Malware Security Alerts Weekly Report for May 17 - May 23, 2020

This week, the SpyHunter malware research team has highlighted a weekly roundup of common and critical malware threats that are currently affecting computers around the world. Take a look at this week's report and stay ahead of trending malware threats!

This Week in Malware Video

This episode discusses the following topics: Hackers behind the Maze Ransomware threat and how it has started a new trend of publishing stolen data from victims who are unwilling to pay ransom demands. Also, this episode reveals how the City of Torrance, California was involved in a ransomware attack by the DopplePaymer threat, which is another case of exploiting the stolen data of victimized computer users who failed to pay ransom demands. Lastly, this episode digs into the future of ransomware and what hackers may be conjuring up for future ransomware attacks.

Malware Security Alerts of the Week

	Mandrake Mandrake is a spyware threat that is known for targeting Android device users mostly located in Australia. The Mandrake tool is used to spy on Android users potentially collecting login credentials, contact lists, images, videos, and even banking account information, which may be sent to a remote attacker. Read more
	Mzlq Ransomware Mzlq Ransomware is a dangerous malware threat known to belong to the STOP Ransomware family, which is among the most active groups of ransomware at the current time. Mzlq Ransomware may propagate through torrent trackers, malvertising campaigns, and spam emails where it will encrypt data on an infected PC before making demands to pay a ransom for restoring of the encrypted files. Read more
	SpyNote RAT SpyNote RAT is a remote administration tool, or what some may refer to as a remote access trojan. Such a malware threat may access a vulnerable computer and modify or delete files while utilizing the system's resources to read and send messages. Other sneaky actions of SpyNote RAT make it a spyware tool that may end up revealing the actions of the infected computer to a crafty hacker. Read more
	APT35 APT35, also known as Charming Kitten, is malware defined as an Advanced Persistent Threat. Such a threat is associated with a hacking group that concentrates their efforts to attack various media organizations, human rights outfits, and even academic sectors as a battle against political and financially motivated campaigns. The actions of APT35 may divulge on government or other private data that the hacker group is against for certain personal beliefs. Read more

Do You Suspect Your Computer May Be Infected with Malware? Here’s How to Check

This Week’s Most Interesting Computer Security and Malware News

	Future Cybersecurity Warning: Mobile Malware Attacks and Ransomware Expected to Surge in 2020 The year 2020 has brought many cybersecurity warnings to fruition, such as the proliferation of ransomware and mobile malware attacks. The warnings persist in the Future Cybersecurity Warning article here.
	Premade COVID-19 Themed Phishing Templates Copy Government Websites Hackers and threat actors are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic by spreading phishing campaigns based on a pre-made phishing template that copies government websites.
	Netwalker Ransomware Operators Recruit Affiliates with Huge Payouts The hackers and cybercrooks behind the Netwalker Ransomware threat are looking to weaponize others through handsome paydays for those who wish to carry out their dirty work in spreading ransomware and push for high-dollar ransom payouts.