New SynkLoader malware pushed in Microsoft Teams phishing campaign

Attackers are impersonating IT help desk staff on Microsoft Teams to trick employees into installing SynkLoader, a multi-stage malware capable of credential theft, persistence, and remote access. The root cause is insufficient user awareness around social engineering attacks delivered through collaboration platforms, which are increasingly trusted and therefore exploited. Because Teams is perceived as an internal, trusted channel, users are less likely to scrutinize requests made through it compared to email phishing. This matters because a successful infection grants attackers persistent, remote control over endpoints along with harvested credentials, enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration.