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Data Privacy Week is here, and there’s no better time to shine a spotlight on one of the biggest players in the personal information economy: data brokers. These entities collect, buy, and sell hundreds—sometimes thousands—of data points on individuals like you. But how do they manage to gather so much information, and for what purpose? From your browsing habits and purchase history to your location data and even more intimate details, these digital middlemen piece together surprisingly comprehensive profiles. The real question is: where are they getting it all, and why is your personal data so valuable to them? Let’s unravel the mystery behind the data broker industry.
Data brokers aggregate user info from various sources on the internet. They collect, collate, package, and sometimes even analyze this data to create a holistic and coherent version of you online. This data then gets put up for sale to nearly anyone who’ll buy it. That can include marketers, private investigators, tech companies, and sometimes law enforcement as well. They’ll also sell to spammers and scammers. (Those bad actors need to get your contact info from somewhere — data brokers are one way to get that and more.)
And that list of potential buyers goes on, which includes but isn’t limited to:
These companies and social media platforms use your data to better understand target demographics and the content with which they interact. While the practice isn’t unethical in and of itself (personalizing user experiences and creating more convenient UIs are usually cited as the primary reasons for it), it does make your data vulnerable to malicious attacks targeted toward big-tech servers.
Most of your online activities are related. Devices like your phone, laptop, tablets, and even fitness watches are linked to each other. Moreover, you might use one email ID for various accounts and subscriptions. This online interconnectedness makes it easier for data brokers to create a cohesive user profile.
Mobile phone apps are the most common way for data brokerage firms to collect your data. You might have countless apps for various purposes, such as financial transactions, health and fitness, or social media.
A number of these apps usually fall under the umbrella of the same or subsidiary family of apps, all of which work toward collecting and supplying data to big tech platforms. Programs like Google’s AdSense make it easier for developers to monetize their apps in exchange for the user information they collect.
Data brokers also collect data points like your home address, full name, phone number, and date of birth. They have automated scraping tools to quickly collect relevant information from public records (think sales of real estate, marriages, divorces, voter registration, and so on).
Lastly, data brokers can gather data from other third parties that track your cookies or even place trackers or cookies on your browsers. Cookies are small data files that track your online activities when visiting different websites. They track your IP address and browsing history, which third parties can exploit. Cookies are also the reason you see personalized ads and products.
Data brokers collate your private information into one package and sell it to “people search” websites. As mentioned above, practically anyone can access these websites and purchase extensive consumer data, for groups of people and individuals alike.
Next, marketing and sales firms are some of data brokers’ biggest clients. These companies purchase massive data sets from data brokers to research your data profile. They have advanced algorithms to segregate users into various consumer groups and target you specifically. Their predictive algorithms can suggest personalized ads and products to generate higher lead generation and conversation percentages for their clients.
We tend to accept the terms and conditions that various apps ask us to accept without thinking twice or reading the fine print. You probably cannot proceed without letting the app track certain data or giving your personal information. To a certain extent, we trade some of our privacy for convenience. This becomes public information, and apps and data brokers collect, track, and use our data however they please while still complying with the law.
There is no comprehensive privacy law in the U.S. on a federal level. This allows data brokers to collect personal information and condense it into marketing insights. While not all methods of gathering private data are legal, it is difficult to track the activities of data brokers online (especially on the dark web). As technology advances, there are also easier ways to harvest and exploit data.
As of March 2024, 15 states in the U.S. have data privacy laws in place. That includes California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Oregon, Montana, Texas, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, and New Hampshire.[i] The laws vary by state, yet generally, they grant rights to individuals around the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal data by businesses.
However, these laws make exceptions for certain types of data and certain types of collectors. In short, these laws aren’t absolute.
Some data brokers let you remove your information from their websites. There are also extensive guides available online that list the method by which you can opt-out of some of the biggest data brokering firms. For example, a guide by Griffin Boyce, the systems administrator at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, provides detailed information on how to opt-out of a long list of data broker companies.
Yet the list of data brokers is long. Cleaning up your personal data online can quickly eat up your time, as it requires you to reach out to multiple data brokers and opt-out.
Rather than removing yourself one by one from the host of data broker sites out there, you have a solid option: our Personal Data Cleanup.
Personal Data Cleanup scans data broker sites and shows you which ones are selling your personal info. It also provides guidance on how you can remove your data from those sites. And if you want to save time on manually removing that info, you have options. Our McAfee+ Advanced and Ultimate plans come with full-service Personal Data Cleanup, which sends requests to remove your data automatically.
If the thought of your personal info getting bought and sold in such a public way bothers you, our Personal Data Cleanup can put you back in charge of it.
[i] https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/insights/privacy/state-privacy-legislation-tracker/
The post How Data Brokers Sell Your Identity appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Private tech companies gather tremendous amounts of user data. These companies can afford to let you use social media platforms free of charge because it’s paid for by your data, attention, and time.
Big tech derives most of its profits by selling your attention to advertisers — a well-known business model. Various documentaries (like Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma”) have tried to get to the bottom of the complex algorithms that big tech companies employ to mine and analyze user data for the benefit of third-party advertisers.
Tech companies benefit from personal info by being able to provide personalized ads. When you click “yes” at the end of a terms and conditions agreement found on some web pages, you might be allowing the companies to collect the following data:
For someone unfamiliar with privacy issues, it is important to understand the extent of big tech’s tracking and data collection. After these companies collect data, all this info can be supplied to third-party businesses or used to improve user experience.
The problem with this is that big tech has blurred the line between collecting customer data and violating user privacy in some cases. While tracking what content you interact with can be justified under the garb of personalizing the content you see, big tech platforms have been known to go too far. Prominent social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn have faced legal trouble for accessing personal user data like private messages and saved photos.
The info you provide helps build an accurate character profile and turns it into knowledge that gives actionable insights to businesses. Private data usage can be classified into three cases: selling it to data brokers, using it to improve marketing, or enhancing customer experience.
To sell your info to data brokers
Along with big data, another industry has seen rapid growth: data brokers. Data brokers buy, analyze, and package your data. Companies that collect large amounts of data on their users stand to profit from this service. Selling data to brokers is an important revenue stream for big tech companies.
Advertisers and businesses benefit from increased info on their consumers, creating a high demand for your info. The problem here is that companies like Facebook and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) have been known to mine massive amounts of user data for the sake of their advertisers.
To personalize marketing efforts
Marketing can be highly personalized thanks to the availability of large amounts of consumer data. Tracking your response to marketing campaigns can help businesses alter or improve certain aspects of their campaign to drive better results.
The problem is that most AI-based algorithms are incapable of assessing when they should stop collecting or using your info. After a point, users run the risk of being constantly subjected to intrusive ads and other unconsented marketing campaigns that pop up frequently.
To cater to the customer experience
Analyzing consumer behavior through reviews, feedback, and recommendations can help improve customer experience. Businesses have access to various facets of data that can be analyzed to show them how to meet consumer demands. This might help improve any part of a consumer’s interaction with the company, from designing special offers and discounts to improving customer relationships.
For most social media platforms, the goal is to curate a personalized feed that appeals to users and allows them to spend more time on the app. When left unmonitored, the powerful algorithms behind these social media platforms can repeatedly subject you to the same kind of content from different creators.
Here are the big tech companies that collect and mine the most user data.
Users need a comprehensive data privacy solution to tackle the rampant, large-scale data mining carried out by big tech platforms. While targeted advertisements and easily found items are beneficial, many of these companies collect and mine user data through several channels simultaneously, exploiting them in several ways.
It’s important to ensure your personal info is protected. Protection solutions like McAfee’s Personal Data Cleanup feature can help. It scours the web for traces of your personal info and helps remove it for your online privacy.
McAfee+ provides antivirus software for all your digital devices and a secure VPN connection to avoid exposure to malicious third parties while browsing the internet. Our Identity Monitoring and personal data removal solutions further remove gaps in your devices’ security systems.
With our data protection and custom guidance (complete with a protection score for each platform and tips to keep you safer), you can be sure that your internet identity is protected.
The post What Personal Data Do Companies Track? appeared first on McAfee Blog.
SafeLine is a self-hosted WAF(Web Application Firewall) to protect your web apps from attacks and exploits.
A web application firewall helps protect web apps by filtering and monitoring HTTP traffic between a web application and the Internet. It typically protects web apps from attacks such as SQL injection, XSS, code injection, os command injection, CRLF injection, ldap injection, xpath injection, RCE, XXE, SSRF, path traversal, backdoor, bruteforce, http-flood, bot abused, among others.
By deploying a WAF in front of a web application, a shield is placed between the web application and the Internet. While a proxy server protects a client machine's identity by using an intermediary, a WAF is a type of reverse-proxy, protecting the server from exposure by having clients pass through the WAF before reaching the server.
A WAF protects your web apps by filtering, monitoring, and blocking any malicious HTTP/S traffic traveling to the web application, and prevents any unauthorized data from leaving the app. It does this by adhering to a set of policies that help determine what traffic is malicious and what traffic is safe. Just as a proxy server acts as an intermediary to protect the identity of a client, a WAF operates in similar fashion but acting as an reverse proxy intermediary that protects the web app server from a potentially malicious client.
its core capabilities include:
Get Live Demo
List of the main features as follows:
FreshRSS Block Web AttacksSQL injection, XSS, code injection, os command injection, CRLF injection, XXE, SSRF, path traversal and so on.Rate LimitingDoS attacks, bruteforce attempts, traffic surges, and other types of abuse by throttling traffic that exceeds defined limits.Anti-Bot Challengebot attacks, humen users will be allowed, crawlers and bots will be blocked.Authentication ChallengeDynamic Protection
There used to be a time when one roommate split the cost of rent with another by writing a check. Who still owns a checkbook these days? Of course, those days are nearly long gone, in large part thanks to “peer to peer” (P2P) mobile payment apps, like Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App. Now with a simple click on an app, you can transfer your friend money for brunch before you even leave the table. Yet for all their convenience, P2P mobile payment apps could cost you a couple of bucks or more if you’re not on the lookout for things like fraud. The good news is that there are some straightforward ways to protect yourself.
