Ashkan Vila

Security Analyst – IBM

Ashkan (Ash) Vila is a security analyst with IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence. He started his career with IBM X-Force in 2012. His area of focus is brand and company related threats, email threat intelligence, and malware and content analysis. Ash is continuously monitoring and hunting in the threat landscape for new findings around trending risks. Providing useful information and reports on current risk is one of his secret hobbies.

Malware April 30, 2020

TrickBot Campaigns Targeting Users via Department of Labor FMLA Spam

4 min read - Recent analysis from IBM X-Force spam traps uncovered a new Trickbot campaign that currently targets email recipients with fake messages purporting to come from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Government April 27, 2020

SBA Spoofed in COVID-19 Spam to Deliver Remcos RAT

5 min read - As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts small businesses in the U.S., cybercriminals are trusting that people will be more likely to open unsolicited emails purporting to come from relevant entities.

Advanced Threats April 23, 2020

New Study Shows Consumers Could Be Vulnerable to COVID-19 Spam

5 min read - Since March 11, IBM X-Force has observed a more than 6,000 percent increase in COVID-19 spam, with lures ranging the full gamut of challenges and concerns facing individuals.

Malware February 13, 2020

Sextortion Scams Delivered by Emotet Net 10 Times More Than Necurs Sextortion — Here’s Why

5 min read - Recent spam campaigns from Emotet featured sextortion content very similar to emails previously sent by the Necurs botnet.

Malware February 5, 2020

Emotet Activity Rises as It Uses Coronavirus Scare to Infect Targets in Japan

3 min read - IBM X-Force has identified a spam campaign targeting users in Japan that employs the Coronavirus scare as a lure to encourage people to open malicious emails.

Fraud Protection January 27, 2020

Has Necurs Fallen From (Cybercrime) Grace? Elite Malware Botnet Now Distributes Clunky Scams

5 min read - Is Necurs toppling down from its high position as a major malspam carrier for elite cybercrime gangs?

Threat Intelligence May 27, 2019

HawkEye Malware Operators Renew Attacks on Business Users

3 min read - IBM X-Force researchers report an increase in HawkEye v9 keylogger infection campaigns targeting businesses around the world.

CISO April 8, 2019

Cybercriminals Spoof Major Accounting and Payroll Firms in Tax Season Malware Campaigns

8 min read - IBM X-Force researchers observed cybercriminals engaging in three tax-themed malware campaigns.

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Topics

Ashkan Vila

TrickBot Campaigns Targeting Users via Department of Labor FMLA Spam

SBA Spoofed in COVID-19 Spam to Deliver Remcos RAT

New Study Shows Consumers Could Be Vulnerable to COVID-19 Spam

Sextortion Scams Delivered by Emotet Net 10 Times More Than Necurs Sextortion — Here’s Why

Emotet Activity Rises as It Uses Coronavirus Scare to Infect Targets in Japan

Has Necurs Fallen From (Cybercrime) Grace? Elite Malware Botnet Now Distributes Clunky Scams

HawkEye Malware Operators Renew Attacks on Business Users

Cybercriminals Spoof Major Accounting and Payroll Firms in Tax Season Malware Campaigns

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