Security News > 2020 > February > Emotet Now Hacks Nearby Wi-Fi Networks to Spread Like a Worm

A newly uncovered Emotet malware sample has the ability to spread to insecure Wi-Fi networks that are located nearby to an infected device.

If the malware can spread to these nearby Wi-Fi networks, it then attempts to infect devices connected to them - a tactic that can rapidly escalate Emotet's spread, said researchers.

"Previously thought to only spread through malspam and infected networks, Emotet can use this loader-type to spread through nearby wireless networks if the networks use insecure passwords."

Exe binary immediately begins profiling wireless networks in order to attempt to spread to other Wi-Fi networks.

Researchers, for their part, recommend blocking this new Emotet technique with the use of strong passwords to secure wireless networks.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/emotet-now-hacks-nearby-wi-fi-networks-to-spread-like-a-worm/152725/