You likely have one of these apps on your phone already. If so, you’re among the many. It’s estimated that 49% of adults in the U.S. use mobile payment apps like these.
Yet with all those different apps come different policies and protections associated with them. So, if you ever get stuck with a bum charge, it may not always be so easy to get your money back.
With that, here are seven quick tips for using your P2P mobile payment apps safely.
In addition to securing your account with a strong password, go into your settings and set up your app to use a PIN code, facial ID, or fingerprint ID. (And make sure you’re locking your phone the same way too.) This provides an additional layer of protection in the event your phone is stolen or lost and someone, other than you, tries to make a payment with it.
What’s worse than sending money to the wrong person? When paying a friend for the first time, have them make a payment request for you. This way, you can be sure that you’re sending money to the right person. With the freedom to create account names however one likes, a small typo can end up as a donation to a complete stranger. To top it off, that money could be gone for good!
Another option is to make a test payment. Sending a small amount to that new account lets both of you know that the routing is right and that a full payment can be made with confidence.
Bye, bye, bye! Unlike some other payment methods, new mobile payment apps don’t have a way to dispute a charge, cancel a payment, or otherwise use some sort of recall or retrieval feature. If anything, this reinforces the thought above—be sure that you’re absolutely making the payment to the right person.
Credit cards offer a couple of clear advantages over debit cards when using them in association with mobile payment apps (and online shopping for that matter too). Essentially, they can protect you better from fraud:
Report any activity like this immediately to your financial institution. Timing can be of the essence in terms of limiting your liabilities and losses. For additional info, check out this article from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that outlines what to do if your debit or credit card is stolen and what your liabilities are.
Also, note the following guidance from the FTC on payment apps:
“New mobile apps and forms of payment may not provide these same protections. That means it might not always be easy to get your money back if something goes wrong. Make sure you understand the protections and assurances your payment services provider offers with their service.”
It’s sad but true. Crooks are setting up all kinds of scams that use mobile payment apps. A popular one involves creating fake charities or posing as legitimate ones and then asking for funds by mobile payment. To avoid getting scammed, check and see if the charity is legit. The FTC suggests researching resources like Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch or, GuideStar.
Overall, the FTC further recommends the following to keep yourself from getting scammed:
With so much of your life on your phone, getting security software installed on it can protect you and the things you keep on your phone. Whether you’re an Android owner or iOS owner, mobile security software can keep your data, shopping, and payments secure.
The post Avoid Making Costly Mistakes with Your Mobile Payment Apps appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Recently, news broke that over 300,000 Android users downloaded supposed banking apps from the Google Play Store loaded with trojans. These malicious apps managed to outwit the store’s security checkpoints to install malware on the unsuspecting users’ devices. It is more important than ever to stay vigilant about mobile security.
The crafty hackers behind this threat disguised their trojans as commonly searched-for apps, such as QR code scanners, fitness apps, and other popular utilities. The malicious code within these apps is specifically designed to steal banking information, record keystrokes as users enter their account details, and capture screenshots of activities carried out on the phone.
The unique feature of this malware is that it only initiates its harmful activities after being installed. Whether or not the user is aware of the malware’s presence can vary. For the malware to trigger, it needs an additional step, often an in-app update that’s not through the Play Store. This update then downloads the malware payload onto the device. In numerous instances, the counterfeit apps force users into accepting this update once the app is downloaded.
While the apps originally found on the Play Store may not have contained malware in their code, they serve as a delivery system for the payload from other servers after being installed on a user’s device. This discrete method of operation is one of the reasons these harmful apps have managed to escape detection.
The evolving threat highlights the necessity of scrutinizing app permissions and being cautious of in-app prompts, especially if they deviate from the standard update processes provided by reputable app stores. As the malware landscape evolves with increasingly sophisticated tactics, understanding these threats and adopting proactive security measures is crucial for safeguarding the integrity of our digital devices and personal data.
→ Dig Deeper: McAfee 2023 Threat Predictions: Evolution and Exploitation
Smartphones are enticing targets for hackers. They contain personal information and photos, banking and other payment app credentials, and other valuable data that hackers can exploit. The smartphone’s other features—like cameras, microphones, and GPS—can offer hackers even more invasive capabilities.
Once a smartphone is compromised, a hacker can hijack social media, shopping, and financial accounts; drain wallets by racking up app store purchases or interfering in payment apps; and even read text messages or steal photos. Understanding the nature of these threats, it is essential for users to take protective measures.
→ Dig Deeper: McAfee 2023 Consumer Mobile Threat Report
Mobile applications have become an integral part of our lives, so the responsibility of app developers to ensure security is paramount. Users entrust these apps with their personal information, from contact details to financial data, making it imperative for developers to prioritize security throughout the entire app development process.
One of the primary responsibilities of app developers is to implement secure coding practices. This entails writing code that guards against vulnerabilities and potential exploits. Developers can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches by incorporating measures like robust authentication systems, data encryption, and secure data transmission protocols. Additionally, regular security audits and testing are essential to identify and rectify vulnerabilities promptly.
App developers must also be vigilant when it comes to user data protection. This involves not only securely storing sensitive information but also safeguarding it during transmission. Properly managing app permissions is another key aspect of ensuring user data privacy. Developers should request only the permissions necessary for an app’s core functionality and explain clearly to users why certain permissions are required.
To complete the discussion, app developers play a pivotal role in safeguarding user data and overall digital security. By adhering to secure coding practices, conducting regular security assessments, respecting user privacy, and responding swiftly to vulnerabilities, developers contribute to a safer and more trustworthy mobile app ecosystem. Ultimately, their commitment to security not only protects users but also upholds the integrity of the apps they create.
McAfee Pro Tip: App developers can only protect you if you download their applications from reputable app stores like Google Play and App Store. Downloading third-party applications can increase your risk of getting malware. Know more about third-party apps.
How do these harmful apps work? By presenting themselves as legitimate applications, they can sneak onto your phone and gain wide-ranging permissions to access files, photos, and functionalities. Alternatively, they may slip in code that enables hackers to gather personal data. This can result in various issues, from annoying popup ads to the loss of valuable identity information.
Some recent instances of such malicious apps include ad-blocking programs that serve up ads instead, VPN apps that charge subscriptions but provide no protection, and utility apps that misuse system privileges and permissions, further endangering users.
To avoid falling victim to such malicious apps, there are preventive steps you can take.
While major app marketplaces like Google Play and Apple’s App Store aim to eradicate malware from their platforms, hackers, being the persistent intruders they are, can find ways around these measures. Hence, extra vigilance on your part is essential. Below are some steps to help fortify your digital security:
Be wary of apps asking for unnecessary permissions, like simple games wanting access to your camera or microphone. Read the permissions list before downloading any app. If you find an app asking for more than it should need, it may be a scam. Delete it, and find a legitimate counterpart that doesn’t request for these invasive permissions.
Apps prompting you for immediate in-app updates can be a red flag. Typically, the app version you download from the store should be the most recent and not require an immediate update. Always update your apps through the app store, not the app itself, to avoid malware attacks.
Don’t download without researching the app first. Check the developer’s track record – have they published other apps with many downloads and good reviews? Malicious apps often have few reviews and grammatical errors in their descriptions. Stay alert for these signs.
Recommendations from trusted sources or reputable publications are often reliable as these sources have done the vetting for you. This method saves you time and ensures the app’s credibility.
Stick to Google Play and Apple’s App Store, which vet apps for safety and security. Third-party sites might not have a robust review process, and some intentionally host malicious apps. Google and Apple are quick to remove malicious apps once discovered, ensuring an added layer of safety.
Given the amount of data and information we store on our phones, having security software is just as crucial as having one on our computers and laptops. Whether you opt for comprehensive security software that safeguards all your devices or a specific app from Google Play or Apple’s iOS App Store, you’ll benefit from enhanced malware, web, and device security.
Updating your phone’s operating system is as important as installing security software. Updates often contain patches to fix vulnerabilities that hackers exploit to execute malware attacks. Therefore, regular updates are a necessary measure to keep your phone secure.
→ Dig Deeper: How Do I Clear a Virus From My Phone?
Staying vigilant and proactive against mobile malware is integral to maintaining your digital security. You can significantly ward off potential threats by scrutinizing app permissions, being wary of in-app updates, critically reviewing apps, trusting strong recommendations, avoiding third-party app stores, installing security software like McAfee Mobile Security, and updating your phone’s OS. Remember, a few moments spent on these precautions are minimal compared to the potential costs and consequences of a hacked phone.
The post Before You Download: Steer Clear of Malicious Android Apps appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Spoofy is a program that checks if a list of domains can be spoofed based on SPF and DMARC records. You may be asking, "Why do we need another tool that can check if a domain can be spoofed?"
Well, Spoofy is different and here is why:
- Authoritative lookups on all lookups with known fallback (Cloudflare DNS)
- Accurate bulk lookups
- Custom, manually tested spoof logic (No guessing or speculating, real world test results)
- SPF lookup counter
Spoofy requires Python 3+. Python 2 is not supported. Usage is shown below:
Usage:
./spoofy.py -d [DOMAIN] -o [stdout or xls]
OR
./spoofy.py -iL [DOMAIN_LIST] -o [stdout or xls]
Install Dependencies:
pip3 install -r requirements.txt(The spoofability table lists every combination of SPF and DMARC configurations that impact deliverability to the inbox, except for DKIM modifiers.) Download Here
The creation of the spoofability table involved listing every relevant SPF and DMARC configuration, combining them, and then conducting SPF and DMARC information collection using an early version of Spoofy on a large number of US government domains. Testing if an SPF and DMARC combination was spoofable or not was done using the email security pentesting suite at emailspooftest using Microsoft 365. However, the initial testing was conducted using Protonmail and Gmail, but these services were found to utilize reverse lookup checks that affected the results, particularly for subdomain spoof testing. As a result, Microsoft 365 was used for the testing, as it offered greater control over the handling of mail.
