Watch out for this fake Windows BSOD - it's actually malware

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• A new campaign creates a fake BSOD to install malware.
• The campaign tricks users into installing a remote access trojan.
• If executed, the RAT can remotely access the infected PC.

The Windows Blue Screen (or Black Screen) of Death is typically a sign that some unrecoverable error or conflict has occurred. Now, cybercriminals are using the dreaded BSOD as a way to trick people into running malware.

In a new malware campaign tracked by cybersecurity firm Securonix, attackers are using ClickFix social engineering, fake CAPTCHAs, and phony BSODs to convince victims into copying and pasting malicious code. Once executed, the code deploys a Russian-linked RAT (remote access trojan) that allows the criminals to remotely take over the PC and deploy additional malware.

Aimed at the hotel and hospitality industry, the campaign dubbed PHALT#BLYX is ...