Microsoft exposes Storm-2139, a cybercrime network exploiting Azure AI via LLMjacking. Learn how stolen API keys enabled harmful…

Microsoft exposes Storm-2139, a cybercrime network exploiting Azure AI via LLMjacking. Learn how stolen API keys enabled harmful content generation and Microsoft’s legal action

Microsoft has taken legal action against a cybercriminal network, known as Storm-2139, responsible for exploiting vulnerabilities within its Azure AI services. The company publicly identified and condemned four individuals central to this illicit operation. Their names are as follows:

1.  Arian Yadegarnia aka “Fiz” of Iran
2.  Phát Phùng Tấn aka “Asakuri” of Vietnam
3.  Ricky Yuen aka “cg-dot” of Hong Kong, China
4.  Alan Krysiak aka “Drago” of the United Kingdom

According to Microsoft’s official report, shared exclusively with Hackread.com, these individuals used various online aliases to operate a scheme called LLMjacking. It is the act of hijacking Large Language Models (LLMs) by stealing API (Application Programming Interface) keys, which act as digital credentials for accessing AI services. If obtained, API keys can allow cybercriminals to manipulate the LLMs to generate harmful content.

Storm-2139’s core activity involved leveraging stolen customer credentials, obtained from publicly available sources, to gain unauthorized access to AI platforms, modify the capabilities of these services, circumvent built-in safety measures, and then resell access to other malicious actors. They provided detailed instructions on how to generate illicit content, including non-consensual intimate images and sexually explicit material, often targeting celebrities.

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) initiated legal proceedings in December 2024, initially targeting ten unidentified individuals. Through subsequent investigations, they identified the key members of Storm-2139. The network operated through a structured model, with creators developing the malicious tools, providers modifying and distributing them, and users generating the abusive content.

“Storm-2139 is organized into three main categories: creators, providers, and users. Creators developed the illicit tools that enabled the abuse of AI-generated services. Providers then modified and supplied these tools to end users often with varying tiers of service and payment. Finally, users then used these tools to generate violating synthetic content,” Microsoft’s blog post revealed.

Visual Representation of Storm-2139 (Source: Microsoft)

The legal actions taken by Microsoft, including the seizure of a key website, resulted in significant disruption to the network. Members of the group reacted with alarm, engaging in online chatter, attempting to identify other members, and even resorting to doxing Microsoft’s legal counsel, highlighting the effectiveness of Microsoft’s strategy in dismantling the criminal operation.

Microsoft employed a multi-faceted legal strategy, initiating civil litigation to disrupt the network’s operations and pursuing criminal referrals to law enforcement agencies. This approach aimed to both halt the immediate threat and establish a deterrent against future AI misuse.

The company is also addressing the issue of AI misuse to generate harmful content, implementing stringent guardrails and developing new methods to protect users. It also advocates for modernizing criminal law to equip law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat AI misuse.

Security experts have highlighted the importance of stronger credential protection and continuous monitoring in preventing such attacks. Rom Carmel, Co-Founder and CEO at Apono told Hackread that companies who use AI and cloud tools for growth must limit access to sensitive data to reduce security risks.

_“_As organizations adopt AI tools to drive growth, they also expand their attack surface with applications holding sensitive data. To securely leverage AI and the cloud, access to sensitive systems should be restricted on a need-to-use basis, minimizing opportunities for malicious actors._“_

Top/Featured Image via Pixabay/BrownMantis

Microsoft Disrupts Storm-2139 for LLMjacking and Azure AI Exploitation

Not getting enough views or traffic to your podcasts? Try this stunning AI audio-to-video generator to transform your…

Not getting enough views or traffic to your podcasts? Try this stunning AI audio-to-video generator to transform your podcasts into must-watch videos.

Is the audience viewing count of your podcasts lower than you expect? Many content creators deal with the problem of maintaining viewer interest because video content popularity is increasing in digital spaces. Being excellent in audio content delivery isn’t sufficient to thrive. The solution? Convert audio to video! 

An AI audio-to-video generator enhances podcasts by turning them into multimedia presentations that catch viewers’ attention. This article showcases a proven solution to convert your audio content into compelling video materials that people will watch.

Let’s dive in!