After the initial testing using Microsoft 365, some combinations were retested using Protonmail and Gmail due to the differences in their handling of banners in emails. Protonmail and Gmail can place spoofed mail in the inbox with a banner or in spam without a banner, leading to some SPF and DMARC combinations being reported as "Mailbox Dependent" when using Spoofy. In contrast, Microsoft 365 places both conditions in spam. The testing and data collection process took several days to complete, after which a good master table was compiled and used as the basis for the Spoofy spoofability logic.
This tool is only for testing and academic purposes and can only be used where strict consent has been given. Do not use it for illegal purposes! It is the end user’s responsibility to obey all applicable local, state and federal laws. Developers assume no liability and are not responsible for any misuse or damage caused by this tool and software.
Lead / Only programmer & spoofability logic comprehension upgrades & lookup resiliency system / fix (main issue with other tools) & multithreading & feature additions: Matt Keeley
DMARC, SPF, DNS insights & Spoofability table creation/confirmation/testing & application accuracy/quality assurance: calamity.email / eman-ekaf
Logo: cobracode
Tool was inspired by Bishop Fox's project called spoofcheck.
A pure python library for identifying the use of known or very weak cryptographic secrets across a variety of platforms. The project is designed to be both a repository of various "known secrets" (for example, ASP.NET machine keys found in examples in tutorials), and to provide a language-agnostic abstraction layer for identifying their use.
Knowing when a 'bad secret' was used is usually a matter of examining some cryptographic product in which the secret was used: for example, a cookie which is signed with a keyed hashing algorithm. Things can get complicated when you dive into the individual implementation oddities each platform provides, which this library aims to alleviate.
Check out our full blog post on the Black Lantern Security blog!
Inspired by Blacklist3r, with a desire to expand on the supported platforms and remove language and operating system dependencies.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| ASPNET_Viewstate | Checks the viewstate/generator against a list of known machine keys. |
| Telerik_HashKey | Checks patched (2017+) versions of Telerik UI for a known Telerik.Upload.ConfigurationHashKey |
| Telerik_EncryptionKey | Checks patched (2017+) versions of Telerik UI for a known Telerik.Web.UI.DialogParametersEncryptionKey |
| Flask_SignedCookies | Checks for weak Flask cookie signing password. Wrapper for flask-unsign |
| Peoplesoft_PSToken | Can check a peoplesoft PS_TOKEN for a bad/weak signing password |
| Django_SignedCookies | Checks django's session cookies (when in signed_cookie mode) for known django secret_key |
| Rails_SecretKeyBase | Checks Ruby on Rails signed or encrypted session cookies (from multiple major releases) for known secret_key_base |
| Generic_JWT | Checks JWTs for known HMAC secrets or RSA private keys |
| Jsf_viewstate | Checks Both Mojarra and Myfaces implimentations of Java Server Faces (JSF) for use of known or weak secret keys |
| Symfony_SignedURL | Checks symfony "_fragment" urls for known HMAC key. Operates on Full URL, including hash |
| Express_SignedCookies | Checks express.js signed cookies and session cookies for known 'session secret' |
| Laravel_SignedCookies | Checks 'laravel_session' cookies for known laravel 'APP_KEY' |
We have a pypi package, so you can just do pip install badsecrets to make use of the library.
The absolute easiest way to use Badsecrets is by simply running badsecrets after doing a pip install:
pip install badsecrets
badsecrets eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJJc3N1ZXIiOiJJc3N1ZXIiLCJVc2VybmFtZSI6IkJhZFNlY3JldHMiLCJleHAiOjE1OTMxMzM0ODMsImlhdCI6MTQ2NjkwMzA4M30.ovqRikAo_0kKJ0GVrAwQlezymxrLGjcEiW_s3UJMMCo
This is doing the same thing as the cli.py example shown below.
To use the examples, after doing the pip install just git clone the repo and cd into the badsecrets directory:
git clone https://github.com/blacklanternsecurity/badsecrets.git
cd badsecrets
The commands in the example section below assume you are in this directory.
If you are using the Badsecrets BBOT module, you don't need to do anything else - BBOT will install the package for you.
Bad secrets includes an example CLI for convenience when manually checking secrets. It also has a URL mode, which will connect to a target and attempt to carve for cryptographic products and check any it finds against all modules.
python ./badsecrets/examples/cli.py eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJJc3N1ZXIiOiJJc3N1ZXIiLCJVc2VybmFtZSI6IkJhZFNlY3JldHMiLCJleHAiOjE1OTMxMzM0ODMsImlhdCI6MTQ2NjkwMzA4M30.ovqRikAo_0kKJ0GVrAwQlezymxrLGjcEiW_s3UJMMCopython ./badsecrets/examples/cli.py --url http://example.com/contains_bad_secret.htmlYou can also set a custom user-agent with --user-agent "user-agent string" or a proxy with --proxy http://127.0.0.1 in this mode.
Example output:
$ python ./badsecrets/examples/cli.py eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJJc3N1ZXIiOiJJc3N1ZXIiLCJVc2VybmFtZSI6IkJhZFNlY3JldHMiLCJleHAiOjE1OTMxMzM0ODMsImlhdCI6MTQ2NjkwMzA4M30.ovqRikAo_0kKJ0GVrAwQlezymxrLGjcEiW_s3UJMMCo
badsecrets - example command line interface
***********************
Known Secret Found!
Detecting Module: Generic_JWT
Secret: 1234
Details: {'Issuer': 'Issuer', 'Username': 'BadSecrets', 'exp': 1593133483, 'iat': 1466903083, 'jwt_headers': {'alg': 'HS256'}}
***********************Bad secrets includes a fully functional CLI example which replicates the functionality of blacklist3r in python badsecrets/examples/blacklist3r.
python ./badsecrets/examples/blacklist3r.py --url http://vulnerablesite/vulnerablepage.aspx
python ./badsecrets/examples/blacklist3r.py --viewstate /wEPDwUJODExMDE5NzY5ZGQMKS6jehX5HkJgXxrPh09vumNTKQ== --generator EDD8C9AEFully functional CLI example for identifying known Telerik Hash keys and Encryption keys for Post-2017 versions (those patched for CVE-2017-9248), and brute-forcing version / generating exploitation DialogParameters values.
python ./badsecrets/examples/telerik_knownkey.py --url http://vulnerablesite/Telerik.Web.UI.DialogHandler.aspxOptionally include ASP.NET MachineKeys with --machine-keys (Will SIGNIFICANTLY increase brute-forcing time)
Brute-force detection of Symfony known secret key when "_fragment" URLs are enabled, even when no example URL containing a hash can be located. Relevent Blog Post.
