Cybercrooks are targeting Bengal cat lovers in Australia for some reason

Fresh from a series of serious reports detailing its five-year battle with Chinese cyberattackers, Sophos has dropped a curious story about users of a popular infostealer-cum-RAT targeting a niche group of victims. Around since 2014, Gootloader has been one of the most popular malware strains of its kind. It's used as an …

[BinkyTheMagicPaperclip]

Bengal cats aren't cheap

They also technically used to require a wild animal license in the UK, but realistically although they can be very spirited they're generally a long way from wild.

It's odd, though. Whilst Bengals are one of the better known pedigree cats, especially as they're spotted, and they're not cheap, neither are they ridiculously expensive. There are several breeds that are more expensive, including the contentious Savannah, and the Egyptian Mau, which isn't derived from wild cats at all (except in antiquity).

[Anonymous Coward]

A high-value dissident, who 'got lost' in Australia and is known for their love of Bengal cats, might search for how to buy one. Hackers - definitely not government-aligned - are hoping to use this SEO-poisoned forum as a tactic to reveal the dissident's location?

Or I'm just paranoid.

[Anonymous Coward]

Isn’t it clear?

It’s a cat-phishing attack!!

[I ain't Spartacus]

Re: Isn’t it clear?

Catfishing is great. You can catch so many sharks with just one siberian tiger - once you've chopped it up to bait your hook.

[lglethal]

Well I've heard of catfishing, but this is getting ridiculous...

[Phil O'Sophical]

Bengal cats?

You'd think that they would be better off targeting people with white Persian cats, in the hope of infiltrating some evil villains' lairs and getting all their world-domination secrets.

[BartyFartsLast]

Re: Bengal cats?

Or, one meeellion dollars

[Bebu sa Ware]

Are Bengal Cats Legal in Australia?

A US site has this gem:

"Australia: In Australia, Bengal cats are banned in the state of Queensland due to concerns about their potential impact on native wildlife."

Probably so. The sunshine state bans bunnies, ferrets and good many other things. Europeans living too close to the equator seem to "lose it" in a sea of red neckery. (Think the deep south.)

Australia as a whole has some very stringent biosecurity restrictions on the importation of fauna (not just CITES), which might well mean you cannot import these semi-feral moggies anyway.

You still have to wonder though. Possibly these malefactors have commissioned an epidemological survey to determine the preferred pet of the most gullible amongst the extremely wealthy. I would like to think so. :)

[BinkyTheMagicPaperclip]

Re: Are Bengal Cats Legal in Australia?

There are Bengal breeders in Australia, so you can safely assume they're not illegal. Whether that varies on a state by state basis is another matter.

[Gene Cash]

Re: Are Bengal Cats Legal in Australia?

Look up the issues in Australia with cane toads and other invasive species. After that, I don't blame them for being a bit trigger-happy.

[anthonyhegedus]

Persian Blues

I have a couple of blue persian cats. They make it impossible to get ransomware because they sit between me and my keyboard most of the time.

[Sceptic Tank]

Cats are vile

Came here to find out why the day's news cycle was so shocking?

[disgruntled yank]

I blame it on J.D. Vance

He's out to get childless cat ladies wherever they may be. Yes, yes, this is Australia, but J.D. has a J.D., and the American bar has a casual attitude towards national borders.

[MachDiamond]

Too tired to focus

Bengal cats are super high strung so owners are likely exhausted all the time and may be less attentive to things making them easier targets.

[Deimos]

Cats may differ.

Having owned several of these kitties I can confirm them as perfect training aids for a career in IT management.