content delivery

Illegal movie sites pose a significant risk to internet users due to the potential for malware infections. A report from Mandiant has identified a new malware called Peaklight, which targets individuals downloading pirated content. Peaklight operates solely in a computer's memory, leaving no trace on the hard drive, making it difficult for traditional antivirus programs to detect. The malware is activated when users download a Windows shortcut file (LNK) disguised as a movie download, which connects to a content delivery network (CDN) to execute harmful JavaScript code and a PowerShell script known as PEAKLIGHT. This script communicates with a remote server to download additional malicious software. Mandiant researchers note that Peaklight is part of a multi-stage execution chain that checks for ZIP archives in specific file paths before downloading more harmful content. To protect against malware, users are advised to avoid pirated content, keep their operating systems and software updated, use strong antivirus software, be cautious of suspicious links and files, utilize strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and be wary of compressed files.