python ./badsecrets/examples/symfony_knownkey.py --url https://localhost/One of the best ways to use Badsecrets, especially for the ASPNET_Viewstate and Jsf_viewstate modules is with the Badsecrets BBOT module. This will allow you to easily check across thousands of systems in conjunction with subdomain enummeration.
bbot -f subdomain-enum -m badsecrets -t evil.corp
See if a token or other cryptographic product was produced with a known key
from badsecrets import modules_loaded
Django_SignedCookies = modules_loaded["django_signedcookies"]
ASPNET_Viewstate = modules_loaded["aspnet_viewstate"]
Flask_SignedCookies = modules_loaded["flask_signedcookies"]
Peoplesoft_PSToken = modules_loaded["peoplesoft_pstoken"]
Telerik_HashKey = modules_loaded["telerik_hashkey"]
Telerik_EncryptionKey = modules_loaded["telerik_encryptionkey"]
Rails_SecretKeyBase = modules_loaded["rails_secretkeybase"]
Generic_JWT = modules_loaded["generic_jwt"]
Jsf_viewstate = modules_loaded["jsf_viewstate"]
Symfony_SignedURL = modules_loaded["symfony_signedurl"]
Express_SignedCookies = modules_loaded["express_signedcookies"]
Laravel_SignedCookies = modules_loaded["laravel_signedcookies"]
x = ASPNET_Viewstate()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("AgF5WuyVO11CsYJ1K5rjyuLXqUGCITSOapG1cYNiriYQ6VTKochMpn8ws4eJRvft81nQIA==","EDD8C9AE")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Telerik_HashKey()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("vpwClvnLODIx9te2vO%2F4e06KzbKkjtwmNnMx09D1Dmau0dPliYzgpqB9MnEqhPNe3fWemQyH25eLULJi8KiYHXeHvjfS1TZAL2o5Gku1gJbLuqusRXZQYTNlU2Aq4twXO0o0CgVUTfknU89iw0ceyaKjSteOhxGvaE3VEDfiKDd8%2B9j9vD3qso0mLMqn%2Btxirc%2FkIq5oBbzOCgMrJjkaPMa2SJpc5QI2amffBJ%2BsAN25VH%2BwabEJXrjRy%2B8NlYCoUQQKrI%2BEzRSdBsiMOxQTD4vz2TCjSKrK5JEeFMTyE7J39MhXFG38Bq%2FZMDO%2FETHHdsBtTTkqzJ2odVArcOzrce3Kt2%2FqgTUPW%2BCjFtkSNmh%2FzlB9BhbxB1kJt1NkNsjywvP9j7PvNoOBJsa8OwpEyrPTT3Gm%2BfhDwtjvwpvN7l7oIfbcERGExAFrAMENOOt4WGlYhF%2F8c9NcDv0Bv3YJrJoGq0rRurXSh9kcwum9nB%2FGWcjPikqTDm6p3Z48hEnQCVuJNkwJwIKEsYxJqCL95IEdX3PzR81zf36uXPlEa3YdeAgM1RD8YGlwlIXnrLhvMbRvQW0W9eoPzE%2FjP68JGUIZc1TwTQusIWjnuVubFTEUMDLfDNk12tMwM9mfnwT8lWFTMjv9pF70W5OtO7gVN%2BOmCxqAuQmScRVExNds%2FF%2FPli4oxRKfgI7FhAaC%2Fu1DopZ6vvBdUq1pBQE66fQ9SnxRTmIClCpULUhNO90ULTpUi9ga2UtBCTzI8z6Sb6qyQ52NopNZMFdrn9orzdP8 oqFeyYpF%2BQEtbp%2F5AMENkFkWUxHZn8NoSlO8P6G6ubSyDdY4QJPaFS4FxNhhm85WlZC9xfEZ1AGSSBOu9JJVYiKxXnL1yYLqrlWp5mfBHZeUBwEa%2FMjGxZEVYDhXo4PiU0jxN7fYmjaobp3DSgA5H3BcFuNG5d8CUnOlQcEie5b%2BUHOpI9zAk7qcuEUXbaZ5Mvh0t2jXCRALRKYDyBdbHlWAFo10dTIM6L3aSTM5uEz9%2FalXLXoWlMo7dTDpuO5bBfTq7YkoPExL3g3JJX47UhuLq85i3%2Bzxfvd7r%2Fmid69kbD3PnX%2Bj0QxaiShhyOZg6jl1HMeRRXvZap3FPCIfxbCf7j2TRqB5gYefBIIdGYjrdiL6HS8SbjXcROMwh2Fxnt505X4jmkmDcGmneU3z%2B84TSSFewcSpxGEGvHVkkU4OaT6vyFwsxCmdrR187tQZ7gn3ZkAiTps%2FfOPcL5QWXja06Z%2FHT3zboq6Hj9v9NBHzpC1eAK0YN8r4V2UMI3P0%2FsIPQYXhovoeLjJwq6snKZTX37ulE1mbS1uOY%2BZrvFYbLN5DdNL%2B%2Bl%2F%2BcWIpc0RSYBLo19xHpKeoeLjU2sxaYzK%2B92D4zKANdPPvsHPqJD1Y%2FBwCL%2FfZKaJfRK9Bj09ez1Z1ixTEKjIRCwuxijnJGq33faZchbwpMPpTfv43jEriGwXwoqOo9Mbj9ggPAil7O81XZxNT4vv4RoxXTN93V100rt3ClXauL%2BlNID%2BseN2CEZZqnygpTDf2an%2FVsmJGJJcc0goW3l43mhx2U79zeuT94cFPGpvITEbMtjmuNsUbOBuw6nqm5rAs%2FxjIsDRqfQxGQWfS0kuwuU6RRmiME2Ps0NrBENIbZzcbgw6%2BRIwClWkvEG%2BK%2FPdcAdfmRkAPWUNadxnhjeU2jNnzI1yYNIOhziUBPxgFEcAT45E7rWvf8gh T08HZvphzytPmD%2FxuvJaDdRgb6a30TjSpa7i%2BEHkIMxM5eH1kiwhN6xkTcBsJ87epGdFRWKhTGKYwCbaYid1nRs7%2BvQEU7MRYghok8KMTueELipohm3otuKo8V4a7w4TgTSBvPE%2BLPLJRwhM8KcjGlcpzF1NowRo6zeJJhbdPpouUH2NJzDcp7P4uUuUB9Cxt9B986My6zDnz1eyBvRMzj7TABfmfPFPoY3RfzBUzDm%2FA9lOGsM6d9WZj2CH0WxqiLDGmP1Ts9DWX%2FsYyqEGK5R1Xpnp7kRIarPtYliecp50ZIH6nqSkoCBllMCCE6JN%2BdoXobTpulALdmQV0%2Bppv%2FAjzIJrTHgX7jwRGEAeRgAxTomtemmIaH5NtV7xt8XS%2BqwghdJl1D06%2FWhpMtJ1%2FoQGoJ0%2F7ChYyefyAfsiQNWsO66UNVyl71RVPwATnbRO5K5mtxn0M2wuXXpAARNh6pQTcVX%2FTJ4jmosyKwhI6I870NEOsSaWlKVyOdb97C3Bt0pvzq8BagV5FMsNtJKmqIIM0HRkMkalIyfow9iS%2B5xGN5eKM8NE4E6hO4CvmpG%2BH2xFHTSNzloV0FjLdDmj5UfMjhUuEb3rkKK1bGAVaaherp6Ai6N4YJQzh%2FDdpo6al95EZN2OYolzxitgDgsWVGhMvddyQTwnRqRY04hdVJTwdhi4TiCPbLJ1Wcty2ozy6VDs4w77EOAQ5JnxUmDVPA3vXmADJZR0hIJEsuxXfYg%2BRIdV4fzGunV4%2B9jpiyM9G11iiesURK82o%2BdcG7FaCkkun2K2bvD6qGcL61uhoxNeLVpAxjrRjaEBrXsexZ9rExpMlFD8e3NM%2B0K0LQJvdEvpWYS5UTG9cAbNAzBs%3DpDsPXFGf2lEMcyGaK1ouARHUfqU0fzkeVwjXU9ORI%2Fs%3D")
if r:
print(r)< br/>else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Flask_SignedCookies()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("eyJoZWxsbyI6IndvcmxkIn0.XDtqeQ.1qsBdjyRJLokwRzJdzXMVCSyRTA")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Peoplesoft_PSToken()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("qAAAAAQDAgEBAAAAvAIAAAAAAAAsAAAABABTaGRyAk4AdQg4AC4AMQAwABSpxUdcNT67zqSLW1wY5/FHQd1U6mgAAAAFAFNkYXRhXHicHYfJDUBQAESfJY5O2iDWgwIsJxHcxdaApTvFGX8mefPmAVzHtizta2MSrCzsXBxsnOIt9yo6GvyekZqJmZaBPCUmVUMS2c9MjCmJKLSR/u+laUGuzwdaGw3o")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Django_SignedCookies()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret(".eJxVjLsOAiEURP-F2hAuL8HSfr-BAPciq4ZNlt3K-O9KsoU2U8w5My8W4r7VsHdaw4zswoCdfrsU84PaAHiP7bbwvLRtnRMfCj9o59OC9Lwe7t9Bjb2OtbMkAEGQtQjekykmJy9JZIW-6CgUaCGsA6eSyV65s1Qya_xGKZrY-wPVYjdw:1ojOrE:bfOktjgLlUykwCIRI pvaTZRQMM3-UypscEN57ECtXis")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Rails_SecretKeyBase()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("dUEvRldLekFNcklGZ3ZSbU1XaHJ0ZGxsLzhYTHlNTW43T3BVN05kZXE3WUhQOVVKbVA3Rm5WaSs5eG5QQ1VIRVBzeDFNTnNpZ0xCM1FKbzFZTEJISzhaNzFmVGYzME0waDFURVpCYm5TQlJFRmRFclYzNUZhR3VuN29PMmlkVHBrRi8wb3AwZWgvWmxObkFOYnpkeHR1YWpWZ3lnN0Y4ZW9xSk9LNVlQd0U4MmFsbWtLZUI5VzkzRkM4YXBFWXBWLS15L00xME1nVFp2ZTlmUWcxZVlpelpnPT0=--7efe7919a5210cfd1ac4c6228e3ff82c0600d841")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Generic_JWT()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJJc3N1ZXIiOiJJc3N1ZXIiLCJVc2VybmFtZSI6IkJhZFNlY3JldHMiLCJleHAiOjE1OTMxMzM0ODMsImlhdCI6MTQ2NjkwMzA4M30.ovqRikAo_0kKJ0GVrAwQlezymxrLGjcEiW_s3UJMMCo")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Telerik_Encrypt ionKey()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("owOnMokk%2F4N7IMo6gznRP56OYIT34dZ1Bh0KBbXlFgztgiNNEBYrgWRYDBkDlX8BIFYBcBztC3NMwoT%2FtNF%2Ff2nCsA37ORIgfBem1foENqumZvmcTpQuoiXXbMWW8oDjs270y6LDAmHhCRsl4Itox4NSBwDgMIOsoMhNrMigV7o7jlgU16L3ezISSmVqFektKmu9qATIXme63u4IKk9UL%2BGP%2Fk3NPv9MsTEVH1wMEf4MApH5KfWBX96TRIc9nlp3IE5BEWNMvI1Gd%2BWXbY5cSY%2Buey2mXQ%2BAFuXAernruJDm%2BxK8ZZ09TNsn5UREutvNtFRrePA8tz3r7p14yG756E0vrU7uBz5TQlTPNUeN3shdxlMK5Qzw1EqxRZmjhaRpMN0YZgmjIpzFgrTnT0%2Bo0f6keaL8Z9TY8vJN8%2BEUPoq%2F7AJiHKm1C8GNc3woVzs5mJKZxMUP398HwGTDv9KSwwkSpHeXFsZofbaWyG0WuNldHNzM%2FgyWMsnGxY6S086%2F477xEQkWdWG5UE%2FowesockebyTTEn3%2B%2FqiVy%2FIOxXvMpvrLel5nVY%2FSouHp5n2URRyRsfo%2B%2BOXJZo7yxKQoYBSSkmxdehJqKJmbgxNp5Ew8m89xAS5g99Hzzg382%2BxFp8yoDVZMOiTEuw0J%2B4G6KizqRW9cis%2FELd0aDE1V7TUuJnFrX%2BlCLOiv100tKpeJ0ePMOYrmvSn0wx7JhswNuj%2BgdKqvCnMSLakGWiOHxu5m9Qqdm3s5sk7nsaxMkh8IqV%2BSzB9A2K1kYEUlY40II1Wun67OSdLlYfdCFQk4ED0N%2BV4kES%2F1xpGiaPhxjboFiiV%2BkvCyJfkuotYuN%2B42CqF