Michael Kan@PCMag Middle East ai
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A new cyber threat has emerged, targeting users eager to experiment with the DeepSeek AI model. Cybercriminals are exploiting the popularity of open-source AI by disguising malware as a legitimate installer for DeepSeek-R1. Unsuspecting victims are unknowingly downloading "BrowserVenom" malware, a malicious program designed to steal stored credentials, session cookies, and gain access to cryptocurrency wallets. This sophisticated attack highlights the growing trend of cybercriminals leveraging interest in AI to distribute malware.
This attack vector involves malicious Google ads that redirect users to a fake DeepSeek domain when they search for "deepseek r1." The fraudulent website, designed to mimic the official DeepSeek page, prompts users to download a file named "AI_Launcher_1.21.exe." Once executed, the installer displays a fake installation screen while silently installing BrowserVenom in the background. Security experts at Kaspersky have traced the threat and identified that the malware reconfigures browsers to route traffic through a proxy server controlled by the hackers, enabling them to intercept sensitive data. Kaspersky's investigation revealed that the BrowserVenom malware can evade many antivirus programs and has already infected computers in various countries, including Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Egypt. The analysis of the phishing and distribution websites revealed Russian-language comments within the source code, suggesting the involvement of Russian-speaking threat actors. This incident serves as a reminder to verify the legitimacy of websites and software before downloading, especially when dealing with open-source AI tools that require multiple installation steps. References :
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