sending captured data elsewhere. After approval in Microsoft’s marketplace, the add-in escaped further checks. The company examines just the manifest when apps are submitted - nothing beyond that gets verified later. Interface components and features load externally, pulled from servers run by developers themselves.  Since AgreeTo passed initial review, its updated files came straight from machines now under malicious control. Oversight ended once publication was complete. From inside the attacker’s data pipeline, Koi Security found over 4,000 Microsoft login details already taken. Alongside these, information such as credit card records and responses to bank verification questions had also been collected. While analyzing activity, experts noticed live attempts using the breached logins unfolding in real time.  Opening the harmful AgreeTo add-on in Outlook displayed a counterfeit Microsoft login screen within the sidebar rather than the expected calendar tool. Resembling an authentic authentication portal, this imitation proved hard to recognize as fraudulent. Once victims submitted their details, those credentials got sent through a Telegram bot interface. Following that transfer, individuals saw the genuine Microsoft sign-in page appear - helping mask what had just occurred. Despite keeping ReadWriteItem access, which enables viewing and editing messages, there's no proof the tool tampered with any emails.  Behind the campaign, investigators spotted a single actor running several phishing setups aimed at financial services, online connectivity firms, and email systems. Notable because it lives inside Microsoft’s official store, AgreeTo stands apart from past threats that spread via spam, phishing, or malvertising. This marks the first time a verified piece of malware has appeared on the Microsoft Marketplace, according to Oren Yomtov at Koi. He also notes it is the initial harmful Outlook extension spotted actively used outside test environments.  A removal of AgreeTo from the store was carried out by Microsoft. Anyone keeping the add-in should uninstall it without delay, followed by a password change. Attempts to reach Microsoft for input have been made; no reply came so far.

Malicious Outlook Add-In Hijack Steals 4,000 Microsoft Credentials #CustomerData #CyberAttacks #CyberPhishing

Dozens of Government and Infrastructure Networks Breached in Global Espionage Campaign Security researchers have identified a previously undocumented cyber espionage group that infiltrated at least 70 government and critical infrastructure organizations across 37 countries within the past year. The same activity cluster also conducted wide-scale scanning and probing of government-related systems connected to 155 countries between November and December 2025, indicating a broad intelligence collection effort rather than isolated attacks. The group is tracked as TGR-STA-1030, a temporary designation used for actors assessed to operate with state-backed intent. Investigators report evidence of activity dating back to January 2024. While no specific country has been publicly confirmed as the sponsor, technical indicators suggest an Asian operational footprint. These indicators include the services and tools used, language and configuration preferences, targeting patterns tied to regional interests, and working hours consistent with the GMT+8 time zone. Who was targeted and what was taken Confirmed victims include national law enforcement and border agencies, finance ministries, and departments responsible for trade, natural resources, and diplomatic affairs. In several intrusions, attackers maintained access for months. During these periods, sensitive data was taken from compromised email servers, including financial negotiations, contract material, banking information, and operational details linked to military or security functions. How the intrusions worked The initial entry point commonly involved phishing messages that led recipients to download files hosted on a legitimate cloud storage service. The downloaded archive contained a custom loader and a decoy file. The malware was engineered to avoid automated analysis by refusing to run unless specific environmental conditions were met, including a required screen resolution and the presence of the decoy file. It also checked for the presence of selected security products before proceeding. Once active, the loader retrieved additional components disguised as image files from a public code repository. These components were used to deploy a well known command and control framework to manage compromised systems. The repository linked to this activity has since been taken down. Beyond phishing, the group relied on known vulnerabilities in widely used enterprise and network software to gain initial access. There is no indication that previously unknown flaws were used. After entry, the attackers employed a mix of command and control tools, web shells for remote access, and tunneling utilities to move traffic through intermediary servers. Researchers also observed a Linux kernel level implant that hides processes, files, and network activity by manipulating low level system functions. This tool concealed directories with a specific name to avoid detection. To mask their operations, the attackers rented infrastructure from legitimate hosting providers and routed traffic through additional relay servers. Analysts assess that the campaign focuses on countries with active or emerging economic partnerships of interest to the attackers. The scale, persistence, and technical depth of these operations highlight ongoing risks to national security and essential public services, and reinforce the need for timely patching, email security controls, and continuous monitoring across government networks. 

