1131
Latest news and stories from BleepingComputer.com From a bleeping computer to a working computer.
OpenAI's ChatGPT ad costs are on par with live NFL broadcasts
OpenAI plans to begin rolling out ads on ChatGPT in the United States if you have a free or $8 Go subscription, but the catch is that the ads could be very expensive for advertisers. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openais-chatgpt-ad-costs-are-on-par-with-live-nfl-broadcasts/
Chinese Mustang Panda hackers deploy infostealers via CoolClient backdoor
The Chinese espionage threat group Mustang Panda has updated its CoolClient backdoor to a new variant that can steal login data from browsers and monitor the clipboard. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chinese-mustang-panda-hackers-deploy-infostealers-via-coolclient-backdoor/
Nike investigates data breach after extortion gang leaks files
Nike is investigating what it described as a "potential cyber security incident" after the World Leaks ransomware gang leaked 1.4 TB of files allegedly stolen from the sportswear giant. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/nike-investigates-data-breach-after-extortion-gang-leaks-files/
US charges 31 more suspects linked to ATM malware attacks
A Nebraska federal grand jury charged 31 additional defendants for their involvement in an ATM jackpotting operation allegedly orchestrated by members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-charges-31-more-suspects-linked-to-atm-malware-attacks/
Over 6,000 SmarterMail servers exposed to automated hijacking attacks
Nonprofit security organization Shadowserver has found over 6,000 SmarterMail servers exposed online and likely vulnerable to attacks exploiting a critical authentication bypass vulnerability. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-6-000-smartermail-servers-exposed-to-automated-hijacking-attacks/
New malware service guarantees phishing extensions on Chrome web store
A new malware-as-a-service (MaaS) called 'Stanley' promises malicious Chrome extensions that can clear Google's review process and publish them to the Chrome Web Store. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-malware-service-guarantees-phishing-extensions-on-chrome-web-store/
Microsoft patches actively exploited Office zero-day vulnerability
Microsoft has released emergency security updates to patch a high-severity Office zero-day vulnerability exploited in attacks. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-patches-actively-exploited-office-zero-day-vulnerability/
EU launches investigation into X over Grok-generated sexual images
The European Commission is now investigating whether X properly assessed risks before deploying its Grok artificial intelligence tool, following its use to generate sexually explicit images. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/eu-launches-investigation-into-x-over-grok-generated-sexual-images/
6 Okta security settings you might have overlooked
Okta misconfigurations can quietly weaken identity security as SaaS environments evolve. Nudge Security shows six Okta security settings teams often overlook and how to fix them. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/6-okta-security-settings-you-might-have-overlooked/
CISA says critical VMware RCE flaw now actively exploited
CISA has flagged a critical VMware vCenter Server vulnerability as actively exploited and ordered U.S. federal agencies to secure their servers within three weeks. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-says-critical-vmware-rce-flaw-now-actively-exploited/
1Password adds pop-pup warnings for suspected phishing sites
The 1Password digital vault and password manager has added built-in protection against phishing URLs to help users identify malicious pages and prevent them from sharing account credentials with threat actors. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/1password-adds-pop-pup-warnings-for-suspected-phishing-sites/
Microsoft releases emergency OOB update to fix Outlook freezes
Microsoft has released emergency, out-of-band updates on Saturday for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server to fix an issue that prevented Microsoft Outlook from opening when using PSTs stored in cloud storage. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-releases-emergency-oob-update-to-fix-outlook-freezes/
Konni hackers target blockchain engineers with AI-built malware
The North Korean hacker group Konni (Opal Sleet, TA406) is using AI-generated PowerShell malware to target developers and engineers in the blockchain sector. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/konni-hackers-target-blockchain-engineers-with-ai-built-malware/
Malicious AI extensions on VSCode Marketplace steal developer data
Two malicious extensions in Microsoft's Visual Studio Code (VSCode) Marketplace that were collectively installed 1.5 million times, exfiltrate developer data to China-based servers. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/malicious-ai-extensions-on-vscode-marketplace-steal-developer-data/
US to deport Venezuelans who emptied bank ATMs using malware
South Carolina federal prosecutors announced that two Venezuelan nationals convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from U.S. banks in an ATM jackpotting scheme will be deported after serving their sentences. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-to-deport-venezuelans-who-emptied-bank-atms-using-malware/
Fortinet blocks exploited FortiCloud SSO zero day until patch is ready