yAyepXPA%2BR5jVSThT6OIN2n1UahUnrD%2BwKKGMA9QpVPTSiGLen2KSnJtXISbrl2%2BA2AnQNH%2BMEwYVNjseM0%2BAosbgVfNde2ukMyugo%2FRfrRM27cbdVlE0ms0uXhlgKAYJ2ZN54w1tPWhpGxvZtB0keWpZan0YPh8CBgzsAIMa04HMYLCtgUTqxKqANoKXSy7VIJUzg3fl%2F2WUELjpXK9gRcgexNWDNB1E0rHd9PUo0PvpB4fxSrRpb1LRryipqsuoJ8mrpOVrVMvjracBvtoykK3GrN%2FDUlXkSG%2FAeBQN7HwDJ9QPi3AtEOohp78Op3nmbItXo7IJUSjzBNzUYR8YPj6Ud7Fje9LZSwMBngvgx%2BOKy6HsV4ofOAU2%2FK1%2BfxI0KkCeoSso9NJHWgBD7ijfXUa1Hrc%2FuNU3mTlSSVp3VStQrJbQCkr4paaHYWeeO4pRZCDSBNUzs9qq3TDePwpEQc4QROrw5htdniRk26lFIFm%2Fzk2nC77Pg%2BrkRC1W%2BlRv0lyXsmXVBCe8F1szpWXHCxHNAJwKH%2FBb%2BV1k6AXFXVWPW5vADbXUvRu0s6KLaqu6a0KCB7dt3K2Ni%2FI6O%2FmISYXzknbMrwwakNfajbRF2ibodgR9R9xvoCoCXa3ka7%2Fejr%2BmsZ2HvPKUAffd2fNIWCQrejfpuIoOWiYx6ufN8E41HetCbYfvsI6JQfPOEdOYWI2px%2BLdfO3Nybq99%2BRSQOhjNZakBP54ozlCUfwgpLOmTBwsswZexv1RK5MIi8%2FWtjlJ%2FKjkYxdkFUlwggGS2xDwzcyl2%2FakNCQ5YmxjU8cRY7jZQRMo%2F8uTw5qa2MNZPaQGI18uRgr0i%2FTX3t57fJYCpMLXSaUKIdO7O%2FCQhIyGTS6KrPN%2B3%2FgUb%2BPQ1viGhpnWfGEYF9vhIlK57z8G8G82UQ3DpttD7M 8mQ0KsmCOq75ECx9CWrWGk51vADlm%2BLEZ5oWjVMs%2FThki40B7tL7gzFrBuQksWXYeubMzZfFo4ZQ49di4wupHG5kRsyL2fJUzgpaLDP%2BSe6%2FjCnc52C7lZ3Ls0cHJVf9HRwDNXWM%2B4h8donNy5637QWK%2BV7mlH%2FL4xBZCfU9l6sIz%2FWHMtRaQprEem6a%2FRwPRDBiP65I2EwZLKGY8I%2F1uXJncwC8egLu82JY9maweI0VmJSmRcTf0evxqqe7vc9MqpsUlpSVNh4bFnxVIo5E4PGX70kVaTFe0vu1YdGKmFX5PLvkmWIf%2FnwfgPMqYsa0%2F09trboJ5LGDEQRXSBb7ldG%2FwLdOiqocYKAb91SMpn1fXVPBgkPM27QZxHnSAmWVbJR2%2FIhO%2BIVNzkgFAJlptiEPPPTxuBh%2BTT7CaIQE3oZbbJeQKvRkrt4bawTCOzciU%2F1zFGxubTJTSyInjQ8%2F1tVo7KjnxPKqGSfwZQN%2FeWL6R%2FpvCb%2BE6D4pdyczoJRUWsSNXNnA7QrdjgGNWhyOMiKvkDf3RD4mrXbul18WYVTsLyp0hvQsbdwBWOh7VlwfrWdy%2BklsttFi%2B%2BadKR7DbwjLTcxvdNpTx1WJhXROR8jwW26VEYSXPVqWnYvfyZo4DojKHMSDMbAakbuSJdkGP1d5w0AYbKlAcVQOqp9hbAvfwwLy4ErdIsOg0YEeCcnQVRAXwaCI9JvWWmM%2FzYJzE3X45A6lU9Pe7TAbft810MYh7lmV6Keb5HI6qXFiD%2B8khBZqi%2FsK6485k0a86aWLxOb4Eqnoc41x%2BYPv5CWfvP6cebsENo%3D%2BIUg0f64C4y77N4FZ6C82m5wMpvDQIHqx0ZFIHLhwMg%3D")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(" )
x = Jsf_viewstate()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("wHo0wmLu5ceItIi+I7XkEi1GAb4h12WZ894pA+Z4OH7bco2jXEy1RSCWwjtJcZNbWPcvPqL5zzfl03DoeMZfGGX7a9PSv+fUT8MAeKNouAGj1dZuO8srXt8xZIGg+wPCWWCzcX6IhWOtgWUwiXeSojCDTKXklsYt+kzlVbk5wOsXvb2lTJoO0Q==")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Symfony_SignedURL()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("https://localhost/_fragment?_path=_controller%3Dsystem%26command%3Did%26return_value%3Dnull&_hash=Xnsvx/yLVQaimEd1CfepgH0rEXr422JnRSn/uaCE3gs=")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Express_SignedCookies()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("s%3A8FnPwdeM9kdGTZlWvdaVtQ0S1BCOhY5G.qys7H2oGSLLdRsEq7sqh7btOohHsaRKqyjV4LiVnBvc")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")
x = Laravel_SignedCo okies()
print(f"###{str(x.__class__.__name__)}###")
r = x.check_secret("eyJpdiI6IlhlNTZ2UjZUQWZKVHdIcG9nZFkwcGc9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiRlUvY2grU1F1b01lSXdveXJ0T3N1WGJqeVVmZlNRQjNVOWxiSzljL1Z3RDhqYUdDbjZxMU9oSThWRzExT0YvUmthVzVKRE9kL0RvTEw1cFRhQkphOGw4S2loV1ZrMkkwTHd4am9sZkJQd2VCZ3R0VlFSeFo3ay9wTlBMb3lLSG8iLCJtYWMiOiJkMmU3M2ExNDc2NTc5YjAwMGMwMTdkYTQ1NThkMjRkNTY2YTE4OTg2MzY5MzE5NGZmOTM4YWVjOGZmMWU4NTk2IiwidGFnIjoiIn0%3D")
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("KEY NOT FOUND :(")An additional layer of abstraction above check_secret, which accepts a python requests.response object or a string
import requests
from badsecrets import modules_loaded
Telerik_HashKey = modules_loaded["telerik_hashkey"]
x = Telerik_HashKey()
res = requests.get(f"http://example.com/")
r_list = x.carve(requests_response=res)
print(r_list)
telerik_dialogparameters_sample = """
Sys.Application.add_init(function() {
$create(Telerik.Web.UI.RadDialogOpener, {"_dialogDefinitions":{"ImageManager":{"SerializedParameters":"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mFauB5rhPHB28+RqBMxN2jCvZ8Kggw1jW3f/h+vLct0=","Width":"770px","Height":"588px","Title":"Image Manager"}
"""
r_list = x.carve(body=telerik_dialogparameters_sample)
print(r_list)from badsecrets.base import check_all_modules
tests = [
"yJrdyJV6tkmHLII2uDq1Sl509UeDg9xGI4u3tb6dm9BQS4wD08KTkyXKST4PeQs00giqSA==",
"eyJoZWxsbyI6IndvcmxkIn0.XDtqeQ.1qsBdjyRJLokwRzJdzXMVCSyRTA",
"vpwClvnLODIx9te2vO%2F4e06KzbKkjtwmNnMx09D1Dmau0dPliYzgpqB9MnEqhPNe3fWemQyH25eLULJi8KiYHXeHvjfS1TZAL2o5Gku1gJbLuqusRXZQYTNlU2Aq4twXO0o0CgVUTfknU89iw0ceyaKjSteOhxGvaE3VEDfiKDd8%2B9j9vD3qso0mLMqn%2Btxirc%2FkIq5oBbzOCgMrJjkaPMa2SJpc5QI2amffBJ%2BsAN25VH%2BwabEJXrjRy%2B8NlYCoUQQKrI%2BEzRSdBsiMOxQTD4vz2TCjSKrK5JEeFMTyE7J39MhXFG38Bq%2FZMDO%2FETHHdsBtTTkqzJ2odVArcOzrce3Kt2%2FqgTUPW%2BCjFtkSNmh%2FzlB9BhbxB1kJt1NkNsjywvP9j7PvNoOBJsa8OwpEyrPTT3Gm%2BfhDwtjvwpvN7l7oIfbcERGExAFrAMENOOt4WGlYhF%2F8c9NcDv0Bv3YJrJoGq0rRurXSh9kcwum9nB%2FGWcjPikqTDm6p3Z48hEnQCVuJNkwJwIKEsYxJqCL95IEdX3PzR81zf36uXPlEa3YdeAgM1RD8YGlwlIXnrLhvMbRvQW0W9eoPzE%2FjP68JGUIZc1TwTQusIWjnuVubFTEUMDLfDNk12tMwM9mfnwT8lWFTMjv9pF70W5OtO7gVN%2BOmCxqAuQmScRVExNd s%2FF%2FPli4oxRKfgI7FhAaC%2Fu1DopZ6vvBdUq1pBQE66fQ9SnxRTmIClCpULUhNO90ULTpUi9ga2UtBCTzI8z6Sb6qyQ52NopNZMFdrn9orzdP8oqFeyYpF%2BQEtbp%2F5AMENkFkWUxHZn8NoSlO8P6G6ubSyDdY4QJPaFS4FxNhhm85WlZC9xfEZ1AGSSBOu9JJVYiKxXnL1yYLqrlWp5mfBHZeUBwEa%2FMjGxZEVYDhXo4PiU0jxN7fYmjaobp3DSgA5H3BcFuNG5d8CUnOlQcEie5b%2BUHOpI9zAk7qcuEUXbaZ5Mvh0t2jXCRALRKYDyBdbHlWAFo10dTIM6L3aSTM5uEz9%2FalXLXoWlMo7dTDpuO5bBfTq7YkoPExL3g3JJX47UhuLq85i3%2Bzxfvd7r%2Fmid69kbD3PnX%2Bj0QxaiShhyOZg6jl1HMeRRXvZap3FPCIfxbCf7j2TRqB5gYefBIIdGYjrdiL6HS8SbjXcROMwh2Fxnt505X4jmkmDcGmneU3z%2B84TSSFewcSpxGEGvHVkkU4OaT6vyFwsxCmdrR187tQZ7gn3ZkAiTps%2FfOPcL5QWXja06Z%2FHT3zboq6Hj9v9NBHzpC1eAK0YN8r4V2UMI3P0%2FsIPQYXhovoeLjJwq6snKZTX37ulE1mbS1uOY%2BZrvFYbLN5DdNL%2B%2Bl%2F%2BcWIpc0RSYBLo19xHpKeoeLjU2sxaYzK%2B92D4zKANdPPvsHPqJD1Y%2FBwCL%2FfZKaJfRK9Bj09ez1Z1ixTEKjIRCwuxijnJGq33faZchbwpMPpTfv43jEriGwXwoqOo9Mbj9ggPAil7O81XZxNT4vv4RoxXTN93V100rt3ClXauL%2BlNID%2BseN2CEZZqnygpTDf2an%2FVsmJGJJcc0goW3l43mhx2U79zeuT94cFPGpvITEbMtjmuNsUbOBuw6nqm5rAs%2FxjIsDRqfQ xGQWfS0kuwuU6RRmiME2Ps0NrBENIbZzcbgw6%2BRIwClWkvEG%2BK%2FPdcAdfmRkAPWUNadxnhjeU2jNnzI1yYNIOhziUBPxgFEcAT45E7rWvf8ghT08HZvphzytPmD%2FxuvJaDdRgb6a30TjSpa7i%2BEHkIMxM5eH1kiwhN6xkTcBsJ87epGdFRWKhTGKYwCbaYid1nRs7%2BvQEU7MRYghok8KMTueELipohm3otuKo8V4a7w4TgTSBvPE%2BLPLJRwhM8KcjGlcpzF1NowRo6zeJJhbdPpouUH2NJzDcp7P4uUuUB9Cxt9B986My6zDnz1eyBvRMzj7TABfmfPFPoY3RfzBUzDm%2FA9lOGsM6d9WZj2CH0WxqiLDGmP1Ts9DWX%2FsYyqEGK5R1Xpnp7kRIarPtYliecp50ZIH6nqSkoCBllMCCE6JN%2BdoXobTpulALdmQV0%2Bppv%2FAjzIJrTHgX7jwRGEAeRgAxTomtemmIaH5NtV7xt8XS%2BqwghdJl1D06%2FWhpMtJ1%2FoQGoJ0%2F7ChYyefyAfsiQNWsO66UNVyl71RVPwATnbRO5K5mtxn0M2wuXXpAARNh6pQTcVX%2FTJ4jmosyKwhI6I870NEOsSaWlKVyOdb97C3Bt0pvzq8BagV5FMsNtJKmqIIM0HRkMkalIyfow9iS%2B5xGN5eKM8NE4E6hO4CvmpG%2BH2xFHTSNzloV0FjLdDmj5UfMjhUuEb3rkKK1bGAVaaherp6Ai6N4YJQzh%2FDdpo6al95EZN2OYolzxitgDgsWVGhMvddyQTwnRqRY04hdVJTwdhi4TiCPbLJ1Wcty2ozy6VDs4w77EOAQ5JnxUmDVPA3vXmADJZR0hIJEsuxXfYg%2BRIdV4fzGunV4%2B9jpiyM9G11iiesURK82o%2BdcG7FaCkkun2K2bvD6qGcL61uhoxNeLVpAxjrRjaEBrXsexZ9rExpMlFD8e3 NM%2B0K0LQJvdEvpWYS5UTG9cAbNAzBs%3DpDsPXFGf2lEMcyGaK1ouARHUfqU0fzkeVwjXU9ORI%2Fs%3D",
