February 19, 2020 By David Bisson 2 min read

Security researchers observed the AZORult Trojan using a fake ProtonVPN installer to prey upon Windows users.

In mid-February, Kaspersky spotted a campaign in which digital attackers abused the ProtonVPN service to trick Windows users. Researchers at the security firm witnessed the campaign using malvertising techniques via affiliation banner networks as one of its infection vectors. These tactics tricked users into visiting counterfeit websites and downloading a fake ProtonVPN installer for Windows. Once downloaded, those installers infected users with the AZORult botnet.

Upon execution, the malware collected the environment information of the infected machine and sent it off to its command-and-control (C&C) server located at accounts[.]protonvpn[.]store. Malicious actors then used AZORult to steal various other details from their victims, including FTP logins, passwords, email credentials and even cryptocurrency from users’ local wallets.

AZORult’s Ongoing Evolution

News of this campaign comes after several rounds of innovation on the part of AZORult. Back in October 2018, for instance, Check Point observed a fresh version of the malware that came with a new means of connecting to its C&C server, an improved cryptocurrency wallet stealer and other changes.

This discovery came at around the same time that Palo Alto Networks spotted the malware as one of the primary payloads of the Fallout exploit kit in a campaign that researchers called “FindMyName.” More than a year later in February 2020, SANS’ Internet Storm Center discovered a campaign that used a triple-encrypted downloader to target users with AZORult.

How to Fend Off Fake ProtonVPN Malvertisements

Security professionals can help defend their organizations against malvertising campaigns, including those that use fake ProtonVPN installers, by keeping an eye on malvertising strategies and using threat intelligence to stay abreast of the latest campaigns leveraging these tactics.

Acknowledging malefactors’ frequent use of exploit kits in malvertising attacks, infosec personnel should also thoughtfully prioritize their organizations’ systems and functions so that they can create and maintain an effective patching schedule.

More from

What’s behind unchecked CVE proliferation, and what to do about it

4 min read - The volume of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) has reached staggering levels, placing immense pressure on organizations' cyber defenses. According to SecurityScorecard, there were 29,000 vulnerabilities recorded in 2023, and by mid-2024, nearly 27,500 had already been identified.Meanwhile, Coalition's 2024 Cyber Threat Index forecasts that the total number of CVEs for 2024 will hit 34,888—a 25% increase compared to the previous year. This upward trend presents a significant challenge for organizations trying to manage vulnerabilities and mitigate potential exploits.What’s behind…

Quishing: A growing threat hiding in plain sight

4 min read - Our mobile devices go everywhere we go, and we can use them for almost anything. For businesses, the accessibility of mobile devices has also made it easier to create more interactive ways to introduce new products and services while improving user experiences across different industries. Quick-response (QR) codes are a good example of this in action and help mobile devices quickly navigate to web pages or install new software by simply scanning an image.However, legitimate organizations aren’t the only ones…

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: 5 new AI skills cyber pros need

4 min read - The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries, including cybersecurity, has sparked a sense of urgency among professionals. As organizations increasingly adopt AI tools to bolster security defenses, cyber professionals now face a pivotal question: What new skills do I need to stay relevant?October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to address this pressing issue. With AI transforming threat detection, prevention and response, what better moment to explore the essential skills professionals might require?Whether you're…

Topic updates

Get email updates and stay ahead of the latest threats to the security landscape, thought leadership and research.
Subscribe today