Azerbaijan blocks “Narketing163” cyberattack on govt, private networks

Azerbaijan’s Electronic Security Service (ESS) has intercepted and neutralised a series of cyberattacks targeting both government and private organisations, authorities confirmed.

The attacks were carried out by the hacking group “Narketing163” using social engineering techniques designed to manipulate recipients psychologically, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Malicious emails were disguised as official correspondence from well-known companies and organisations, attempting to trick users into opening harmful attachments. Some of the malware was distributed via a website in the country’s .az domain.

Technical and correlation analysis indicated that the group had conducted similar operations previously. The ESS said the suspicious domain was swiftly identified, and measures were taken to prevent the further spread of the malicious files. 

The ESS has published additional indicators of compromise and guidance for organisations on its Information Sharing Platform, accessible at https://misp.cert.az.

By Aghakazim Guliyev