Threat Overview

On February 11, 2025, AlienVault published a report titled ‘DeepSeek ClickFix Scam Exposed! Protect Your Data Before It’s Too Late,’ exposing cybercriminal activities exploiting the popularity of DeepSeek. This report highlights a sophisticated phishing campaign using fake CAPTCHA links to steal credentials and install malware such as Vidar and Lumma Stealer.

Threat Actor
The actor group behind this campaign is unknown, but their tactics indicate a high level of sophistication in social engineering and malware distribution.

Campaign Details
The campaign impersonates DeepSeek’s branding to appear legitimate. It uses Cloudflare for masking its true nature and evading detection. The malware incorporates social media platforms for updates, support, and command-and-control functionality.

A malicious domain was discovered distributing malware via deceptive verification buttons. This domain exploits user trust in popular services like DeepSeek to trick victims into compromising their security.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. User Education: Train users to recognize phishing attempts and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce MFA wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to user accounts.
3. Email Filtering: Implement robust email filtering systems to block malicious emails and phishing attempts.
4. Network Segmentation: Segment your network to limit the spread of malware in case of a successful attack.
5. Regular Software Updates: Keep all software, including operating systems and applications, up-to-date to protect against known vulnerabilities.

Expert Comments
Cloudsek (https://www.cloudsek.com/blog/deepseek-clickfix-scam-exposed-protect-your-data-before-its-too-late) and AlienVault OTX (https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/67ab3a87b8620d85b496d5ab) provide additional insights into this threat. Stay vigilant and monitor your systems for any signs of compromise.

Status: This report is completely reliable with a confidence level of 100.