Several Russian state-sponsored threat actors are using QR code phishing (quishing) to compromise Signal accounts, according to researchers at Google’s Threat Intelligence Group.
The QR codes are designed to grant access to the account via Signal’s Linked Devices feature.
“The most novel and widely used technique underpinning Russian-aligned attempts to compromise Signal accounts is the abuse of the app's legitimate ‘linked devices’ feature that enables Signal to be used on multiple devices concurrently,” the researchers explain.
“Because linking an additional device typically requires scanning a quick-response (QR) code, threat actors have resorted to crafting malicious QR codes that, when scanned, will link a victim's account to an actor-controlled Signal instance. If successful, future messages will be delivered synchronously to both the victim and the threat actor in real-time, providing a persistent means to eavesdrop on the victim's secure conversations without the need for full-device compromise.”
These phishing attacks are currently targeting individuals related to the war in Ukraine, but Google warns that this technique will likely be adopted by additional threat actors to target people around the world.
“Signal's popularity among common targets of surveillance and espionage activity—such as military personnel, politicians, journalists, activists, and other at-risk communities—has positioned the secure messaging application as a high-value target for adversaries seeking to intercept sensitive information that could fulfill a range of different intelligence requirements,” the researchers write.
“More broadly, this threat also extends to other popular messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which are also being actively targeted by Russian-aligned threat groups using similar techniques.”
Google says users should “exercise caution when interacting with QR codes and web resources purporting to be software updates, group invites, or other notifications that appear legitimate and urge immediate action.”
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