Here’s why Telegram is becoming a tool for hackers
Threat actors are corrupting Telegram.
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What you need to know
New researchby Check Point Software Technologies' malware analyst Omer Hofman indicates thatTelegramis a growing hub for threat actor activity (viaTechRadar). Thanks to Whatsappalienating some userswith itsnew policiesand settings, Telegram’s become more relevant than ever. But where there is popularity, there is danger.
The cybercriminals in question areusing Telegramas a command and control (C&C) system for the dispersal of their digital weapons. One in particular that Check Point Research (CPR) has seen an uptick in lately is the remote access trojan “ToxicEye,” which CPR has noticed crop up in over 130 attacks just within a three-month window.
ToxicEye is spread through a .exe file contained inside phishing emails. It’s an old tactic, but it’s working well enough to get ToxicEye inside people’s computers. Once the trojan is in there, it can steal data, delete processes, hijack a machine’s microphone and camera, and encrypt files to hold them for ransom.
This malware is monitored by attackers via Telegram,where it communicateswith them via their C&C server. This server is also where it dumps its stolen data. Some specific reasons for Telegram’s popularity amongst bad guys include:
The full research report makes for interesting reading and is worth checking out if you want a more in-depth look at how innocuous apps can be co-opted for villainy.
This messaging app allows you to send private and group messages conveniently. It also lets you become Aiden Pearce from Watch_Dogs if you’re a no-good hacker up to nefarious deeds.
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Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He’s a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author ofCold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.
