Technology
Your Gmail or Outlook could be HACKED for $800, Microsoft warns
MICROSOFT has issued a chilling warning to fans of Gmail and Outlook.
Security researchers at the US tech behemoth identified a large-scale scam operation targeting users of the popular email platforms.
AlamyGmail and Outlook users are being targeted by hackers[/caption]
The phishing campaign is targeting both individuals and organisations in an attempt to rob people of their hard-earned cash.
In a report published Tuesday, the researchers detaied how the scam, dubbed BulletProofLink by the team, fleeced unsuspecting victims.
BulletProofLink is a service is currently advertised on underground cybercrime forums.
For the price of $800, crooks can buy phishing kits, email templates, hosting, and automated services at a relatively low cost.
They can then use the tools to target victims around the world with phishing emails, which use social engineering to fool victims.
Phishing attacks commonly pose as a trusted company, such as your bank, in order to get money or private information from you.
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“With over 100 available phishing templates that mimic known brands and services, the BulletProofLink operation is responsible for many of the phishing campaigns that impact enterprises today,” Microsoft said.
“BulletProofLink is used by multiple attacker groups in either one-off or monthly subscription-based business models, creating a steady revenue stream for its operators.”
Once a payign customer has registered, BulletProofLink operators handle everything else for them, Microsoft said.
Services include setting up a web page to host the phishing site, sending the phishing emails to desired victims and collecting credentials from attacks.
Many of the attacks involved stealing logins to other website and services. These can then be sold on the dark web.
It’s thought that BulletProofLink has over 1,600 members, “all potential buyers of the stolen passwords and phishing services.”
Microsoft published the findings to warn the wider security community of the existence of the group.
“As part of our commitment to improve protection for all, we are sharing these findings so the broader community can build on them and use them to enhance email filtering rules as well as threat detection technologies like sandboxes to better catch these threats,” the company said.
AlamyThe attackers are attempting to rob people of their hard-earned cash[/caption]
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