Mail.ru's antispam team has disrupted a fresh phishing campaign that distributes malicious files inside password-protected RAR archives. Over the past month these messages represented 13% of all emails blocked by the service.
The scheme targets both home users and small and medium-sized businesses. Attackers send messages that appear to contain contracts, requests for document signatures, or notifications about regulatory matters. The emails reference federal laws, maintain a formal tone, and urge recipients to examine the attachment immediately.
To increase credibility, the password for the archive is included directly in the body of the message. Once opened, the archive reveals an executable file that installs malware capable of stealing credentials, establishing remote access, or exfiltrating sensitive personal and corporate information.
The timing of the campaign coincides with the period when companies submit tax and quarterly reports involving VAT, personal income tax, and other mandatory filings. In this busy environment, an archive bearing an official-sounding name is more likely to be opened without suspicion.
Mail.ru's email security system examines every message with more than 30 machine-learning models and antispam filters. The platform also verifies senders and marks confirmed organizations with a green shield indicator.
Security specialists recommend that users avoid opening attachments under time pressure, carefully check the sender's address, and never execute files received from unexpected sources even when a password is provided in the same message.
