--- title: Fake PayPal Emails Distributing Malware description: Fake PayPal Emails Distributing Malware --- [![TowerWall](https://blog.towerwall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Towerwall_July2021/images/head-logo-2.svg "TowerWall")](https://towerwall.com/) [![TowerWall](https://blog.towerwall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Towerwall_July2021/images/towerwall-logo-white-test.svg "TowerWall")](https://towerwall.com/) - [Our Partners](https://towerwall.com/how-we-protect-you/our-technology-partners/) - Our Solutions - - Our Cybersecurity Solutions - We operationalize infosec, building security solutions that safeguard your most critical assets. - - [Solutions Overview](https://towerwall.com/cybersecurity-solutions/) - [Risk Assessments & Security Reviews](https://towerwall.com/cybersecurity-solutions/risk-assessments-security-reviews/) - [Program & Policy Development](https://towerwall.com/cybersecurity-solutions/program-policy-development/) - [Incident Response & Remediation](https://towerwall.com/cybersecurity-solutions/incident-response-remediation/) - 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[Our Team](https://towerwall.com/company/our-team/) - [Our Approach](https://towerwall.com/our-approach/) - [Our Values](https://towerwall.com/company/our-values/) - - [Awards & Recognition](https://towerwall.com/company/awards-recognition/) - [Certifications & Affiliations](https://towerwall.com/company/certifications-affiliations/) - [Community Involvement](https://towerwall.com/company/community-involvement/) - [Careers](https://towerwall.com/company/careers/) - [Contact Us](https://towerwall.com/company/contact-us/) Topics Security Services, security software, Data Security, Security Regulations, Social Engineering, Security Threat, Phishing, Security Program, Information Security, Security, Hackers, cyber-attack, security policy, cybercriminals, Security Alert, information security tips, Mobile Security, cannabis, cybersecurity, Enterprise # Fake PayPal Emails Distributing Malware [By Michelle Drolet](https://blog.towerwall.com/author/towerwall2020) [Read More](https://blog.towerwall.com/author/towerwall2020) 1 Minute Read October 31, 2012 Everyday there is a new threat with seemingly innocent emails being sent out that look close to an official correspondence from a company, from Paypal, ADP and BBB - to name a few. Cybercriminals are mimicking the online payment processor PayPal in a malicious spam campaign that attempts to dupe customers ![Paypal logo](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) into downloading malware from links in seemingly authentic emails, according to a Webroot report written by [Dancho Danchev](http://blog.webroot.com/2012/10/23/paypal-notification-of-payment-received-themed-emails-serve-malware/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WebrootThreatBlog+%28Webroot+Threat+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader/). The piece of malware in use here is a backdoor that, once downloaded, can be used by an attacker to take complete control of the infected host machine. Danchev writes that some 90 percent of antivirus scanners are detecting the download as ‘backdoor.win32.androm.fm.’ The email that Danchev analyzed can be seen below. ![Paypal](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) This isn’t by the first time PayPal users have been targeted in malicious campaigns. In fact, customers of the payment processor have been a popular target among phishers for years now. For its part, PayPal has done what it can. They implemented a bug bounty program earlier this year and at least try to educate customers about the dangers of social engineering. However, the reality is that it is almost impossible to prevent criminals from imitating their service, so this problem is not likely to go away any time soon. #### Fake PayPal Emails Distributing Malware Back to Top × ## Talk with us now about: #### Your security needs. - ![Phone](https://blog.towerwall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Towerwall_July2021/images/phone-icon.svg "Phone") [Call 774.204.0700](tel:774.204.0700) - ![Mail](https://blog.towerwall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Towerwall_July2021/images/mail-icon.svg "Mail") [Email Us](mailto:info@towerwall.com) ### The front line of cybersecurity.™ For over 23 years, Towerwall, a woman-owned business, has helped scores of companies safeguard their data and leverage their investment in IT with advanced information security technology solutions and services. 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