How to avoid installation of Formbook via the fake Inbank email?

What is Inbank email virus?

One of the most popular ways to deliver malware is to send emails disguised as letters from legitimate companies (or other entities) with malicious attachments or website links. Cybercriminals behind this malspam campaign send emails disguised as letters from Inbank containing a download link for a malicious file designed to install FormBook malware.

Inbank malspam campaign in detail

The main purpose of this email is to trick recipients into believing that more than thirteen thousand euros have been sent to their bank account and clicking the PDF file logo for more detailed payment information. If clicked, that PDF logo image downloads a malicious ISO file designed to install FormBook.

FormBook is designed to steal information from installed web browsers and other programs. More precisely, it is designed to collect cookies, browsing history, Internet Protocol addresses, usernames, email addresses, passwords (or other login credentials), credit card details, and other sensitive information.

Cybercriminals behind FormBook may use gathered information to steal identities, hijack personal accounts and use them to make fraudulent purchases, transactions, trick other people into transferring money, providing personal information, and so on. Also, FormBook can operate as a keystroke logger.

Keyloggers record keyboard input - they collect information entered with a keyboard. Additionally, FormBook can be used to install additional malware (to infect computers with ransomware, Trojan, cryptocurrency miner). In one way or another, FormBook should be removed from infected computers as soon as possible.

Threat Summary:

Name	Inbank spam
Threat Type	Information-stealing virus, keylogger, loader
Hoax	Recipients have received money to their bank accounts
Attachment(s)	Inbank_pdf.iso
Detection Names (Inbank_pdf.iso)	Arcabit (Trojan.Generic.D2C9B5FF), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.GenericKD.46773759), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Kryptik.HMBD), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Spy.Win32.Noon.gen), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Lokibot.RW!MTB), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Malicious programs like FormBook are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine.
Payload	FormBook
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.

Malspam campaigns in general

Emails used to deliver malware contain malicious attachments or links. In both cases, recipients infect their computers by downloading and opening malicious files. Usually, cybercriminals behind malspam campaigns pretend to be legitimate companies, organizations. More examples of similar emails are "Destel Group", "Assurance Certificates", "Statement Report".

How did Inbank email virus infect my computer?

The PDF logo image in this email has a hyperlink added to it. That link is designed to download a malicious ISO file (Inbank_pdf.iso). FormBook gets installed when users load that file. It is important to mention that other files can be used to distribute malware too. For example, PDF or MS Office documents, executable files (like EXE), ZIP, RAR files, JavaScript files.

Malicious documents opened with MS Office 2010 and newer versions do not install malware unless users enable editing/content (macros commands) in them. Although, malicious documents opened with older MS Office versions install malware on computers once they are opened. It is because older versions do not have the "Protected View" mode.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Files and website links in irrelevant emails sent from unknown, suspicious addresses could be malicious. Therefore, emails of this kind should be thoroughly examined before opening their contents (links, attachments). It is important to remember that malicious emails usually look like letters from legitimate entities.

Software and files should be downloaded from official websites and through direct download links. Other sources like unofficial websites, third-party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks, and so on can be used to distribute malware. Third-party installers can be designed to install malicious software too.

Installed programs have to be updated and activated with tools or implemented functions provided by their official developers. Third-party, unofficial tools often have malware hidden in them. Also, it is against the law to use pirated software (use cracking tools to activate legitimate software).

The operating system should be scanned for viruses and other threats regularly. It is recommended to scan it with a reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep it up to date. If you've already opened Inbank email attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the Inbank email letter:

Subject: Inbank - Alert bonifico

BANCA CENTRO LAZIO CREDITO
COOPERATIVO SOCIETA'
COOPERATIVA

INBANK

Gentile stimato cliente,
confermiamo che in data 11/08/2021 alle ore 09:36 dal conto IV04V0871639150000012103788 è stato inviato un bonifico bancario per un importo di 13.734,14 euro sul tuo conto come "Fattura di Pagamento". si prega di fare riferimento al file pdf allegato per ulteriori informazioni su questo pagamento.

PER ASSISTENZA

Consulta la pagina dedicata alle FAQ sul sito Inbank, oppure contatta la tua Filiale.

AGGUINGI NOREPLY@INPANT.IT ALLA TUA RUBRICA CONTATTI E LE NOSTRE COMUNICAZIONI NON SARANNO SALVATE NELLA POSTA INDESIDERATA.
ATTENZIONE: QUESTA È-MAIL E UNA COMUNICAZIONE DI SERVIZIO E NON UNA COMUNICAZIONE CONTENENTE OFFERTE PROMOZIONALI. NON UTILIZZARE L'INDIRIZZO DI POSTA ELETTRONICA CON CUI È STATA INVIATA LA PRESENTE E-MAIL PER RICHIEDERE INFORMAZIONI O FORMULARE QUESITI.

Malicious attachment ("Inbank_pdf.iso") detected as malicious in VirusTotal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Inbank 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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