Microsoft's computer system was infected with the Lumma malware, sounding the alarm for cyber security once again

Recently, Microsoft released a shocking piece of news: With the assistance of global law enforcement agencies, it successfully dismantled the Lumma Stealer malware project. From March 16 to May 16, 2025, more than 394,000 Windows computers worldwide were infected with this malicious software. This incident instantly drew high attention from all sectors to the issue of cyber security.

Lumma malware can be regarded as a "capable assistant" for cybercriminals, mainly used to steal users' sensitive information, including passwords, credit card information, bank accounts, and cryptocurrency wallets, etc. Hackers can easily carry out criminal acts such as financial fraud and theft by using this stolen information, causing huge property losses to users. For instance, in an attack in March 2025, hackers sent phishing emails by disguising themselves as the well-known travel platform Booking.com. Once users clicked on the links in the emails and entered their personal information, the Lumma malware would quickly steal these data, posing a serious threat to the security of users' funds.

The Lumma malware has been publicly sold on underground forums since 2022, and developers have been constantly upgrading it to make its functions increasingly powerful. It has the characteristic of being easy to spread and can infect user devices in multiple ways. For instance, hackers may use phishing emails, posing as legitimate institutions or acquaintances to send emails, luring users to click on malicious links or download attachments, thereby enabling malicious software to infiltrate users' computers. It can also spread through malicious advertisements, "drive-by downloads" (automatic download) on compromised websites, Trojized applications disguised as legitimate software, and forged CAPTCHA verification, etc., making it impossible to guard against.

This incident also highlights the severe situation of cyber security and the importance of international cooperation in responding to cybercrime. In the operation to combat the Lumma malware, Microsoft's Digital Crime Division played a key role. With the assistance of a court order from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, it removed the network domain names that underpinned Lumma's infrastructure. The US Department of Justice has taken control of Lumma's "central command system" and shut down the online marketplace where malicious actors purchased the malware. The cybercrime control center in Japan facilitated the suspension of Lumma's local infrastructure, and Europol was also involved, assisting in the closure of over 300 malicious domain names. In addition, other technology companies such as Cloudflare, Bitsight and Lumen also helped dismantle the Lumma malware ecosystem. This series of actions fully demonstrates the powerful force of international cooperation in combating cybercrime. Only when law enforcement agencies and enterprises of various countries join hands and cooperate can the spread of cybercrime be effectively curbed.

For ordinary users and enterprises, this incident is undoubtedly a heavy alarm bell. They need to remain vigilant at all times and enhance their own cybersecurity protection measures. On the one hand, users should enhance their security awareness, refrain from clicking on links of unknown origin or downloading software from unknown sources easily, and be cautious about attachments in emails, especially those from unfamiliar senders. When faced with prompts asking to enter sensitive information, be sure to carefully verify the authenticity and legality of the website. On the other hand, enterprises need to enhance their network security management, deploy advanced security protection systems, and conduct regular scans and fixes for security vulnerabilities. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the cybersecurity training for employees and enhance their ability to identify and prevent cybersecurity risks. In addition, measures such as multi-factor authentication and regular data backup can also effectively reduce the losses caused by malware attacks.

Cyber security is a war without gunsmoke, and the Lumma malware incident is just a microcosm of it. With the continuous development of Internet technology, the means of cybercrime are also constantly evolving. We must always remain vigilant and continuously enhance cyber security protection. Through efforts in multiple aspects such as international cooperation, technological innovation, and the improvement of security awareness, we can jointly build a solid cyber security defense line and remain invincible in this battle. Protect the cyber security and information security of individuals, enterprises and the country.