Also known as: Tinybanker, Tinba, Zusy, Illi, HµNT€R$ (Hunters)
Category: Malware
Type: Banking trojan
Platform: Windows
Variants: Tinba v1, Tinba v2, Tinbapore
Potential damage: Financial theft, stolen credentials, system compromise, legal consequences
Overview
Tinybanker, or Tinba, is a banking trojan usually distributed through malvertising, exploit kits, and phishing emails. It targets Windows systems and steals banking credentials and personal information through browser activity monitoring and webinjects. The attacker performs a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack to transmit the victim’s funds to third parties called “cash mules.” These cash mules then withdraw funds and send them to the attackers without leaving a trace and taking a commission in return.
Tinba is known for its small size, roughly about 20KB, which allows the attacker to operate in the system without the user suspecting the infiltration. This trojan has multiple variants, each presenting different evasion techniques and distinctive features. However, despite the differences between these variations, Tinba threatens individuals and organizations due to its stealthy nature and effectiveness in stealing financial information.
Possible symptoms
Tinybanker is a sneaky trojan capable of hiding itself without leaving any noticeable traces of intrusion. However, a few giveaways may indicate that hackers have compromised your system:
- Irregular browser behavior, such as unexpected pop-ups.
- Slow browser performance, especially on banking sites.
- Unusual requests for sensitive information when visiting banking websites.
- Suspicious transactions and unusual changes in bank statements.
- Unknown programs are running in the background.
- Changed web page appearance during banking sessions and changes in browser settings.
Sources of infection
Tinybanker usually lurks in malicious attachments or links in phishing emails, compromised websites, and malicious ads. A user may download it with software from untrustworthy sources. In addition, hackers may infiltrate the Tinybanker trojan into a computer system through outdated and unpatched software or plugins.
Protection
Cyber hygiene practices may help you protect your computer systems against Tinybanker and similar threats:
- Update your operating system and browser to patch them against known vulnerabilities.
- For a safer online experience, use Threat Protection Pro, a NordVPN feature that scans files for malware during download and blocks malicious sites, trackers, and potentially harmful ads.
- Never open attachments and links in emails from unknown senders.
- Ensure that websites use HTTPS, especially when entering sensitive information.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your financial accounts against unauthorized access.
- Monitor your network traffic for unusual patterns.
- Run regular security audits to manage the attack surface, identify vulnerabilities, and detect infections.
Removal
If you suspect that your device has been infected with Tinybanker, isolate it from the internet immediately to prevent hackers from causing damage. Then restart your computer in safe mode, which will stop the malware from loading, and run a thorough system scan with antivirus software. If they are detected by your scan, remove malicious files and programs. As soon as your computer is free of malicious software, change all your bank account passwords.