**Table of Contents Hide**

1.  Part 1: Why You Should Turn Podcasts into Videos?
    1.  Expand Your Reach
    2.  Increase Accessibility
    3.  Boost Engagement
    4.  Enhance SEO
    5.  Leverage Trends
2.  Part 2: Key Elements of Must-Watched Podcast Video
    1.  High-Quality Video
    2.  Clear Audio
    3.  Subtitles
    4.  Captions
    5.  Engaging Thumbnails
    6.  Brand Elements
3.  Part 3: Wondershare Filmora: Best Tool to Help You Transform Podcasts into Videos
4.  Conclusion

**Part 1: Why You Should Turn Podcasts into Videos?**

You gain several benefits when you transform your podcast content into video format.

**Expand Your Reach**

The broadcast of video content allows you to extend your presence toward wider audiences through YouTube and social media channels.

**Increase Accessibility**

Through video format, you provide learning opportunities for visual learners as well as auditory learners simultaneously.

**Boost Engagement**

The combination of visual elements surpasses audio content in grabbing viewers’ attention, which results in higher chances of sharing and liking activities.

**Enhance SEO**

Your content benefits from improved SEO rankings when video content is included because search engines prefer video content. This practice drives more traffic to your material.

**Leverage Trends**

The usage of videos has gained extreme popularity across all digital platforms. You should design your content to align with the ways people use and consume media during the present period.

Thus, your podcast will reach its full potential when you turn from audio to video.

**Part 2: Key Elements of Must-Watched Podcast Video**

To develop an interesting podcast video, you need to focus on essential elements.

**High-Quality Video**

The quality of your video content should include clear images and sharp visual elements for improved viewer engagement.

**Clear Audio**

The quality of your audio must be exceptional because poor sound will cause viewers to leave your content.

**Subtitles**

The addition of subtitles establishes accessibility for your content to viewers who have hearing challenges alongside other listener groups.

**Captions**

The inclusion of subtitles, known as captions, enables powerful message transmission to viewers who listen without sound.

**Engaging Thumbnails**

Attractive thumbnails must be designed to attract more viewers and raise the number of clicks on your content.

**Brand Elements**

Employ branding elements that include consistent logos and visual color schemes to achieve better recognition.

The implementation of these elements leads to a major enhancement of your podcast’s aesthetic quality.

Let’s get straight to the tool named Wondershare Filmora, using which you can easily transform your podcasts into must-watch videos. This AI audio-to-video generator provides you with an effortless solution to implement your audio content alongside compelling visual features that maximize your podcast effects. Through its simple interface together with multiple features, Filmora enables users to manage dynamic graphics along with audio enhancement and animations easily and with enjoyment.

**Key Features of Filmora**

**AI Audio to Video**: Users can easily turn their audio files into dynamic video content using a basic automated, multi-step procedure. Filmora’s AI analysis evaluates your audio as it generates exceptional visual content to match your content perfectly.

**AI Image to Video**: Through its AI tool, Filmora converts ordinary images into lively video content. This feature matches the needs of users who need exceptional media content for social promotions or product visuals along with slide decks.

**AI Video Enhancer:** Filmora enables users, through its great functionality, to modify video elements like brightness, contrast, and saturation to achieve professional results.

**AI Video Translation**: Filmora contains an advantageous feature that benefits people who operate beyond national borders. The tool enables the translation of video content into various languages at once.

**AI text-to-speech**: The software enables users to convert written content into lifelike speech via AI technology.

Using the above-mentioned features in Filmora, users can easily edit their videos in a professional manner.

**Step-by-step guide to transform your audio content into video:**

**Step 1**: When you download the latest version of Filmora from its official website and open it up, you will see an option “Audio to Video” in the toolbox. Tap on it.

**Step 2**: Now you can upload the media file of size up to 1 GB with a duration of 10 seconds to 120 minutes.

**Step 3**: Users must specify their video language selection after uploading. Users must choose their video content type first, then add specified ratio and duration parameters for a defined number of generated videos. Users have the option to adjust screen settings.

**Step 4**: When the setup is complete, tap on Generate.

**Step 5**: Now you will see the multiple results of videos generated by the system. Press the play button to experience the generated results. You may export the video right away after ensuring you like how it turned out. Click “Edit” from the interface to transition to Filmora’s main editing timeline if you wish to implement more modifications.