"qAAAAAQDAgEBAAAAvAIAAAAAAAAsAAAABABTaGRyAk4AdQg4AC4AMQAwABRhZGwcBykRPNQv++kTK0KePPqVVGgAAAAFAFNkYXRhXHicHYc7DkBQAATnIUqVa3jxLRzApxJBrxA18bmdw1l2k9nZG/Bcxxjt4/An3NnYOVlZOMRL7ld0NAQ9IzUTMy0DeUpMqkYkso+ZGFNiKbRW//Pyb0Guzwtozw4Q",
".eJxVjLsOAiEURP-F2hAuL8HSfr-BAPciq4ZNlt3K-O9KsoU2U8w5My8W4r7VsHdaw4zswoCdfrsU84PaAHiP7bbwvLRtnRMfCj9o59OC9Lwe7t9Bjb2OtbMkAEGQtQjekykmJy9JZIW-6CgUaCGsA6eSyV65s1Qya_xGKZrY-wPVYjdw:1ojOrE:bfOktjgLlUykwCIRIpvaTZRQMM3-UypscEN57ECtXis",
"eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJJc3N1ZXIiOiJJc3N1ZXIiLCJVc2VybmFtZSI6IkJhZFNlY3JldHMiLCJleHAiOjE1OTMxMzM0ODMsImlhdCI6MTQ2NjkwMzA4M30.ovqRikAo_0kKJ0GVrAwQlezymxrLGjcEiW_s3UJMMCo",
"dUEvRldLekFNcklGZ3ZSbU1XaHJ0ZGxsLzhYTHlNTW43T3BVN05kZXE3WUhQOVVKbVA3Rm5WaSs5eG5QQ1VIRVBzeDFNTnNpZ0xCM1FKbzFZTEJISzhaNzFmVGYzME0waDFURVpCYm5TQlJFRmRFclYzNUZhR3VuN29PMmlkVHBrRi8wb3AwZWgvWmxObkFOYnpkeHR1YWpWZ3lnN0Y4ZW9xSk9LNVlQd0U4MmFsbWtLZUI5VzkzRk M4YXBFWXBWLS15L00xME1nVFp2ZTlmUWcxZVlpelpnPT0=--7efe7919a5210cfd1ac4c6228e3ff82c0600d841",
"https://localhost/_fragment?_path=_controller%3Dsystem%26command%3Did%26return_value%3Dnull&_hash=Xnsvx/yLVQaimEd1CfepgH0rEXr422JnRSn/uaCE3gs=",
"s%3A8FnPwdeM9kdGTZlWvdaVtQ0S1BCOhY5G.qys7H2oGSLLdRsEq7sqh7btOohHsaRKqyjV4LiVnBvc"
]
for test in tests:
r = check_all_modules(test)
if r:
print(r)
else:
print("Key not found!")import requests
from badsecrets.base import carve_all_modules
### using python requests response object
res = requests.get(f"http://example.com/")
r_list = carve_all_modules(requests_response=res)
print(r_list)
### Using string
carve_source_text = """
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
</head>
<body>
<p>Some text</p>
<div class="JWT_IN_PAGE">
<p>eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJJc3N1ZXIiOiJJc3N1ZXIiLCJVc2VybmFtZSI6IkJhZFNlY3JldHMiLCJleHAiOjE1OTMxMzM0ODMsImlhdCI6MTQ2NjkwMzA4M30.ovqRikAo_0kKJ0GVrAwQlezymxrLGjcEiW_s3UJMMCo</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
"""
r_list = carve_all_modules(body=carve_source_text)
print(r_list)Nothing would make us happier than getting a pull request with a new module! But the easiest way to contribute would be helping to populate our word lists! If you find publicly available keys help us make Badsecrets more useful by submitting a pull request to add them.
Requests for modules are always very welcome as well!
If you’ve got teens, then no doubt you’ve received the SOS texts. ‘Mum, I need a haircut, can you just spot me $30?’ or ‘I’ve just finished footy and I’m starving, can you transfer me some money?’. Where would the modern parent be without online banking? How did our non-digital forefathers ever cope??
Online banking is just so convenient and basically a necessity of modern life. If you’ve recently tried to conduct a transaction at a branch, then you’ll know exactly what I mean. One of my boys recently tried to set up a new account at a local banking branch and they were told to come back the following day. Instead, we went home and did it online in less than 20 minutes!
Aussie banks are world class at implementing a range of security measures to keep our banking safe however there are still things we can do to avoid our banking details getting into the hands of hackers. But many of us just assume that ‘all is well’ – our banking apps work seamlessly, so why do we need to worry? And that’s where many come unstuck. If it doesn’t appear to be broken, why do we need to fix it? Well, being ahead of the risks is how you keep yourself safe, my friends. So, here are my top tips to ensure all your family members are banking online in the securest way possible.
If you’re changing banks or helping your child set up their online banking, it’s essential that you download your bank’s official app. Imitations do exist! Ideally, download the app from the bank’s website however if this isn’t an option use a genuine app store like Apple’s AppStore or Google Play for Android devices. And always verify the app is legitimate by checking the developer details and reading the reviews.
Budgeting or financial management apps are an incredibly popular way to help manage finances, but you need to be cautious here too as many will require you to share your banking logins. Always check the app’s reviews, its history of data breaches and its security policies before you download.
Using the name of your puppy, your kids or worse still, your birthday, is one of the fastest ways of getting your banking details into the hands of hackers. Passwords need to have no connection to any part of your life, should never be stored in your banking app or anywhere on your phone and NEVER, EVER written on the back of your debit card!! Here are my top tips:
Make them long – choose a phrase instead of just 1 word. I love a nonsensical sentence with at least 10 characters.
Always include lower and uppercase letters, a number or 2 and a few symbols.
Every online account needs its own unique password – no exceptions.
Put a reminder in your calendar to update your passwords regularly – at least every 3-6 months.
All sounds too hard? Try a password manager that will not only create complex passwords that no human could ever think of, but it will also remember then for you. Check out McAfee +, complete no brainer!
Geez, public Wi-Fi is convenient, particularly if you are travelling. But, using it to undertake any banking or financial dealings is just too risky in, my opinion. Why? I hear you ask. Well, there are many ways hackers can hack public Wi-Fi, let me share a few:
‘Evil twin’ attack. This is when hackers set up malicious hotspots with seemingly logical and trustworthy names eg ‘Free Café Wi-Fi’. But as soon as you connect, they can easily get their hands on your data.
Man-in-the-middle attack (MitM). This is when hackers break into a network and eavesdrop on data as it travels between connected devices and the Wi-Fi router. For example, your online banking password!
Password cracking attack. Scammers use software that automatically tries a huge volume of usernames and passwords so they can control the router. And once they’ve gained control, they can dupe you into downloading malicious software (that could steal your identity) or redirects you to a webpage that phishes for your personal information.
