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A long-running malvertising operation dubbed SourTrade has been targeting retail traders and cryptocurrency users with fake ads and spoofed sites impersonating TradingView, Solana, and Luno. Researchers said the campaign has operated since late 2024 across 12 countries and 25 languages, selectively serving malicious pages to intended victims in regions including Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa, Australia, and Great Britain while showing analysts and bots blank or benign content through cloaking.
Instead of delivering a static payload, SourTrade uses a browser-side assembly chain to build a unique Windows executable on the victim system. The landing page provides build instructions, retrieves a clean Bun runtime from separate infrastructure, generates additional bytes locally with AES-CTR, and uses browser features such as ServiceWorker and SharedWorker to assemble the final malware in memory before triggering a same-origin download. Researchers said the approach frustrates static hash-based detection, file fingerprinting, and simple network-log review, and noted the campaign has abused advertising ecosystems linked to Google, Meta/Facebook, and X/Twitter while publishing malware hashes and domains as indicators of compromise.
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Confiant reported that in April, the SourTrade malvertising campaign changed its malware delivery method, abandoning use of the StreamSaver GitHub project in favor of a same-origin ServiceWorker technique. The shift reflects an operational change in how the campaign assembles malware locally in victims' browsers.
On July 24, 2026, Cyber Security News reported on SourTrade and noted that the report included multiple malware hashes and a large set of associated domains as indicators of compromise for defenders.
On July 23, 2026, Confiant published a report detailing SourTrade's browser-side malware assembly chain, cloaking behavior, impersonation of TradingView, Solana, and Luno, and abuse of advertising ecosystems tied to Google, Meta/Facebook, and X.
Confiant and Cyber Security News describe SourTrade as a long-running malvertising campaign active since late 2024, targeting retail traders and cryptocurrency users with fake ads and spoofed trading or exchange websites.
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Multiple active **social-engineering-driven malware operations** are targeting end users through trusted distribution channels. One campaign, dubbed **GhostPoster**, distributed **17 malicious browser extensions** across *Chrome, Firefox, and Edge* with **840,000+ installs**, using legitimate-sounding names (e.g., “Google Translate in Right Click,” “Youtube Download,” “Ads Block Ultimate”) and evading store reviews for years. The extensions used **steganography** to hide code in PNGs, then extracted payloads to contact attacker infrastructure, enabling credential/data theft, tracking, affiliate-link hijacking, script injection, and HTTP header manipulation to weaken protections. Separately, threat actors are impersonating **Malwarebytes** via trojanized ZIP “installers” (e.g., `malwarebytes-windows-github-io-X.X.X.zip`) and using **DLL sideloading**—pairing a legitimate EXE with a malicious `CoreMessaging.dll`—to execute **infostealers**; reporting highlighted a campaign fingerprint via **behash** `4acaac53c8340a8c236c91e68244e6cb` and distinctive DLL strings used for infrastructure mapping. A different operation identified by CloudSEK involves **“RedLineCyber”** masquerading as an affiliate of “RedLine Solutions” to build credibility inside private **Discord** communities and deliver a Python-based **clipboard hijacker** (often `Pro.exe` / `peeek.exe`) aimed at **cryptocurrency wallet theft**, relying on long-term grooming of high-value targets rather than broad phishing.
Jun 29, 2026
A sophisticated cybercriminal campaign has been identified targeting macOS users, particularly developers, by leveraging fake download portals that impersonate trusted platforms such as Homebrew, LogMeIn, and TradingView. The attackers have registered over 85 domains that closely mimic the legitimate sites of these popular tools, using convincing branding and user interfaces to deceive visitors. These malicious domains are promoted through Google Ads, ensuring that they appear prominently in search results and increasing the likelihood that unsuspecting users will visit them. Once on the fake sites, users are instructed to copy and execute a curl command in their Terminal, which initiates the download and installation of infostealing malware. The primary payloads delivered in this campaign are AMOS (Atomic macOS Stealer) and Odyssey Stealer, both of which are capable of harvesting sensitive information such as system details, browser data, and cryptocurrency credentials from infected machines. The campaign employs advanced social engineering tactics, including clipboard manipulation and command obfuscation, to increase the success rate of infections. Researchers from Hunt.io have mapped the infrastructure supporting this operation, noting that the attackers reuse IP addresses and SSL certificates across multiple domains, indicating a persistent and well-organized effort. The infrastructure has been active for several years, with some IP addresses registered under personal names, suggesting a degree of operational continuity and experience. The campaign does not rely on exploiting software vulnerabilities but instead exploits user trust in widely used open-source and financial tools. The use of Google Ads as a distribution vector highlights the attackers' willingness to invest in paid advertising to reach their targets. The campaign's focus on the developer community is particularly concerning, as compromised developer systems could lead to broader supply chain risks. Security researchers have emphasized the importance of verifying download sources and being wary of unsolicited installation instructions, especially those involving Terminal commands. The ongoing nature of the campaign, with continuous adaptation of infrastructure and tactics, underscores the need for vigilance among macOS users. The discovery of this campaign began with public reports from independent researchers, which were then corroborated and expanded upon by threat intelligence teams. The scale and persistence of the operation suggest that it is likely to continue evolving, posing a significant threat to the macOS ecosystem. Organizations are advised to educate users about the risks of malvertising and to implement technical controls to block access to known malicious domains. The campaign demonstrates the increasing sophistication of social engineering attacks targeting macOS, a platform often perceived as less vulnerable than Windows.
Jun 29, 2026
Threat actors are increasingly leveraging fake websites and bogus software installers to distribute malware, employing advanced techniques such as AI-generated web pages and code-signed malicious applications. One campaign involves the use of the legitimate Syncro remote access tool, where attackers create their own signed builds and distribute them via mass-generated, AI-powered fake websites that closely mimic official application sites. These malicious sites are promoted through search engine optimization and phishing emails, often masquerading as trusted brands like antivirus or password management tools, to trick users into downloading malware-laden installers. Another ongoing global campaign, dubbed TamperedChef, uses counterfeit installers for popular software to deliver JavaScript-based remote access malware. The attackers utilize malvertising, SEO, and abused digital certificates from shell companies to increase the credibility of their malicious payloads. The infrastructure supporting these campaigns is described as industrialized, with operators regularly acquiring new code-signing certificates to evade detection. Both campaigns highlight the growing sophistication and scale of malvertising operations targeting users through deceptive download sites and installer packages.
Jun 29, 2026