Fireball Malware Infects 20% of Networks

Posted: June 2, 2017 to News.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Compliance

Corporate computers and networks beware! Fireball, a new Chinese malware, has already infected 20% of corporate networks and 250 million computers around the world. Fireball is a browser hijacker. It can reset your homepage and change your default search engine. That may sound like nothing more than an annoyance, but it includes a tracking pixel that can collect your data. It goes beyond that, though, creating a backdoor to allow the execution of code and the download and distribution of more malware. The culprit behind this mass infection is Rafotech, a digital marketing company out of Beijing. They're using it to change homepages to their website and to collect people's data. While those actions are relatively tame, Fireball leaves the door open for a lot of abuse. It's not yet known how the malware has become so pervasive, but Fireball is bundled with Rafotech software and can be unwittingly installed with downloadable freeway. 5.5 million instances of it have been found in the US. Of all the business networks affected, US business networks make up almost 11%. India and Brazil have been hardest hit, with 43% and 38% respectively. If your homepage has inexplicably changed and/or you're having a hard time changing it, it could be a sign of Fireball infection. You should also look to make sure your default search engine is the one you set it to and if there are any browser extensions you don't recognize. If you suspect you've been hit with Fireball or any other sort of malware, give us a call.

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Craig Petronella

CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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Fireball Malware Infects 20% of Networks

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