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ShinyHunters Claims Match Group Data Breach Exposing 10 Million Records  A new data theft has surfaced linked to ShinyHunters, which now claims it stole more than 10 million user records from Match Group, the U.S. company behind several major swipe-based dating platforms. The group has positioned the incident as another major addition to its breach history, alleging that personal data and internal materials were taken without authorization.  According to ShinyHunters, the stolen data relates to users of Hinge, Match.com, and OkCupid, along with hundreds of internal documents. The Register reported seeing a listing on the group’s dark web leak site stating that “over 10 million lines” of data were involved. The exposure was also linked to AppsFlyer, a marketing analytics provider, which was referenced as the likely source connected to the incident.  Match Group confirmed it is investigating what it described as a recently identified security incident, and said some user data may have been accessed. The company stated it acted quickly to terminate the unauthorized access and is continuing its investigation with external cybersecurity experts. Match Group also said there was no indication that login credentials, financial information, or private communications were accessed, and added that it believes only a limited amount of user data was affected.  It said notifications are being issued to impacted individuals where appropriate. However, Match Group did not disclose what categories of data were accessed, how many users were impacted, or whether any ransom demand was made or paid, leaving key details about the scope and motivation unresolved. Cybernews, which reviewed samples associated with the listing, reported that the dataset appears to include customer personal data, some employee-related information, and internal corporate documents.  The analysis also suggested the presence of Hinge subscription details, including user IDs, transaction IDs, payment amounts, and records linked to blocked installations, along with IP addresses and location-related data. In a separate post published the same week, ShinyHunters also claimed it had stolen data from Bumble. The group uploaded what it described as 30 GB of compressed files allegedly sourced from Google Drive and Slack. The claims come shortly after researchers reported that ShinyHunters targeted around 100 organizations by abusing stolen Okta single sign-on credentials. The alleged victim list included well-known SaaS and technology firms such as Atlassian, AppLovin, Canva, Epic Games, Genesys, HubSpot, Iron Mountain, RingCentral, and ZoomInfo, among others.  Bumble has issued a statement saying that one contractor’s account had been compromised in a phishing incident. The company said the account had limited privileges but was used for brief unauthorized access to a small portion of Bumble’s network. Bumble stated its security team detected and removed the access quickly, confirmed the incident was contained, engaged external cybersecurity experts, and notified law enforcement. Bumble also emphasized that there was no access to its member database, member accounts, the Bumble app, or member direct messages or profiles.

ShinyHunters Claims Match Group Data Breach Exposing 10 Million Records #ConsumerInformation #CyberPhishing #DataBreach

Multi-Stage Phishing Campaign Deploys Amnesia RAT and Ransomware Using Cloud Services  One recently uncovered cyberattack is targeting individuals across Russia through a carefully staged deception campaign. Rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities, the operation relies on manipulating user behavior, according to analysis by Cara Lin of Fortinet FortiGuard Labs. The attack delivers two major threats: ransomware that encrypts files for extortion and a remote access trojan known as Amnesia RAT. Legitimate system tools and trusted services are repurposed as weapons, allowing the intrusion to unfold quietly while bypassing traditional defenses. By abusing real cloud platforms, the attackers make detection significantly more difficult, as nothing initially appears out of place.  The attack begins with documents designed to resemble routine workplace material. On the surface, these files appear harmless, but they conceal code that runs without drawing attention. Visual elements within the documents are deliberately used to keep victims focused, giving the malware time to execute unseen. Fortinet researchers noted that these visuals are not cosmetic but strategic, helping attackers establish deeper access before suspicion arises.  A defining feature of the campaign is its coordinated use of multiple public cloud services. Instead of relying on a single platform, different components are distributed across GitHub and Dropbox. Scripts are hosted on GitHub, while executable payloads such as ransomware and remote access tools are stored on Dropbox. This fragmented infrastructure improves resilience, as disabling one service does not interrupt the entire attack chain and complicates takedown efforts.  Phishing emails deliver compressed archives that contain decoy documents alongside malicious Windows shortcut files labeled in Russian. These shortcuts use double file extensions to impersonate ordinary text files. When opened, they trigger a PowerShell command that retrieves additional code from a public GitHub repository, functioning as an initial installer. The process runs silently, modifies system settings to conceal later actions, and opens a legitimate-looking document to maintain the illusion of normal activity.  After execution, the attackers receive confirmation via the Telegram Bot API. A deliberate delay follows before launching an obfuscated Visual Basic Script, which assembles later-stage payloads directly in memory. This approach minimizes forensic traces and allows attackers to update functionality without altering the broader attack flow.  The malware then aggressively disables security protections. Microsoft Defender exclusions are configured, protection modules are shut down, and the defendnot utility is used to deceive Windows into disabling antivirus defenses entirely. Registry modifications block administrative tools, repeated prompts seek elevated privileges, and continuous surveillance is established through automated screenshots exfiltrated via Telegram.  Once defenses are neutralized, Amnesia RAT is downloaded from Dropbox. The malware enables extensive data theft from browsers, cryptocurrency wallets, messaging apps, and system metadata, while providing full remote control of infected devices. In parallel, ransomware derived from the Hakuna Matata family encrypts files, manipulates clipboard data to redirect cryptocurrency transactions, and ultimately locks the system using WinLocker.  Fortinet emphasized that the campaign reflects a broader shift in phishing operations, where attackers increasingly weaponize legitimate tools and psychological manipulation instead of exploiting software flaws. Microsoft advises enabling Tamper Protection and monitoring Defender changes to reduce exposure, as similar attacks are becoming more widespread across Russian organizations.