If you don’t think you can possibly survive without public Wi-fi then you need to invest in a VPN that will ensure everything you share is protected.
If your bank offers two-factor authentication to its customers, then your answer needs to be ‘yes please’! Two-factor authentication or multi factor authentication adds another layer of verification to your banking which minimises the chances of hacker causing you harm. If you’ve activated it, you’ll be asked to provide another piece of information after you’ve entered your login details. Usually a special code, this may be delivered to you via an app, text message or even an automated phone call.
It will take just a few minutes to ring your bank and request to be notified when an activity occurs on your account. Every bank will manage this differently, however most banks can alert you on request via email or text if the following occur:
And if anything at all seems a little fishy, contact your bank immediately!
Unfortunately, few things are guaranteed in life and that includes your online safety. And whether you’re an online banking fan or not, opting out isn’t really an option. So, take some time to tighten up your online banking. Only use legit apps; change your passwords so they are long, strong and complex; invest in a VPN so you can use public Wi-Fi and say yes to two-factor authentication. You’ve got this!
Happy banking!!
Alex
The post Online Banking – The Safe Way appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Microsoft today released software updates to plug 100 security holes in its Windows operating systems and other software, including a zero-day vulnerability that is already being used in active attacks. Not to be outdone, Apple has released a set of important updates addressing two zero-day vulnerabilities that are being used to attack iPhones, iPads and Macs.
On April 7, Apple issued emergency security updates to fix two weaknesses that are being actively exploited, including CVE-2023-28206, which can be exploited by apps to seize control over a device. CVE-2023-28205 can be used by a malicious or hacked website to install code.
Both vulnerabilities are addressed in iOS/iPadOS 16.4.1, iOS 15.7.5, and macOS 12.6.5 and 11.7.6. If you use Apple devices and you don’t have automatic updates enabled (they are on by default), you should probably take care of that soon as detailed instructions on how to attack CVE-2023-28206 are now public.
Microsoft’s bevy of 100 security updates released today include CVE-2023-28252, which is a weakness in Windows that Redmond says is under active attack. The vulnerability is in the Windows Common Log System File System (CLFS) driver, a core Windows component that was the source of attacks targeting a different zero-day vulnerability in February 2023.
“If it seems familiar, that’s because there was a similar 0-day patched in the same component just two months ago,” said Dustin Childs at the Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative. “To me, that implies the original fix was insufficient and attackers have found a method to bypass that fix. As in February, there is no information about how widespread these attacks may be. This type of exploit is typically paired with a code execution bug to spread malware or ransomware.”
According to the security firm Qualys, this vulnerability has been leveraged by cyber criminals to deploy Nokoyawa ransomware.
“This is a relatively new strain for which there is some open source intel to suggest that it is possibly related to Hive ransomware – one of the most notable ransomware families of 2021 and linked to breaches of over 300+ organizations in a matter of just a few months,” said Bharat Jogi, director of vulnerability and threat research at Qualys.
Jogi said while it is still unclear which exact threat actor is targeting CVE-2023-28252, targets have been observed in South and North America, regions across Asia and at organizations in the Middle East.
Satnam Narang at Tenable notes that CVE-2023-28252 is also the second CLFS zero-day disclosed to Microsoft by researchers from Mandiant and DBAPPSecurity (CVE-2022-37969), though it is unclear if both of these discoveries are related to the same attacker.
Seven of the 100 vulnerabilities Microsoft fixed today are rated “Critical,” meaning they can be used to install malicious code with no help from the user. Ninety of the flaws earned Redmond’s slightly less-dire “Important” label, which refers to weaknesses that can be used to undermine the security of the system but which may require some amount of user interaction.
Narang said Microsoft has rated nearly 90% of this month’s vulnerabilities as “Exploitation Less Likely,” while just 9.3% of flaws were rated as “Exploitation More Likely.” Kevin Breen at Immersive Labs zeroed in on several notable flaws in that 9.3%, including CVE-2023-28231, a remote code execution vulnerability in a core Windows network process (DHCP) with a CVSS score of 8.8.
“‘Exploitation more likely’ means it’s not being actively exploited but adversaries may look to try and weaponize this one,” Breen said. “Micorosft does note that successful exploitation requires an attacker to have already gained initial access to the network. This could be via social engineering, spear phishing attacks, or exploitation of other services.”
Breen also called attention to CVE-2023-28220 and CVE-2023-28219 — a pair of remote code execution vulnerabilities affecting Windows Remote Access Servers (RAS) that also earned Microsoft’s “exploitation more likely” label.
“An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted connection request to a RAS server, which could lead to remote code execution,” Breen said. While not standard in all organizations, RAS servers typically have direct access from the Internet where most users and services are connected. This makes it extremely enticing for attackers as they don’t need to socially engineer their way into an organization. They can simply scan the internet for RAS servers and automate the exploitation of vulnerable devices.”
For more details on the updates released today, see the SANS Internet Storm Center roundup. If today’s updates cause any stability or usability issues in Windows, AskWoody.com will likely have the lowdown on that.
Please consider backing up your data and/or imaging your system before applying any updates. And feel free to sound off in the comments if you experience any problems as a result of these patches.
By 2030, experts predict that there will be 5 billion devices connected to 5G.1 For the general population, this connectedness means better access to information, communication with far-flung loved ones, greater convenience in everyday tasks … and more hours devoted to everyone’s favorite pastime: scrolling through funny online videos.
For cybercriminals, this vast mobile population fills their pool of targets with billions. And criminals are getting better at hiding their schemes, making threats to mobile devices seem nearly invisible.
When undetected, cybercriminals can help themselves to your personal information or take over your expensive mobile device for their own gains. The best way to combat criminals and protect your mobile device is to know their tricks and adopt excellent online habits to foil their nefarious plots.
Here are the tips you need to uncover these four hard-to-spot mobile threats.
Spyware’s main ability is right in the name: it spies on you. Spyware is a type of malware that lurks in the shadows of your trusted device, collecting information about your browsing habits, personally identifiable information (PII), and more. Some types, called key loggers, can keep track of what you type. The software then sends the details and movements it collects about you to the spying criminal. They can then use this information to steal your passwords and waltz into your online accounts or steal your identity.
Malicious downloads are often the origin of spyware getting onto your mobile device. The spyware hides within “free” TV show, movie, or video game online downloads; however, instead of getting the latest episode you’ve been dying to watch, your device gets spyware instead.
Have you visited risky sites recently? Is your device running slowly, overheating, or suddenly experiencing a shorter-than-usual battery life? One or all of these signs could indicate that your device is working overtime running the spyware and trying to keep up with your everyday use.
Safe downloading habits will go a long way in protecting you from spyware. While streaming from free sites is less expensive than paying a monthly membership to a legitimate streaming service, you may have to pay more in the long run to reverse the damage caused by unknowingly downloading spyware. If you’re unsure if the sites you visit are safe, a safe browsing tool like McAfee WebAdvisor will alert you to untrustworthy sites.
Malicious apps are applications that masquerade as legitimate mobile apps but are actually a vessel to download malware onto your mobile device. For example, when Squid Game was all the rage in 2021, 200 apps related to the show popped up on the Google Play store. One of these themed apps claiming to be a wallpaper contained malware.
Similar to spyware, a device infected with malware will overheat, load pages slowly despite a solid Wi-Fi connection, and have a short battery life. Also, you may notice that texts are missing or that your contacts are receiving messages from you that you never sent. Finally, your online accounts may have suspicious activity, such as purchases or money transfers you didn’t authorize.
Avoiding malicious apps requires that you do a bit of research before downloading. Even if you’re using an authorized app store, like Google Play or the Apple Store, apps with hidden malware can pass the vetting process. One way to determine if an app is risky is to look at the quality of its reviews and its number of star ratings. Approach an app with less than 100 ratings with caution. Also, read a few of the reviews. Are they vague? Are they written poorly? Cybercriminals may pad their apps with fake reviews, but they’re unlikely to spend too much time writing well-composed comments. Finally, do a background check on the app’s developer listed in the app description. If they have a criminal reputation, a quick search will likely alert you to it.
Perusing the reviews isn’t a guaranteed way to sniff out a malicious app. In 2020, McAfee discovered that one bad app had more than 7,000 reviews. To help prevent malware from taking hold of your device, consider investing in antivirus software. Antivirus software isn’t just for your desktop. Mobile devices benefit from it, too! McAfee antivirus is compatible with any operating system and offers 24/7 real-time threat protection.
A botnet is a vast collection of malware-infected devices controlled by a cybercriminal. The criminal uses their network of bots to proliferate spam or crash servers.
Malware is a broad term that encompasses dozens of specific strains of malicious software, several of which are capable of recruiting your mobile device to a cybercriminal’s army of bots. Without your knowledge, the criminal can force your phone to message your contact list or divert your device’s computing power to overload a server in a cyberattack.
All the telltale signs of malware are applicable here if your phone is part of a botnet. A botnet commander grants themselves the highest admin access to any device they take over. That means you may also see new apps on your home screen that you never downloaded or messages sent by text, email, or social media direct message that you never wrote.
Criminals recruiting devices to their botnet can embed the necessary malware anywhere malware typically lurks: in fake apps, dubious streaming and file-sharing sites, phishing emails, risky links, etc. The best way to avoid becoming a member of a botnet is to watch what you click on, stay away from risky sites, and treat any message from a stranger with suspicion.
Cybercriminals can conceal their malware within fake software updates that look official. Fake updates often pose as Microsoft updates because of the company’s huge user base. Java and Android operating system updates have also been impersonated in the past.
The common signs of malware apply to fake software updates too. Also, if a fake update was widespread, you’ll likely receive an official correspondence from the software provider issuing a patch.
The best way to avoid being tricked by a fake update is to enable automatic updates on all your devices. When your devices auto-update, you can ignore any pop-up, email, or text that urges you to click on a link to update. Auto-update is a good practice to adopt anyway, as it ensures that you have the latest software, which often means that it’s the most secure.
