News

Hackers resort to phone calls to infect people’s PC’s with malware

The newest method of infecting your computer is not something innovative but unexpectedly conventional – phone calls. Online researchers are documenting a new malware campaign they’ve dubbed “BazarCall.” One of its primary malware “payloads” is a remote-access Trojan, which can give a hacker full control over your PC and be used to install more malware, reports The Record.

Currently, these attacks follow a simple yet very effective pattern. It all starts with the BazarLoader gang sending out email spam campaigns to selected victims.

The emails usually use lures related to offers, free trials, or subscriptions to medical, IT, or other financial services to get the targets’ attention. The emails also contain instructions for recipients to call a phone number for additional details about their offer.

If users call the number, they are connected to a call center where an English-speaking operator guides the victim through downloading an Office file, disabling Office security features and allowing the document, usually an Excel or Word file, to run automated scripts called “macros,” which download and infect the target’s computer with malware.

In an interview with The Record today, a malware researcher going on Twitter as TheAnalyst, said BazarCall spam campaigns have been taking place since January 2021.

The Analyst, who is also the person who coined the BazarCall term, told The Record that most of these spam campaigns target users with corporate or .edu email addresses and rarely go after home users that use free mail services like Gmail Hotmail or Yahoo.

Source: The Record

Read More: Sleeper malware found in nearly 30,000+ Macs.

Sponsored
Ahsan Zafeer

A digital marketing professional specializing in content-based functional areas - Ahsan Zafeer is driven by a never-ending passion for developing, nurturing, and strategizing key content aspects. He writes extensively on tech, digital marketing, SEO, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. He also serves as a digital marketing strategist and freelance consultant for globally oriented organizations. He tweets @AhsanZafeer

Share
Published by
Ahsan Zafeer

Recent Posts

VPN Ban Could Cost Pakistan’s IT Industry $1 Billion, Warns P@SHA

The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has raised alarms about the severe impact of the…

12 hours ago

WhatsApp Trials Group Chat Mentions in the Latest Status Update Feature

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature in its latest Android beta version, allowing users…

13 hours ago

PTA Chairman Confirms No Orders for Mobile Service Shutdown

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, confirmed that no…

14 hours ago

35,000 Students to Receive Free Laptops Under Punjab Government Scheme

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed…

14 hours ago

Meta Introduces New Features to Messenger: AI Backgrounds, HD Video Calls, and More

Meta has unveiled a set of new features for Facebook Messenger, designed to improve call…

15 hours ago

PTA Seeks Stakeholder Input on VPN Registration

Islamabad (21st November 2024): PTA hosted a stakeholder consultation on VPN registration, with key participants…

17 hours ago