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How To Tell If Spyware Is Hiding On Your Phone And What To Do About It   Your smartphone stores personal conversations, financial data, photos, and daily movements. This concentration of information makes it attractive to attackers who rely on spyware. Spyware is malicious software that pretends to be a useful app while silently collecting information. It can arrive through phishing messages, deceptive downloads, fake mobile tools, or through legitimate apps that receive harmful updates. Even monitoring tools designed for parents or employers can be misused to track someone without their knowledge. Spyware exists in multiple forms. One common category is nuisanceware, which appears with legitimate apps and focuses on showing unwanted ads, altering browser settings, and gathering browsing data for advertisers. Although it does not usually damage the device, it still disrupts user activity and profits from forced ad interactions. Broader mobile spyware goes further by pulling system information, clipboard content, login credentials, and data linked to financial accounts. These threats rely on tricking users through harmful emails, unsafe attachments, social media links, fake text messages, or direct physical access. A more aggressive class of spyware overlaps with stalkerware and can monitor nearly every action on a victim’s device. These tools read messages across different platforms, intercept calls, capture audio from the environment, trigger the camera, take screenshots, log keystrokes, track travel routes, and target social media platforms. They are widely associated with domestic abuse because they allow continuous surveillance of a person’s communication and location. At the highest end is commercial spyware sold to governments. Tools like Pegasus have been used against journalists, activists, and political opponents, although everyday users are rarely targeted due to the high cost of these operations. There are several early signs of an attempted spyware install. Strange emails, unexpected social media messages, or SMS alerts urging you to click a link are often the first step. Attackers frequently use urgent language to pressure victims into downloading malicious files, including fake delivery notices or warnings framed as bank or tax office messages. Sometimes these messages appear to come from a trusted contact. Stalkerware may require physical access, which means a phone that briefly goes missing and returns with new settings or apps could have been tampered with. Once spyware is installed, your phone may behave differently. Rapid battery drain, overheating, sudden reboots, location settings turning on without reason, or a sharp increase in mobile data use can indicate that data is being transmitted secretly. Some variants can subscribe victims to paid services or trigger unauthorized financial activity. Even harmless apps can turn malicious through updates, so new problems after installing an app deserve attention. On Android devices, users can review settings that control installations from outside official stores. This option usually appears in Settings > Security > Allow unknown sources, although the exact location depends on the manufacturer. Another path to inspect is Apps > Menu > Special Access > Install unknown apps, which lists anything permitted to install packages. This check is not completely reliable because many spyware apps avoid appearing in the standard app view. Some spyware hides behind generic names and icons to blend in with normal tools such as calculators, calendars, utilities, or currency converters. If an unfamiliar app shows up, running a quick search can help determine whether it belongs to legitimate software. For iPhones that are not jailbroken, infection is generally harder unless attackers exploit a zero-day or an unpatched flaw. Risks increase when users delay firmware updates or do not run routine security scans. While both platforms can show signs of compromise, sophisticated spyware may remain silent. Some advanced surveillance tools operate without leaving noticeable symptoms. These strains can disguise themselves as system services and limit resource use to avoid attention. Removing spyware is challenging because these tools are designed to persist. Most infections can be removed, but some cases may require a full device reset or, in extreme scenarios, replacing the device. Stalkerware operators may also receive alerts when their access is disrupted, and a sudden halt in data flow can signal removal. If removing spyware could put someone at physical risk, they should avoid tampering with the device and involve law enforcement or relevant support groups. Several approaches can help remove mobile spyware: 1. Run a malware scan: Reputable mobile antivirus tools can detect many common spyware families, though they may miss advanced variants. 2. Use dedicated removal tools: Specialized spyware removal software can help, but it must only be downloaded from trusted sources to avoid further infection. 3. Remove suspicious apps: Reviewing installed applications and deleting anything unfamiliar or unused may eliminate threats. 4. Check device administrator settings: Spyware may grant itself administrator rights. If such apps cannot be removed normally, a factory reset might be necessary. 5. Boot into Safe Mode: Safe Mode disables third-party apps temporarily, making removal easier, though advanced spyware may still persist. 6. Update the operating system: Patches often close security gaps that spyware relies on. After discovering suspicious activity, users should take additional security steps: • Change passwords and enable biometrics: Resetting passwords on a separate device and enabling biometric locks strengthens account and device security. • Create a new email address: A private email account can help regain control of linked services without alerting a stalkerware operator. Advanced, commercial spyware demands stronger precautions. Research-based recommendations include: • Reboot the device daily to disrupt attacks that rely on temporary exploits. • Disable iMessage and FaceTime on iOS, as they are frequent targets for exploitation. • Use alternative browsers such as Firefox Focus or Tor Browser to reduce exposure from browser-based exploits. • Use a trusted VPN and jailbreak detection tools to protect against network and system-level intrusion. • Use a separate secure device like those running GrapheneOS for sensitive communication. Reducing the risk of future infections requires consistent precautions: • Maintain physical device security through PINs, patterns, or biometrics. • Install system updates as soon as they are released. • Run antivirus scans regularly. • Avoid apps from unofficial sources. • Enable built-in security scanners for new installations. • Review app permissions routinely and remove intrusive apps. • Be cautious of suspicious links. • Avoid jailbreaking the device. • Enable multi-factor authentication, keeping in mind that spyware may still capture some verification codes.

How To Tell If Spyware Is Hiding On Your Phone And What To Do About It #Android #CyberPhishing #FinancialData