Another excellent habit that’ll prevent you from compromising your device with a fake software update is to always preview where links will take you. You can do this by tapping and holding the link. Check the hyperlink for typos or for pages that direct away from the organization’s official website.
Cybercriminals are getting craftier by the day, employing new tools (like ChatGPT) and new strains to trick people and infect mobile devices for their own gains. To safeguard all your devices, consider investing in a solution that’ll protect you from every angle. McAfee+ Ultimate is the all-in-one device, privacy, and security service that helps you confidently live your best online life. The proactive monitoring features stop threats in their tracks, saving you a massive headache and guarding your finances and PII. If any online scheme does compromise your identity, the Family Plan offers up to $2 million in identity theft restoration.
Mobile malware doesn’t always scream “suspicious!” As long as you arm yourself with the right tools, practice good habits, and keep your eyes peeled, you should be able to spot malicious software.
1GSMA, “The Mobile Economy”
The post 4 Mobile Malware Threats You Can’t Even See appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Microsoft on Tuesday released updates to quash at least 74 security bugs in its Windows operating systems and software. Two of those flaws are already being actively attacked, including an especially severe weakness in Microsoft Outlook that can be exploited without any user interaction.
The Outlook vulnerability (CVE-2023-23397) affects all versions of Microsoft Outlook from 2013 to the newest. Microsoft said it has seen evidence that attackers are exploiting this flaw, which can be done without any user interaction by sending a booby-trapped email that triggers automatically when retrieved by the email server — before the email is even viewed in the Preview Pane.
While CVE-2023-23397 is labeled as an “Elevation of Privilege” vulnerability, that label doesn’t accurately reflect its severity, said Kevin Breen, director of cyber threat research at Immersive Labs.
Known as an NTLM relay attack, it allows an attacker to get someone’s NTLM hash [Windows account password] and use it in an attack commonly referred to as “Pass The Hash.”
“The vulnerability effectively lets the attacker authenticate as a trusted individual without having to know the person’s password,” Breen said. “This is on par with an attacker having a valid password with access to an organization’s systems.”
Security firm Rapid7 points out that this bug affects self-hosted versions of Outlook like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, but Microsoft-hosted online services like Microsoft 365 are not vulnerable.
The other zero-day flaw being actively exploited in the wild — CVE-2023-24880 — is a “Security Feature Bypass” in Windows SmartScreen, part of Microsoft’s slate of endpoint protection tools.
Patch management vendor Action1 notes that the exploit for this bug is low in complexity and requires no special privileges. But it does require some user interaction, and can’t be used to gain access to private information or privileges. However, the flaw can allow other malicious code to run without being detected by SmartScreen reputation checks.
Dustin Childs, head of threat awareness at Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative, said CVE-2023-24880 allows attackers to create files that would bypass Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses.
“Protective measures like SmartScreen and Protected View in Microsoft Office rely on MOTW, so bypassing these makes it easier for threat actors to spread malware via crafted documents and other infected files that would otherwise be stopped by SmartScreen,” Childs said.
Seven other vulnerabilities Microsoft patched this week earned its most-dire “critical” severity label, meaning the updates address security holes that could be exploited to give the attacker full, remote control over a Windows host with little or no interaction from the user.
Also this week, Adobe released eight patches addressing a whopping 105 security holes across a variety of products, including Adobe Photoshop, Cold Fusion, Experience Manager, Dimension, Commerce, Magento, Substance 3D Stager, Cloud Desktop Application, and Illustrator.
For a more granular rundown on the updates released today, see the SANS Internet Storm Center roundup. If today’s updates cause any stability or usability issues in Windows, AskWoody.com will likely have the lowdown on that.
Please consider backing up your data and/or imaging your system before applying any updates. And feel free to sound off in the comments if you experience any problems as a result of these patches.
Something looks a little…sketchy. Is that website safe or unsafe?
Nowadays, it can take a bit of work to tell.
And that’s by design. Increasingly, hackers and scammers go to great pains when they create their malicious websites. They take extra steps to make their sites look legit, when in fact they’re anything but. Certainly, plenty of other hackers and scammers slap together malicious sites that still look a bit roughshod, which makes them easier to spot.
So whether it’s a clever knockoff or a slapdash effort, unsafe websites of all kinds have several telltale signs you can spot. We’ll show you, and let’s start things off with what makes an unsafe website unsafe in the first place.
Unsafe websites typically harbor one of two primary forms of attack—yet sometimes both:
Malware: Hackers will use their sites to install malware on your device, often by tricking you into clicking or tapping on a download. They might tempt you with an offer, a prize, a show to stream—just about anything you might want to otherwise download. (Recently, we saw hackers installing malware on sites that offered to stream dubbed versions of the “Barbie” movie.)
Phishing: Another classic attack. Phishing involves scammers who try to hoodwink you into providing account or financial information. Common ruses include links in emails, texts, and DMs that appear to be urgent messages from streaming services, banks, social media, and other accounts. Of course, those messages are phony.
As a result, unsafe websites can lead to some not-so-good things.
On the malware side, attackers can install spyware and similar apps that siphon financial and personal information from your device while you’re using it. Other malware might steal files outright or maliciously delete them altogether. Ransomware remains a major concern today as well, where attackers hold devices and data hostage. And even if victims end up paying the ransom, they have no guarantee that the attacker will free their device or data.
Phishing attacks often lead to financial headaches, sometimes large ones at that. It depends on the information scammers get their hands on. In some cases, the damage might lead to identity fraud and a few illicit charges on a debit or credit card. If scammers gather enough information, they can take that a step further and commit identity theft. That can include opening new credit or loans in your name. It could also give a scammer the info they need to get driver’s licenses or employment in your name.
Above and beyond committing fraud or theft on their own, scammers might also sell stolen information to others on the dark web.
Again, all not-so-good. Yet quite preventable.
For some sites, it only takes one sign. For other sites, it takes a few signs—a series of red flags that warn you a site is unsafe. When you’re online, keep a sharp eye out for the following:
The site uses HTTP rather than HTTPS
The “s” stands for “secure.” Specifically, it means that the website uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. SSL helps prevent others from intercepting and reading your sensitive information as it’s transmitted, which is particularly important when you shop or bank online. Likewise, you can also look for a little lock symbol in the address bar of your web browser. That’s one more way you can spot a site that uses SSL.
The site has a combination of typos and poor design
From spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, to stretched-out logos and cheap photography, some unsafe websites are designed poorly. Legitimate businesses pride themselves on error-free and professional-looking sites. If a website looks like it got cobbled together in a hurry or doesn’t seem to be well-designed, that’s usually a red flag. The site might be unsafe, created by attackers who don’t have strong attention to detail—or the creative capabilities to create a good-looking website in the first place.
The web address looks altered or off
Plenty of unsafe sites are imposter sites. They’ll try to pass themselves off as a legitimate company, like the streaming services, banks, and so forth that we mentioned earlier—all to get a hold of your account information. With all these imposter sites in play, look at the site’s address. Scammers will gin up web addresses that are close to but different from legitimate sites, so close that you might miss it. If you’re uncertain about the address, leave the page. Also, note that many companies have web pages that provide lists of the official addresses that they use. Amazon provides an example, and we do the same here at McAfee. Reviewing these lists can help you spot an imposter site.
The site says you have a security issue
A window or graphic pops up on your screen. The site you’re on says that it’s identified a security issue with your device. Or maybe it says that your system isn’t current. Either way, there’s a file the site wants you to download. “You can correct the issue with a click!” Don’t. It’s a classic trick. Instead of fixing your non-existent problem, the download will create one. Scammers use the security alert trick to install malware on the devices of unsuspecting victims.
The site floods you with pop-ups or links to click
A screen full of links insisting you click ranks among the top signs of an unsafe site. So much so, it’s often the subject of sitcom bits. Needless to say, the attackers behind these sites want you to click for one of several reasons. It might be to get you to download malware. It might be to generate ad revenue with clicks. Or it might be to get you to click a link that redirects you to another malicious site. In all, if you encounter a site like this, close your browser. And then run a system scan with your online protection software.
The site offers hard-to-get items at an outrageous discount
These unsafe sites sprout up around the holidays and gift-giving seasons. When stores run low on particularly popular or hot items, scammers will quickly launch sites that claim these items are in stock and ready to ship. Similarly, they might promote popular items at a deep discount. Of course, shopping at these sites will likely lead to one thing—a credit card charge and no item on your doorstep. Be wary when you see ads for stores in your social media feed, in search, and elsewhere. Stick with known, trusted retailers. (And for more on shopping safely online, give this article a quick read.)
The site promises access to hot shows, movies, and sporting events
These sites bear similarities to malicious online shopping sites. When popular movies hit the big screen or major sporting events come around, so do scam sites that promise to stream them for free or at a low cost. Avoid them. Trusted streamers will only carry shows and events that they have the rights to. If you find an offer to stream something that’s heavily discounted, free, or not available on known media outlets, it’s likely a scam. At the very least, it might serve up pirated content, which could carry malware threats along with it.
The site promotes prizes, coupons, or a quiz
Not every site that promotes some kind of giveaway or deal is a scam. Yet the ones that ask for personal or financial information likely are. Scammers prey on people’s love for saving money or even winning a buck or two. Enter the prize, coupon, and quiz sites. Malicious prize and coupon sites will often ask for credit or debit card information, often under the guise of a payout or a discount. Malicious quiz sites will likewise ask for all kinds of personal information, typically questions about the name of your pet, the first car you owned, or where you went to school. The questions share much in common with the security questions used by banks and credit card companies. Handing this information over could lead to a breached account. Give these sites a pass.
Comprehensive online protection software like ours includes web protection that can spot malicious sites for you. It has further features that can prevent downloading malware by accident, not to mention strong antivirus protection if a hacker makes their way through to you. In all, it gives you extra confidence that wherever your travels take you online, you’re protected from sketchy and unsafe sites.
However, another part of your best defense against unsafe websites is you. Knowing what the red flags are and the kinds of information hackers want to steal can help you avoid their attacks from the start.
The post How to Tell Whether a Website Is Safe or Unsafe appeared first on McAfee Blog.