**Step 6**: Click on the “Export” button located in the top-right section to finalize your video. Users access social media sharing through the top-right corner of the interface. Select the “Local” option to save the video to your device and set parameters for its title and description as well as category and resolution.

And that’s all it takes! The audio-to-video AI converter, together with powerful editing features from Filmora, makes it effortless to convert audio into video content at no cost. Using this tool will enable you to generate exceptional video content in a short period.

**Conclusion**

Converting audio content into video means more engagement and views! All you need is a tool like Filmora and the rest is just the magic it will create. Your content will get better when you use high-quality visuals and clear audio. Also, include subtitles, eye-catching thumbnails, and unique brand elements. Begin utilizing Filmora right now and discover how audio conversion creates videos that improve your podcasting capabilities significantly. 

Image by AstralEmber from Pixabay

Convert Audio to Video: How to Transform Your Podcasts into Must-Watch Videos

360XSS campaign exploits Krpano XSS to hijack search results & distribute spam ads on 350+ sites, including government,…

360XSS campaign exploits Krpano XSS to hijack search results & distribute spam ads on 350+ sites, including government, universities, and news outlets.

A widespread campaign exploiting a vulnerability within a virtual tour framework Krpano has been uncovered by cybersecurity researcher Oleg Zaytsev. The attack, dubbed “360XSS,” involved search engine manipulation and mass advertisement distribution.

For your information, Krpano is a widely used software tool that enables the creation of immersive 360° experiences, allowing users to explore panoramic images and videos in a virtual environment.

Zaytsev’s research, shared with Hackread.com, revealed that the attack leverages a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw in the Krpano VR library tracked as CVE-2020-24901. The vulnerability resided in a configuration setting within the Krpano framework (passQueryParameter) that, by default, allowed query parameters to be passed directly into the framework’s configuration.

This enabled attackers to inject arbitrary XML, leading to the reflected XSS. The default setting enabled this flaw, leading to widespread exploitation until patches were released. Unfortunately, it remained unpatched on numerous websites, including the framework developer’s own site.

The campaign’s discovery began with an unexpected search result for adult content appearing under a prestigious university’s domain. Further investigation revealed that the site was utilizing the Krpano framework for virtual tours and that a specific parameter within the URL was being exploited to inject malicious code. This code redirected users to spam advertisements, indicating a sophisticated attack beyond simple website defacement.

The scale of the campaign was significant, with hundreds of websites, including government portals, educational institutions, news outlets, and major corporations, being compromised. Attackers used the XSS vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that manipulated search engine results, pushing spam advertisements to the top of search listings. This technique, known as SEO poisoning, allowed them to leverage the authority of compromised domains to boost the visibility of their advertisements.

The campaign had a wide-reaching impact, compromising over 350 websites across diverse sectors. This included sensitive government portals and state government sites, major American universities, prominent hotel chains, reputable news outlets like CNN and Geo.tv, car dealerships and Fortune 500 companies. Attackers’ focus on advertisement distribution, rather than direct attacks on user data, suggested a calculated approach probably by an Arab group.

Image via Oleg Zaytsev

“The people behind this campaign remain a mystery, but from what I’ve seen, many clues suggest it was run by an Arab group—based on the ads, patterns, and random breadcrumbs I found during my investigation,” Zaytsev noted in their blog post.

He further notes that efforts to report the vulnerability to affected organizations proved challenging, with many lacking formal disclosure programs. However, some organizations responded positively, and the Krpano developers addressed the issue with a patch in a subsequent release. Organizations using the Krpano framework are advised to update to the latest version and disable the vulnerable configuration setting.

Eran Elshech, Field CTO at Seraphic Security, highlights that attackers are shifting from malware to exploiting browser vulnerabilities and web frameworks. The 360XSS campaign demonstrates how easily a known XSS flaw was used to compromise trusted sites, manipulate search results, and hijack web properties for spam ads.

He warns that the scalability and stealth of such attacks make them highly effective, as attackers infiltrate high-traffic sites with minimal effort, reaching large audiences without direct access to user devices.

