Skip to main content

Fake IRS emails are delivering dangerous new malware this tax season

fake irs emails are delivering dangerous new malware this tax season 1040 form being filled out
SeniorLiving.Org/Flickr
Tax season is upon us, which is creating ample opportunity for scammers. Researchers at security firm Heimdal have found a malware campaign that uses phony IRS emails to hit its targets.

The scam email purports to be about a tax refund but instead comes loaded with the Kovter trojan and CoreBOT malware. Kovtar is often used by cybercriminals to deliver ransomware. Kovtar is a little different because, once downloaded, it can sit on the registry rather than your disk. “The threat is also memory resident and uses the registry as a persistence mechanism to ensure it is loaded into memory when the infected computer starts up,” said a blog from Symantec last year, which detailed the malware’s features.

Recommended Videos

Meanwhile, CoreBOT is a well-known banking malware strain that can steal crucial login details. It largely targets online banking credentials in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

According to Heimdal, users need to keep an eye out the email subject line: “Payment for tax refund # 00 [6 random numbers]” and any zip attachment called “Tax_Refund_00654767.zip -> Tax_Refund_00654767.doc.js,” which people are of course advised never to download.

“But don’t let your curiosity get the best of you: not only is it a fake email, but it also carries plenty of danger within,” said Heimdal’s Andra Zaharia.

IRS scams are nothing new and have traditionally involved scam phone calls that target someone that believes they are being question by the agency for their personal details. The IRS has been warning users for years about potential phishing threats coming from fake IRS emails but this new discovery marks a slightly more dangerous threat.

IRS is keen to remind people that it will not contact anyone via email, social media, or text message. Be extra wary of any IRS emails that land in your inbox this tax season.

Jonathan Keane
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jonathan is a freelance technology journalist living in Dublin, Ireland. He's previously written for publications and sites…
GeForce Now introduces a 100-hour monthly playtime cap
nvidia geforce now ultimate halfway across country 1

Nvidia’s GeForce Now is undergoing significant changes. Its Priority membership has been rebranded as the "Performance" tier, bringing an enhanced gaming experience at the same price. Performance members can now stream games at up to 1440p resolution and in ultrawide formats, with settings saved across sessions. This upgrade aligns the Performance tier closer to Ultimate, the highest tier, which supports 4K streaming and high refresh rates through GeForce RTX 4080-powered servers.

One of the most notable changes coming in 2025 is the introduction of a 100-hour monthly playtime cap for both Performance and Ultimate members, aimed at managing Nvidia’s cloud infrastructure. Nvidia also mentions in its blog post that this limit will affect only a small percentage of its player base, with over 94% of users typically playing well within this timeframe. To offer flexibility, Nvidia will allow up to 15 unused hours to roll over to the following month. Users who reach their limit can purchase extra playtime, with additional 15-hour blocks available at $2.99 for Performance members and $5.99 for Ultimate members.

Read more
These AI features might actually make me use Paint and Notepad again
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Your everyday Windows apps are going to get a whole lot smarter. As Microsoft mentions in its Windows Insiders Blog, using the Windows 11 Paint and Notepad app will improve thanks to new AI features that the tech giant is adding to make it more helpful for users. It's still in early testing, and there is no official information about when or if it'll roll out to all users.

For starters, the Notepad app for Windows 11, after getting an update that added autocorrect and spellcheck, is now getting a new Rewrite ability that helps you rewrite highlighted text following any instructions you add.

Read more
Best Samsung Galaxy deals: S24, Buds, Watches and more
The Galaxy Z Fold 4's Cover Screen.

Samsung’s Galaxy lineup is one of the more popular tech lineups on the market. Among it you’ll find some of the best headphone deals, best smartwatch deals, best tablet deals, and best phone deals available. Whatever piece of tech you may have your eye on Samsung likely has within the Galaxy lineup. These devices also see pretty significant discounts pretty regularly, so we thought we’d round up all of the best Samsung Galaxy deals to make finding the right Samsung Galaxy model for you more convenient. Read onward for all of the details on how to save, and if you’d like to shop more specifically within the Galaxy lineup you can start with Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 deals, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 deals, Samsung Galaxy Buds deals, or Samsung tablet deals.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 — $107 $199 46% off

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are the high-end model of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds earbuds. They make great competition for the best wireless earbuds even if they don’t make everyone’s list, and with their Intelligent Active Noise-Cancelation technology they compare well with the best noise-canceling headphones. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro produce high quality audio whether you’re listening to music, watching movies, or talking on the phone, and they pair easily with any Bluetooth device.

Read more