Zeus Panda

Zeus Panda is a malicious software (malware) known for its disruptive capabilities. It is designed to exploit and damage computer systems, often infiltrating through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites without the user's knowledge. Once inside, it can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or even hold data hostage for ransom. The malware payload associated with Zeus Panda is a new version of a banking trojan intended to steal sensitive banking credentials for exfiltration by attackers. This particular operation has been well documented, revealing an entire framework that uses "SERP poisoning" to target unsuspecting users and distribute the Zeus Panda banking trojan. The threat actors behind Zeus Panda have demonstrated innovative techniques to increase their reach. They used Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to make their malicious links more prevalent in search results, thereby enabling them to target more users with the Zeus Panda banking Trojan. Cybersecurity firm Talos provided additional information about the first stage packer used by the malware, which is key to understanding how it operates once unpacked. On November 27, 2023, updates were made by the TA544 threat operation, also known as Zeus Panda and Bamboo Spider, to the advanced malware loader WailingCrab, enhancing stealth in attacks mainly facilitated by shipping-themed emails. This malware is the handiwork of a threat actor known as TA544, which is also tracked as Bamboo Spider and Zeus Panda. The persistent modifications to the malware indicate the constant evolution of tactics used by cybercriminals to entice users into running harmful programs.