Fortinet has confirmed a new, actively exploited critical FortiCloud single sign-on (SSO) authentication bypass vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-24858, and says it has mitigated the zero-day attacks by blocking FortiCloud SSO connections from devices running vulnerable firmware versions. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fortinet-blocks-exploited-forticloud-sso-zero-day-until-patch-is-ready/
WinRAR path traversal flaw still exploited by numerous hackers
Multiple threat actors, both state-sponsored and financially motivated, are exploiting the CVE-2025-8088 high-severity vulnerability in WinRAR for initial access and to deliver various malicious payloads. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-path-traversal-flaw-still-exploited-by-numerous-hackers/
Critical sandbox escape flaw discovered in popular vm2 NodeJS library
A critical-severity vulnerability in the vm2 Node.js sandbox library, tracked as CVE-2026-22709, allows escaping the sandbox and executing arbitrary code on the underlying host system. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/critical-sandbox-escape-flaw-discovered-in-popular-vm2-nodejs-library/
From Cipher to Fear: The psychology behind modern ransomware extortion
Modern ransomware has shifted from encryption to psychological extortion that exploits fear, liability, and exposure. Flare shows how today's ransomware groups weaponize stolen data and pressure tactics to force payment. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/from-cipher-to-fear-the-psychology-behind-modern-ransomware-extortion/
Have I Been Pwned: SoundCloud data breach impacts 29.8 million accounts
Hackers have stolen the personal and contact information belonging to over 29.8 million SoundCloud user accounts after breaching the audio streaming platform's systems. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/have-i-been-pwned-soundcloud-data-breach-impacts-298-million-accounts/
New ClickFix attacks abuse Windows App-V scripts to push malware
A new malicious campaign mixes the ClickFix method with fake CAPTCHA and a signed Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) script to ultimately deliver the Amatera infostealing malware. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-clickfix-attacks-abuse-windows-app-v-scripts-to-push-malware/
Cloudflare misconfiguration behind recent BGP route leak
Cloudflare has shared more details about a recent 25-minute Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) route leak affecting IPv6 traffic, which caused measurable congestion, packet loss, and approximately 12 Gbps of dropped traffic. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cloudflare-misconfiguration-behind-recent-bgp-route-leak/
Nearly 800,000 Telnet servers exposed to remote attacks
Internet security watchdog Shadowserver tracks nearly 800,000 IP addresses with Telnet fingerprints amid ongoing attacks exploiting a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in the GNU InetUtils telnetd server. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/nearly-800-000-telnet-servers-exposed-to-remote-attacks/
Hackers can bypass npm’s Shai-Hulud defenses via Git dependencies
The defense mechanisms that NPM introduced after the 'Shai-Hulud' supply-chain attacks have weaknesses that allow threat actors to bypass them via Git dependencies. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-can-bypass-npms-shai-hulud-defenses-via-git-dependencies/
ChatGPT Temporary chat feature is getting a much-needed upgrade
OpenAI is testing a big upgrade for ChatGPT's temporary chat feature. The update will allow you to retain personalization in temporary chat, and still block temporary chat from influencing your account. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-temporary-chat-feature-is-getting-a-much-needed-upgrade/
Microsoft investigates Windows 11 boot failures after January updates
Microsoft is investigating reports that some Windows 11 devices are failing to boot with "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" errors after installing the January 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-investigates-windows-11-boot-failures-after-january-updates/
Sandworm hackers linked to failed wiper attack on Poland’s energy systems
A cyberattack targeting Poland's power grid in late December 2025 has been linked to the Russian state-sponsored hacking group Sandworm, which attempted to deploy a new destructive data-wiping malware dubbed DynoWiper during the attack.. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sandworm-hackers-linked-to-failed-wiper-attack-on-polands-energy-systems/
ShinyHunters claim to be behind SSO-account data theft attacks
The ShinyHunters extortion gang claims it is behind a wave of ongoing voice phishing attacks targeting single sign-on (SSO) accounts at Okta, Microsoft, and Google, enabling threat actors to breach corporate SaaS platforms and steal company data for extortion. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/shinyhunters-claim-to-be-behind-sso-account-data-theft-attacks/
CISA confirms active exploitation of four enterprise software bugs
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. warned of active exploitation of four vulnerabilities impacting enterprise software from Versa and Zimbra, the Vite frontend tooling framework, and the Prettier code formatter. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-confirms-active-exploitation-of-four-enterprise-software-bugs/
Hackers exploit critical telnetd auth bypass flaw to get root
A coordinated campaign has been observed targeting a recently disclosed critical-severity vulnerability that has been present in the GNU InetUtils telnetd server for 11 years. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-exploit-critical-telnetd-auth-bypass-flaw-to-get-root/