Attackers Connect with Malware via Malicious Memes

A new type of malware has been found listening for commands from malicious memes posted on Twitter, according to new research from Trend Micro. Cyber-criminals are using the social site as an unwilling conduit in communicating with its mothership through the use of steganography, a tactic that hides a payload inside an image in order to evade detection. The payload also instructs the malware to take a screenshot and collect system information from the infected computer, Aliakbar Zahravi wrote in a recent blog post.  “This new threat (detected as TROJAN.MSIL.BERBOMTHUM.AA) is notable because the malware’s commands are received via a legitimate service (which is also a popular social networking platform), employs the use of benign-looking yet malicious memes, and it cannot be taken down unless the malicious Twitter account is disabled. Twitter has already taken the account offline as of December 13, 2018,” the blog said. In late October, the malware authors posted malicious memes in two separate tweets. Using a Twitter account run by the malware operator, the malware listens for a command embedded in the memes. Once downloaded from the Twitter account onto the victim’s machine, the malware parses in order to act as the command-and-control (C&C) service for the malware, according to Zahravi. “This isn’t the first occurrence of malware using popular websites to obscure command-and-control features. Most organizations will allow popular websites through their firewalls, so malware communicating with these sites can blend in with a large pipe of network data,” said Travis Smith, principal security researcher at Tripwire. “A slight uptick in a few bytes of data to Twitter is less of an anomaly than a few bytes of data going to an unknown IP address for the first time. “What’s unique here is the use of steganography to obscure the commands even further. This tells me the authors of this malware are concerned more about folks scanning websites like Twitter or PasteBin for typical command-and-control or other malware functions in the text of those services.

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AI and Big Data Expo North America announces leading Speaker Lineup

TechEx Events | March 07, 2024

AI and Big Data Expo North America announces new speakers! SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, February 26, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- TheAI and Big Expo North America, the leading event for Enterprise AI, Machine Learning, Security, Ethical AI, Deep Learning, Data Ecosystems, and NLP, has announced a fresh cohort of distinguishedspeakersfor its upcoming conference at the Santa Clara Convention Center on June 5-6, 2024. Some of the top industry speakers set to take the stage are: - Sam Hamilton - Head of Data & AI – Visa - Dr Astha Purohit - Director - Product (Tech) Ops – Walmart - Noorddin Taj - Head of Architecture and Design of Intelligent Operations - BP - Temi Odesanya - Director - AI Governance Automation - Thomson Reuters - Katie Sanders - Assistant Vice President – Tech - Union Pacific Railroad - Prasanth Nandanuru – SVP - Wells Fargo - Rodney Brooks - Professor Emeritus - MIT These esteemed speakers bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to an already impressive lineup, promising attendees a truly enlightening experience. In addition to the speakers, theAI and Big Data Expo North Americawill feature a series of presentations covering a diverse range of topics in AI and Big Data exploring the latest innovations, implementations and strategies across a range of industries. Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights and practical strategies from presentations such as: How Gen AI Positively Augments Workforce Capabilities Trends in Computer Vision: Applications, Datasets, and Models Getting to Production-Ready: Challenges and Best Practices for Deploying AI Ensuring Your AI is Responsible and Ethical Mitigating Bias and Promoting Fairness in AI Systems Security Challenges in the Era of Gen AI and Data Science AI for Good: Social Impact and Ethics Selling Data Democratization to Executives Spreading Data Insights across the Business Barriers to Overcome: People, Processes, and Technology Optimizing the Customer Experience with AI Using AI to Drive Growth in a Regulated Industry Building an MLOps Foundation for AI at Scale The Expo offers a platform for exploration and discovery, showcasing how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping a myriad of industries, including manufacturing, transport, supply chain, government, legal sectors, financial services, energy, utilities, insurance, healthcare, retail, and more. Attendees will have the chance to witness firsthand the transformative power of AI and Big Data across various sectors, gaining insights that are crucial for staying ahead in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. Anticipating a turnout of over 7000 attendees and featuring 200 speakers across various tracks, AI and Big Data Expo North America offers a unique opportunity for CTO’s, CDO’s, CIO’s , Heads of IOT, AI /ML, IT Directors and tech enthusiasts to stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations in AI, Big Data and related technologies. Organized by TechEx Events, the conference will also feature six co-located events, including the IoT Tech Expo, Intelligent Automation Conference, Cyber Security & Cloud Congress, Digital Transformation Week, and Edge Computing Expo, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the technological landscape. Attendees can choose from various ticket options, providing access to engaging sessions, the bustling expo floor, premium tracks featuring industry leaders, a VIP networking party, and a sophisticated networking app facilitating connections ahead of the event. Secure your ticket with a 25% discount on tickets, available until March 31st, 2024. Save up to $300 on your ticket and be part of the conversation shaping the future of AI and Big Data technologies. For more information and to secure your place at AI and Big Data Expo North America, please visit https://www.ai-expo.net/northamerica/. About AI and Big Data Expo North America: The AI and Big Data Expo North America is a leading event in the AI and Big Data landscape, serving as a nexus for professionals, industry experts, and enthusiasts to explore and navigate the ever-evolving technological frontier. Through its focus on education, networking, and collaboration, the Expo continues to be a beacon for those eager to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. “AI and Big Data Expo North Americais a part ofTechEx. For more information regardingTechExplease see onlinehere.”

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