Someone is out to steal your cookies

1 April 2020 Information Security

Kaspersky experts have discovered two new Android malware modifications that, when combined, can steal cookies collected by the browser and/or apps of popular social networking sites and then allow the thieves to discreetly gain control of the victim’s account in order to send undesirable content.

Cookies are small pieces of data collected by websites to track users’ activity online in an effort to create personalised experiences in the future. While they’re often perceived as a harmless nuisance, they can, in the wrong hands, pose a security risk. That’s because, when websites store these cookies, they use a unique session ID that identifies the user in the future without requiring a password or login. Once in possession of a user’s ID, tricksters can fool the websites into thinking they are in fact the victim and take control of the latter’s account. And that’s exactly what these cookie thieves did by developing Trojans with similar coding controlled by the same command and control (C&C) server.

The first Trojan acquires root rights on the victim’s device, which allows the thieves to transfer Facebook’s cookies to their own servers.

However, simply having the ID number isn’t always enough to take control of another’s account. Some websites have security measures in place that prevent suspicious log-in attempts – say, for example, a user previously active in Chicago attempts to log-in from Bali just a few minutes later.

That’s where the second Trojan comes in. This malicious app can run a proxy server on a victim’s device to bypass security measures, gaining access without arising suspicion. From there, the criminals can pose as the victim and take control of their social networking account to distribute undesirable content.

While the ultimate aim of the cookie thieves remains unknown, a page uncovered on the same C&C; server could provide a hint: the page advertises services for distributing spam on social networks and messengers. In other words, the thieves may be looking for account access as a way to launch widespread spam and phishing attacks.

“By combining two attacks, the cookie thieves have discovered a way to gain control over their victims’ account without arising suspicions. While this is a relatively new threat – so far, only about 1000 individuals have been targeted – that number is growing and will most likely continue to do so, particularly since it’s so hard for websites to detect. Even though we typically don’t pay attention to cookies when we’re surfing the web, they’re still another means of processing our personal information, and anytime data about us is collected online, we need to pay attention,” says Kaspersky malware analyst Igor Golovin.

Here’s how you can prevent yourself from becoming a victim of cookie theft, according to Kaspersky experts:

• Block third-party cookie access on your phone’s web browser and only let your data be saved until you quit the browser.

• Periodically clear your cookies.

• Use a reliable security solution like Kaspersky Security Cloud that includes a Private Browsing feature, which prevents websites from collecting information about your activity online.


Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
Upgrade your PCs to improve security
Information Security Infrastructure
Truly secure technology today must be designed to detect and address unusual activity as it happens, wherever it happens, right down to the BIOS and silicon levels.

Read more...
Open source code can also be open risk
Information Security Infrastructure
Software development has changed significantly over the years, and today, open-source code increasingly forms the foundation of modern applications, with surveys indicating that 60 – 90% of the average application's code base consists of open-source components.

Read more...
DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...
SA’s strained, loadshedding-prone grid faces cyberthreats
Power Management Information Security
South Africa’s energy sector, already battered by decades of underinvestment and loadshedding, faces another escalating crisis; a wave of cyberthreats that could turn disruptions into catastrophic failures. Attacks are already happening internationally.

Read more...
Almost 50% of companies choose to pay the ransom
News & Events Information Security
This year’s Sophos State of Ransomware 2025 report found that nearly 50% of companies paid the ransom to get their data back, the second-highest rate of ransom payment for ransom demands in six years.

Read more...
Survey highlights cost of cyberdamage to industrial companies
Kaspersky Information Security News & Events
The majority of industrial organisations estimate their financial losses caused by cyberattacks to be over $1 million, while almost one in four report losses exceeding $5 million, and for some, it surpasses $10 million.

Read more...
Digital economy needs an agile approach to cybersecurity
Information Security News & Events
South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyberattacks

Read more...
SIEM rule threat coverage validation
Information Security News & Events
New AI-detection engineering assistant from Cymulate automates SIEM rule validation for SecOps and blue teams by streamlining threat detection engineering with automated testing, control integrations and enhanced detections.

Read more...
Cybersecurity a challenge in digitalising OT
Kaspersky Information Security Industrial (Industry)
According to a study by Kaspersky and VDC Research on securing operational technology environments, the primary risks are inadequate security measures, insufficient resources allocated to OT cybersecurity, challenges surrounding regulatory compliance, and the complexities of IT/OT integration.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.