Over 350 High-Profile Websites Hit by 360XSS Attack

Louis Donald Mendonsa, 62, was sentenced following a guilty plea for distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) via…

Louis Donald Mendonsa, 62, was sentenced following a guilty plea for distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) via Dark Web and other online networks after 6,5000 explicit images were found on his devices.

A California resident, Louis Donald Mendonsa (62), has been sentenced to 24 years and four months in federal prison for his involvement in managing four illegal websites on the dark web that shared explicit images and videos of children.

Mendonsa, a Sacramento native, played a key role in maintaining these platforms, which were active from December 2021 until his arrest in November 2022. He received his sentence on February 27, 2025, after pleading guilty in April 2024 to seven counts of distributing CSAM and one count of possession.

The websites, which operated on the dark web, a hidden part of the internet often used for illegal activities only accessible through the Tor browser, allowed users to advertise, distribute, and trade disturbing content involving children. According to the US Department of Justice’s press release, one of the sites even featured material depicting infants and toddlers.

Mendonsa not only managed these platforms but also actively promoted and shared illegal content himself. His activities came to light after law enforcement discovered his actions while he was using public Wi-Fi at a local coffee shop.

Upon arrest, a search of Mendonsa’s electronic devices revealed approximately 6,500 explicit images, confirming the identities of several known victims. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat the alarming rise in child sexual exploitation. 

The project brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to track down, arrest, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, while also working to rescue victims.

Man Jailed 24 Years for Running Dark Web CSAM Sites from Coffee Shop

A hacker using the alias GHOSTR, linked to 90+ data breaches, was arrested in a joint effort by law enforcement in Thailand, Singapore, and cybersecurity firm Group-IB.

A coordinated effort between law enforcement in Thailand, Singapore, and cybersecurity firm Group-IB has led to the arrest of a prolific hacker tied to more than 90 data breaches worldwide.

The individual, operating under multiple online identities such as GHOSTR, ALTDOS, DESORDEN, and 0mid16B, reportedly stole and sold over 13 terabytes of sensitive information including government agency records on dark web markets. The accused hacker was also an active member of the infamous cybercrime and data breach platform Breach Forums.

GHOSTR Hacker banned from Breach Forums for multi-accounting (Screenshot credit: Hackread.com)

Active since at least 2020; the hacker targeted organizations across Asia-Pacific nations like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan and India, later expanding to Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Victims spanned industries like healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and logistics.

Initially, they pressured companies by threatening to leak stolen data unless paid, often alerting media or regulators if demands were ignored. Later, they moved to selling databases on dark web forums, gaining a reputation for high-quality leaks and commanding premium prices. In some cases, they even emailed customers directly to force companies into compliance.

According to Group-IB’s press release published on Thursday, the hacker exploited common vulnerabilities to infiltrate systems. They used tools like sqlmap to execute SQL injections, a method that exploits websites to access backend databases and breached poorly secured Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) servers.

Once inside, they deployed a modified version of the penetration-testing tool CobaltStrike to maintain control of compromised networks. The extracted data was then copied to cloud servers for extortion purposes.

****Multiple Identities, Difficult to Track****

Investigators faced challenges as the hacker frequently changed aliases and tactics. Group-IB’s teams linked the identities by analyzing writing styles, post formats, and target preferences across dark web forums. For example, the ALTDOS persona focused on Thai victims in 2020, while DESORDEN later targeted organizations in the following sectors:

*   Retail
*   Finance
*   Logistics
*   Insurance
*   Healthcare
*   Hospitality
*   Recruitment
*   Technology
*   E-commerce
*   Property investment

Despite bans from forums for scams and fake accounts, the hacker continued operations under new names until their trails of online activity led authorities to their real-world identity.

During the arrest, Thai authorities confiscated several laptops, electronic devices, and numerous luxury items purchased with proceeds from the data sales.

Seized content (Via Group-IB)

Group-IB’s role in mapping the hacker’s activity across aliases demonstrates how behavioural patterns and technical clues can unmask even the most persistent cyber criminals. The company’s threat intelligence also brings to mind the Brazilian hacker USDoD, who was tracked down after CrowdStrike exposed his real identity, leading to his arrest.

GHOSTR Hacker Linked to 90+ Data Breaches Arrested

Strong eCommerce customer service builds trust, boosts loyalty, and drives sales. Learn key strategies, best practices, and tools to enhance online support.

