A Quick Look at Common Malware Families
What is an Infostealer?
Unlike ransomware or viruses that cause obvious damage, infostealers are silent and fast, often completing their task in seconds before deleting themselves or staying dormant.
Common Infostealer Families
Here are some of the most active and widespread infostealer malware families:
Name | Summary |
|---|---|
Raccoon | Easy-to-use, sold as Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS), known for stealing credentials and autofill data. |
RedLine | Highly popular, often spread through fake software and phishing; steals passwords, cookies, crypto wallets. |
Vidar | Lightweight but powerful; sold on underground forums and often bundled with cracked software. |
Lumma | Known for rapid updates and targeting Chromium-based browsers and password managers. |
Meta | Successor to RedLine in some markets, focusing on password and session hijacking. |
Aurora | Newer stealer with loader capabilities, often used to deliver further malware. |
- Saved browser credentials
- Cookies and session tokens (used to bypass logins)
- Credit card data saved in browsers
- Crypto wallet files and extensions
- System information (IP address, OS, antivirus used)
How It Spreads
- Phishing emails with malicious attachments
- Fake installers for popular software (e.g., cracked apps or games)
- Malvertising (malicious ads) on sketchy websites
- Discord and Telegram spam bots sharing links
What Makes It Dangerous?
- Quick exfiltration: Data is often stolen within seconds of infection.
- Credential resale: Stolen data is resold in logs on dark web marketplaces.
- Ongoing access: Session cookies can give attackers direct access to company systems without needing a password.
How to Protect Yourself
- Avoid downloading cracked software or clicking on suspicious links.
- Use reputable antivirus and endpoint detection tools.
- Educate employees on phishing and social engineering.
- Regularly scan for credentials in stealer logs using services like Selki or Have I Been Pwned.
If you suspect an infostealer infection or have found your credentials in a stealer log, take immediate action to change passwords, revoke sessions, and review your security hygiene.
Updated on: 07/08/2025
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