News
Qbot Malware Spike Hits Corporate Emails with Malicious PDF
Earlier this month, Kaspersky discovered a Qbot malware spike targeting corporate users, spread via a malicious spam-email campaign. Attackers use advanced social engineering techniques: they intercept existing work correspondence and forward malicious PDF attachments to the same email threads.
The last method is considered unusual for this malware. Since April 4, more than 5,000 emails containing PDF attachments have been received in various countries, with the campaign continuing. Kaspersky researchers conducted a technical analysis of the scheme.
Qbot is a notorious banking Trojan that functions as part of a botnet network. It is capable of stealing data such as passwords and work correspondence. Also, it allows threat actors to control an infected system and install ransomware, or other Trojans on other devices in the network.
The operators of the malware use various distribution schemes, including sending emails with malicious PDF attachments – not commonly observed within this campaign before.
Since early April, Kaspersky observed a spike in activity from a spam email campaign using this particular scheme with PDF attachments. The wave began on the evening of April 4, and since then the experts have discovered more than 5,000 spam emails with PDF files spreading this malware in English, German, Italian, and French.
The banker is distributed through the real work correspondence of a potential victim, stolen by cybercriminals. They forward an email to all participants of the existing thread and usually ask them to open the malicious PDF attachment under various plausible circumstances. For example, attackers could ask to share all the documentation related to the attachment or calculate the amount of the contract according to the costs estimated in the attachment.
“We recommend companies stay vigilant because Qbot malware is very harmful, even though its core functionality hasn’t changed over the last two years. The operators are constantly enhancing their techniques, adding new convincing elements of social engineering.
“This increases the likelihood that an employee will fall victim to the ploy. To remain safe, carefully check various red flags, such as sender’s email address spelling, weird attachments, grammatical errors, and so on. In addition, specialised cybersecurity solutions can help ensure the security of corporate emails,” said Darya Ivanova, Malware Analyst at Kaspersky.
The content of the PDF file is an image mimicking a notification from Microsoft Office 365 or Microsoft Azure. If a user clicks ‘Open’, the malicious archive downloads to their computer from a remote server (compromised website).
Atte Ayodeji, a Nigerian computer scientist,has developed an artificial intelligence algorithm capable of detecting, counting, grouping and generating healthy hair follicles during hair transplant procedures, an innovation that earned him the Best Innovative Technology award.
Atte Ayodeji
Ayodeji also graduated with a Distinction in his Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science from Birmingham City University on Friday, adding another milestone to an impressive academic year.
Beyond his award-winning hair transplant innovation, the Nigerian researcher developed a system and framework on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) as a professional responsibility in the diagnosis of lung cancer.
His dissertation received a silver award at the PGXPO2026 Winter, further highlighting the impact of his research in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare.
Sunday Dare, special adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Tinubu, celebrated Ayodeji’s achievements in a post on X, recalling how he first met him in 2019 during his National Youth Service.
“In 2019 when I became a Minister of the Republic, I met a young man of medium height, genteel with penetrating eyes: Atte Ayodeji. His words rarely come out and he could easily be passed by unnoticed. But I noticed him especially when my SA Kemi Areola brought him to me asking my approval for him to do his Youth Service in my office. I approved. From then on he was unstoppable. His brilliance shown and he developed skills beyond his frame.”
Highlighting Ayodeji’s recent accomplishments, Dare congratulated him saying, “Congratulations Atte. I am proud of you!”
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power, has said that the federal government plans to end power sector subsidies from 2027 and that there are no immediate plans for tariff increases.
Mr. Joseph Tegbe, minister of Power
The minister told journalists during the media interactive session at the weekend that the government has announced plans to phase out electricity subsidy payments from 2027 as part of efforts to address mounting liabilities in the power sector.
He explained that the planned removal forms part of the broader reforms aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the electricity sector, while tackling the financial challenges confronting the industry.
According to the minister, despite the planned subsidy withdrawal, there are no immediate plans to increase electricity tariffs, reassuring consumers that the government is not considering a tariff hike in the short term.
Patience Okala, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has urged African countries to stop exporting raw materials and instead focus on adding value to its natural resources if it is to fully harness the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She stated this on Thursday at the Streamsowers & Köhn 20th Anniversary Business Forum, where she stressed that value addition and beneficiation are essential to Africa’s industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, she said the AfCFTA goes beyond the elimination of tariffs, serving as a framework for industrialisation, value addition, and job creation across the continent.
“AfCFTA is not only about tariffs; it is also about value addition. Africa has to stop exporting raw materials. We need to add value and ensure that beneficiation is done on the continent,” she said.
Okala also said Africa’s economic transformation would depend on the effective implementation of the AfCFTA rather than on the signing of trade agreements alone.
“We have moved beyond negotiations. The success of AfCFTA will be measured by the extent to which businesses can access new markets, trade seamlessly across borders, and benefit from the opportunities created by the agreement,” she said.
She noted that Nigeria had intensified efforts to implement the agreement under the leadership of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, including the development of simplified AfCFTA guides in six languages to help businesses understand and take advantage of opportunities under the trade pact.
Okala called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, and the private sector to eliminate barriers to trade and investment and build a truly integrated African market.
“As we move from policy to implementation, our collective responsibility is to ensure that the opportunities created by AfCFTA become practical realities for businesses, particularly MSMEs, women-owned enterprises, and young entrepreneurs across the continent,” she said.
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