This campaign employs social engineering tactics to trick users into installing malware, posing significant risks to their devices.

Attackers are injecting malicious JavaScript into legitimate websites, misleading users with urgent messages like 'Critical Security Update Required' to prompt them to download harmful scripts.

By downloading these scripts, users inadvertently install the NetSupport RAT, which allows attackers to remotely control their devices and exfiltrate data through modifications to the Windows Registry.

Additionally, the campaign delivers StealC, a credential-stealing malware that specifically targets users' login information.

Researchers are emphasizing the increasing threat posed by social engineering and fileless attack techniques, which exploit trusted software update processes to maintain prolonged access to networks.

A recent warning from Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 has alerted Microsoft Windows users to a dangerous new browser update campaign identified as SmartApeSG, which began on February 18, 2025.

To mitigate these threats, experts recommend blocking domains associated with the SmartApeSG campaign and deploying detection signatures for malicious JavaScript.

Organizations are advised to monitor for anomalous process relationships, restrict PowerShell execution policies, and educate employees on how to recognize fake update prompts.

Users are urged to only update their browsers through official channels, avoiding click-through prompts or links from untrusted websites, and ensuring that automatic updates are enabled.