Search/CryptoBandits Malware Doubles as a Backdoor, Abuses Tor
● News

CryptoBandits Malware Doubles as a Backdoor, Abuses Tor

Microsoft warns of a Windows-based cryptocurrency clipper that establishes a lightweight backdoor blending data exfiltration and remote code execution (RCE) capabilities. Dubbed CryptoBandits, the malware has been used in attacks since February 2026, deploying a portable Tor client on the infected systems and routing traffic through a local SOCKS5 proxy. “The clipper in this campaign relies on Windows Script Host and ActiveX-driven logic to launch a bundled Tor proxy and poll a hidden-service C&C server. It carries out high-frequency clipboard theft, screenshot exfiltration, and wallet-address substitution,” Microsoft explains. CryptoBandits is distributed through malicious shortcut (.lnk) payloads. On the infected systems, it deploys two components: a worm for propagation and a…

Read original article
Source
securityweek.com
Published
Jun 19, 2026
Mentions
11
language: en
Connections
12 relationships