Avoid infecting your system via fake "Galp Energia " emails

What is the "Galp Energia" scam email?

"Galp Energia email virus" refers to a spam campaign designed to spread malware (malspam). The term "spam campaign" defines a mass-scale operation during which scam emails are sent by the thousand.

The messages distributed through this campaign are disguised as notifications concerning an overdue invoice issued by Galp Energia, a genuine Portuguese corporation, dealing in oil and gas exploration and production, natural gas transportation and distribution, oil refining, and electricity generation.

It must be emphasized that the fake "Galp Energia" emails are in no way associated with the genuine Galp corporation. This spam campaign shares many similarities with "Energias de Portugal (EDP) email virus", from the geolocation of targeted users, scam message subject matter, to the malware infection chain.

As is the case with "Energias de Portugal (EDP)" spam campaign, the type of malicious software "Galp Energia" emails proliferate is unknown. Typically, deceptive/scam messages are used to distribute Trojans, ransomware, and cryptominers.

According to a rough translation, the "Galp Energia" scam emails (subject/title "GALP Energia - Factura Vencida. - ( 327755289105 )" can vary) inform recipients that they have an overdue invoice relating to payment for electricity consumption. The pending sum is stated to be over three hundred euros, however, the information provided by these messages is false.

Rather than obtaining an invoice, recipients download a ZIP file by clicking the links in the emails. This archive contains a virulent VBS file, which upon opening initiates download/installation of malicious programs. Do not trust the "Galp Energia" scam messages.

If it is suspected/known that malware has already infected the device, use anti-virus software to eliminate it without delay. Spam campaigns are used to spread all manner of malicious software that operates in likewise varied ways. The term "trojan" encompasses malware with a broad range of functionalities, which can be in different combinations.

Trojans can infect systems with additional malicious programs, exfiltrate system/user information and content from the infected device, enable remote access and control over the compromised machine, extract data from browsers and other installed applications (e.g., usernames, passwords, credit card details, etc.), record keystrokes (keylogging), spy via integrated/attached webcams and microphones, take screenshots, and so on.

Ransomware encrypts stored files and/or locks the device's screen for ransom purposes (i.e., makes payment demands for decryption/access recovery).

Cryptominers use system resources (potentially, to the point of system failure and permanent hardware damage) to mine cryptocurrency.

Regardless of the capabilities of malware, it is highly dangerous and must be removed immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Galp Energia spam
Threat Type	Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware.
Hoax	Scam emails are presented as overdue invoice notifications.
Disguise	Scam emails are presented as letters from Galp Energia corporation.
Attachment(s)	702ERRG5H5H5AA1100S2S99666D5D2212F.vbs (filename may vary)
Detection Names	Avast (VBS:Dropper-OY [Trj]), BitDefender (Trojan.GenericKD.45775034), ESET-NOD32 (VBS/TrojanDownloader.Banload.FG), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Downloader.VBS.SLoad.gen), Microsoft (Downloader.Banload!8.15B (TOPIS:E0:AWmBCD), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Trojans are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine.
Distribution methods	Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software 'cracks'.
Damage	Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, the victim's computer added to a botnet.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

"International Air & Sea Freight Forwarder Email Virus", "KROHNE Email Virus", "Budapest Bank Email Virus", and "Ministero Dello Sviluppo Economico Email Virus" are some examples of malware-spreading spam campaigns. Deceptive/Scam emails are typically disguised as "official", "important", "urgent", and similar, however, these messages are not used to proliferate malicious software exclusively, they are also employed to facilitate various scams.

The sole purpose of spam campaigns is to generate profit for the scammers/cyber criminals behind them. Due to the relative prevalence of this mail, exercise caution when browsing.

How did "Galp Energia email virus" infect my computer?

Typically, ransomware and other malware is distributed through malspam campaigns, fake software updating tools, untrusted download sources, unofficial (third party) software activation tools and Trojans. Users infect computers with malware when they open malicious files that they receive via email.

These emails often contain malicious attachments or websites designed to download dangerous files. In most cases, cyber criminals send emails that have Microsoft Office documents, archive files (ZIP, RAR), PDF documents, JavaScript files, and executable files such as .exe attached to them. Fake software updating tools do not update or fix any installed software - they simply install malware instead.

They can also infect systems by exploiting bugs/flaws of outdated software. Examples of dubious file/software download channels are Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, various free file hosting sites and freeware download websites.

Users infect computers through these channels when they download and execute malicious files, which are often disguised as legitimate and regular. Software 'cracking' tools supposedly activate licensed software free of charge (illegally), however, rather than activating anything, they often install malicious programs.

Trojans are rogue programs that, if installed, install other malware (causing chain infections).

How to avoid installation of malware

Do not trust irrelevant emails that have files attached (or contain website links) and are received from unknown, suspicious addresses. Software should not be downloaded or installed through third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages or other similar sources/tools.

Use only official websites and direct links. Installed software should never be updated or activated with third party, unofficial tools, since they can install malware. Furthermore, it is illegal to use third party tools to activate licensed software.

The only legitimate way to update and activate software is to use tools and functions that are provided by the official developers. Regularly scan your computer with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep this software up to date.

If you have already opened a "Galp Energia email virus" attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the fake "Galp Energia" email message:

Subject: GALP Energia - Factura Vencida. - ( 327755289105 )

Cliente Galp Energia, em anexo enviamos uma factura em atraso correspondente a factura FT 0001/002145541

 

Cliente: ********

 

Data Emissao: 22/02/2021:11:18:23

Consumo de Eletricidade entre 20 de Jan e 21 Fev: 1200 Kw
N°. Protocolo Autorizacao: 8850002141
Contador: 1993

 

Valor: EUR 362,14

 

Escolha abaixo a melhor forma de consultar a sua Factura FT 0001

 

Ver em formato PDF
Ver em formato VBS

 

* Este e-mail foi enviado automaticamente pela Galp Energia. Favor nao responder.

 

* A eletricidade facturada foi produzida a partir das seguintes fontes de energia: 24,1% Hidrica,

 

13,4% Eolica, 3,9% Cogeracao Fossil, 2,2% Outros renovaveis, 8,4% Cogeracao Fossil, 12,1% Gas Natural,

 

28,6% Carvao, 6,7% Nuclear, 0,5% Residuos solidos urbanos.

 

Para mais informacoes va a anossaenergia.galp.pt

 

23/02/2021 02:05:44

Screenshot of VirusTotal detections of the malicious file distributed via "Galp Energia" spam campaign ("702ERRG5H5H5AA1100S2S99666D5D2212F.vbs"):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Galp Energia spam?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

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