The cybersecurity community is sounding the alarm over Shuyal, a newly identified stealer malware that has expanded the attack surface beyond traditional browsers. While most infostealers focus on mainstream platforms like Chrome and Edge, Shuyal casts a much wider net. It targets 19 different browsers, including security-conscious options such as Tor, Brave, Vivaldi, and Waterfox.
This newly discovered malware, dubbed Shuyal, has emerged as one of the most aggressive infostealers in recent memory—capable of siphoning sensitive data from 19 browsers, including privacy-focused ones like Tor and Brave. With advanced evasion techniques and stealthy persistence mechanisms, Shuyal marks a dangerous evolution in the malware landscape, researchers warn.
What makes Shuyal especially dangerous is its ability to extract not just login credentials but also system-level information: disk serial numbers, input device details, monitor configurations, clipboard content, and screenshots. These elements, when combined, create a rich behavioral and device fingerprint that can be used for targeted attacks, surveillance, and identity theft.
Hybrid Analysis researcher Vlad Pasca, who first documented the malware, noted that Shuyal even siphons Discord tokens, commonly used by attackers to hijack social media accounts and launch further phishing or scam campaigns.
Evasion, Persistence, and Stealth: Shuyal’s Weaponized Arsenal
Shuyal isn’t just aggressive in what it collects—it’s stealthy in how it does it. Immediately upon execution, the malware disables Windows Task Manager by modifying registry values, making it harder for users or analysts to detect its presence. Then, it deploys multiple processes to extract information from the browser ecosystem and local system.
One of the most chilling aspects of Shuyal is its post-exfiltration self-cleanup. Using PowerShell scripts, the malware compresses stolen data into an archive in the %TEMP% folder, exfiltrates it via a Telegram bot infrastructure, and then deletes both the compressed files and browser database traces to remove forensic evidence.
To ensure longevity, it copies itself into the Windows Startup folder, guaranteeing that it reactivates each time the system reboots. This persistence mechanism, paired with its stealth tactics, makes detection extremely difficult—especially in enterprise environments with limited endpoint visibility.
The malware’s ability to operate under the radar, without generating significant noise, poses a critical threat to businesses and individuals alike, as attackers can now observe, steal, and exploit data without triggering immediate alerts.
Infostealers on the Rise: The New Frontline of Cybercrime
Shuyal’s emergence comes at a time when the infostealer landscape is in flux. In May, U.S. law enforcement disrupted the notorious Lumma stealer operation. However, as history has shown, cybercriminal groups are resilient and adaptable. New malware strains often rise quickly to fill the vacuum left by takedowns—sometimes even built by the same actors under new aliases.
While the exact delivery method for Shuyal is still unknown, researchers caution that similar malware has been delivered via phishing campaigns, malicious advertising, CAPTCHA decoy pages, and cracked software downloads. What starts as a simple credential theft often becomes a prelude to larger attacks, including ransomware deployment, business email compromise (BEC), or lateral movement across networks.
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Researchers have published Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), including file paths, processes, and command lines used by the malware. Organizations are urged to update endpoint detection systems, inspect registry changes, and block Telegram-based exfiltration routes, as the malware relies heavily on that channel for communication.
With infostealers like Shuyal blurring the lines between espionage and financial crime, the defense community must evolve rapidly, experts say. “Attackers are thinking creatively,” Pasca concluded. “Defenders must do the same.”