Security News > 2021 > December > Malicious KMSPico Windows Activator Stealing Users' Cryptocurrency Wallets

Users looking to activate Windows without using a digital license or a product key are being targeted by tainted installers to deploy malware designed to plunder credentials and other information in cryptocurrency wallets.

Deployed via cracked software, the latest attack involves the malware masquerading as KMSPico.

KMSPico is an unofficial tool that's used to illicitly activate the full features of pirated copies of software such as Microsoft Windows and Office products without actually owning a license key.

"The user becomes infected by clicking one of the malicious links and downloading either KMSPico, Cryptbot, or another malware without KMSPico," Red Canary researcher Tony Lambert said in a report published last week.

"The adversaries install KMSPico also, because that is what the victim expects to happen, while simultaneously deploying Cryptbot behind the scenes."

The American cybersecurity firm said it also observed several IT departments using illegitimate software instead of legitimate Microsoft licenses to activate systems, adding the altered KMSpico installers are distributed via a number of websites that claim to be offering the "Official" version of the activator.

News URL

https://thehackernews.com/2021/12/malicious-kmspico-windows-activator.html