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BatShadow Group Uses 'Vampire Bot' Malware to Target Job Seekers

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2 unique sources, 2 articles

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The Vietnamese threat actor BatShadow is using a new Go-based malware called Vampire Bot to target job seekers and digital marketing professionals. The attack involves social engineering tactics where the group poses as recruiters and distributes malicious files disguised as job descriptions and corporate documents. The malware is capable of profiling infected hosts, stealing information, capturing screenshots, and maintaining communication with a command-and-control server. The infection chain begins with ZIP archives containing decoy PDFs and malicious shortcut or executable files. The malware is delivered through a multi-stage process involving PowerShell scripts, fake error messages, and remote desktop software to establish persistent access. The actors have been active for at least a year and have previously used similar tactics to deploy other malware families. The malware captures screenshots at configurable intervals, compresses them into WEBP format, and exfiltrates them over encrypted channels. The malware is written in Go and continuously checks in with its command and control (C2) server for new commands and additional payloads. The targets in BatShadow's latest campaign are individuals in transition or with high online visibility, such as job seekers and digital marketing professionals. The malware hides in core system folders and uses additional tags and attributes to conceal itself. The malware can prompt victims to change their default browser to dodge native safeguards and ensure delivery.

Timeline

  1. 07.10.2025 20:04 2 articles · 7d ago

    BatShadow Group Uses 'Vampire Bot' Malware to Target Job Seekers

    The Vietnamese threat actor BatShadow is using a new Go-based malware called Vampire Bot to target job seekers and digital marketing professionals. The attack involves social engineering tactics where the group poses as recruiters and distributes malicious files disguised as job descriptions and corporate documents. The malware is capable of profiling infected hosts, stealing information, capturing screenshots, and maintaining communication with a command-and-control server. The infection chain begins with ZIP archives containing decoy PDFs and malicious shortcut or executable files. The malware is delivered through a multi-stage process involving PowerShell scripts, fake error messages, and remote desktop software to establish persistent access. The actors have been active for at least a year and have previously used similar tactics to deploy other malware families. The malware captures screenshots at configurable intervals, compresses them into WEBP format, and exfiltrates them over encrypted channels. The malware is written in Go and continuously checks in with its command and control (C2) server for new commands and additional payloads. The targets in BatShadow's latest campaign are individuals in transition or with high online visibility, such as job seekers and digital marketing professionals. The malware hides in core system folders and uses additional tags and attributes to conceal itself. The malware can prompt victims to change their default browser to dodge native safeguards and ensure delivery.

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