Cybercriminals Favor Infostealer Malware in Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks consistently rank among the most prevalent methods cybercriminals employ to steal personal and business data. While the tactic itself isn’t new, a significant evolution has emerged in the type of malicious software deployed. Threat actors are increasingly favoring infostealer malware as their primary payload, a trend extensively documented in recent analysis, including a detailed report from Malwarebytes.

Instead of tricking people into typing passwords on fake websites, attackers are now dropping malware directly onto victims’ devices to do the stealing for them.

This shift has been building gradually, and it signals a more dangerous phase in the evolution of online scams. Traditional phishing still exists and remains a serious threat.

However, a growing number of attackers now prefer to deploy infostealers, a category of malware designed to silently collect passwords, browser cookies, session tokens, saved autofill data, cryptocurrency wallet details, and even files stored on the device.

Analysts at Malwarebytes, in a report shared with Cyber Security News (CSN), noted that this approach is appealing because it scales well and reduces friction for the attacker.

Rather than waiting for a victim to visit a fake login page and enter credentials, the malware simply harvests whatever is already saved on the infected machine.

This also makes the attack much harder to spot. A classic phishing attempt often leaves visible red flags, a strange link, a suspicious sender address, or an oddly formatted login page.

Infostealers, by contrast, work quietly in the background after installation, giving victims little reason to suspect anything is wrong.

One significant driver behind this change is the widespread adoption of multi-factor authentication, or MFA. Because MFA adds an extra layer of login verification, stolen passwords alone are no longer enough for many account takeovers.

By stealing session cookies instead, attackers can bypass MFA entirely and access accounts without needing a password or a one-time code.

Cybercriminals Shift From Fake Login Pages

Another major factor is the explosion of the malware-as-a-service ecosystem, commonly known as MaaS. This underground market allows criminals to buy ready-made infostealer kits, loaders, and initial access tools without needing to build anything themselves.

It has dramatically lowered the bar for entry, letting even low-skilled attackers run large-scale credential theft campaigns. These services are not just cheap, they are also designed for speed and flexibility.

Operators can push out updates, rotate their infrastructure, and launch fresh campaigns quickly, while a network of affiliates handles distribution through phishing emails, fake downloads, malvertising, and social media traps.

The division of labor makes these operations highly efficient and difficult to shut down. Infostealers rarely mark the end of an attack, and in most cases, they are just the opening move.

The stolen data, including saved passwords, session cookies, and corporate access credentials, is packaged and sold to other criminals who specialize in account takeover, fraud, business email compromise, or ransomware deployment. A single infected device can generate income across multiple buyer types at once.

How Infostealers Reach Victims and How to Stay Safe

Infostealers reach victims through a wide range of delivery methods. Malicious ads, fake browser update prompts, pirated software, game cheats, cracked tools, and shady browser extensions are among the most common entry points.

These channels are effective because they reach people who are not necessarily expecting an attack and who may already be used to clicking through prompts without much thought.

A tactic called ClickFix has also gained traction recently. It works by tricking users into running commands or scripts on their own devices, often by presenting a fake error message or warning that instructs them to paste something into a command prompt.

Malwarebytes researchers warn that users should never execute any command copied from a website, email, or message unless they fully understand what it does and trust the source completely.

Staying safe requires building simple, consistent habits. Users should avoid clicking on sponsored ads and navigate directly to official websites when downloading software.

Pirated tools and cracked software carry a high risk of bundled malware and should be avoided entirely.

Slowing down before clicking any link or opening any attachment in an email can make a real difference, especially when the message creates a sense of urgency around billing, account issues, or security alerts.

Disclaimer: HackersRadar reports on cybersecurity threats and incidents for informational and awareness purposes only. We do not engage in hacking activities, data exfiltration, or the hosting or distribution of stolen or leaked information. All content is based on publicly available sources.