Great online customer support starts with the fundamentals that make shoppers feel valued and understood when they can’t see your face or walk into your store. The basics include responding quickly across multiple channels, writing in a friendly human tone (not corporate-speak), and making it super easy for customers to find help when they need it.

Mastering these foundational elements builds trust with online shoppers and sets the stage for turning one-time buyers into loyal repeat customers. According to WOW24-7, an e-commerce customer service outsourcing provider, recent studies highlight the impact of customer service quality on online shopping behaviour. In April 2024, reports indicated that 79% of consumers may choose not to buy from a brand again after a poor post-purchase experience.

****What is eCommerce Customer Service?****

Generally speaking, e-commerce customer service is a special department that helps and supports online businesses as you are shopping online. Think of it as the digital version of that helpful store employee, but instead of being face-to-face, they’re helping you through chat, email, or phone when you have questions about products, shipping issues, returns, or just need advice before buying something.

****Advantages of a Good eCommerce Customer Service****

Good online customer service is a total game-changer! It builds trust (super important when you can’t see products in person), turns angry customers into happy ones (like when your headphones arrived broken and they shipped new ones overnight), and makes people spend more money.

Plus, happy customers tell their friends – “one of our customer’s customers switched to a new skincare brand just because her friend raved about how they helped her find the right products for her skin type.”

****How To Provide a Stellar Customer Service: Tips For Online Support********1\. Prioritize Multiple Communication Channels****

To provide excellent customer service, be available wherever your customers want to reach you. That means providing various channels of support, including social media support. 

Some people hate phone calls but love texting, while others want to shoot a quick email or DM you on Instagram. The best online stores let me choose – like that clothing shop that lets me track my order through text, ask sizing questions on chat, or call them about complicated returns. It shows they respect how you prefer to communicate instead of forcing you to use their one preferred channel.

So, good customer service plays a key role in customer satisfaction, and it should be multichannel customer support. And what about you, how many channels does your brand offer to contact your team?

****2\. Empower Your Team with Knowledge****

Make sure your support team knows your products inside and out – they can’t help customers if they’re clueless themselves. Indeed, the product knowledge is essential. Create a searchable knowledge base where your team can quickly find answers instead of saying “Let me check on that” for every question.

Our customer, a tea company, has weekly “sip and learn” sessions where staff try new products and discuss common questions, which has cut their average response time in half. The ability to deliver almost instant answers to the customers’ questions. That’s what we call a start for the exceptional customer service. 

****3\. Implement a Full Self-Service System****

Give customers ways to help themselves with detailed FAQs, video tutorials, and searchable help centers available 24/7. That is super important for customer retention.

One of our customers, an electronics ecommerce business has this amazing interactive troubleshooting tool that walks you through fixing common issues before the customers even need to contact them. Just make sure to keep these resources updated – nothing’s more frustrating than outdated information that wastes customers’ time.  

****4\. Track Key Metrics and Analyze Performance****

You can’t improve what you don’t measure, so keep tabs on response times, customer satisfaction scores, and first-contact resolution rates. Look for patterns in customer complaints to fix underlying issues – like when that clothing store noticed a spike in size questions and added better measurement guides. Set goals for your customer service team based on these metrics, but don’t obsess over speed at the expense of actually solving problems properly.

Moreover, track and analyze your customer reviews and work with both positive customer reviews and negative ones. Here’s a tip for you: the leading ecommerce platforms also work with the so-called ‘middle customers’ (the ones that are neither positive nor negative. They are the easiest ones to become your true brand enthusiasts. 

****5\. Personalize the Customer Experience****

Use customer purchase history and preferences to make interactions feel special and relevant. One ecommerce brand, a book subscription service, remembers what genres you love and what you have already read, making their recommendations useful.

Simple touches made by your customer service representative like addressing customers by name and referencing their previous orders make people feel valued instead of just another ticket number in the queue. That is crucial if you want to be the brand that comes with the best customer service for ecommerce. 

****6\. Proactively Address Customer Issues****

A great customer service company does not wait for complaints, it reaches out when its support agents know there might be a problem. For instance, a clothing store emails you before you even notice that your package was delayed due to weather, offering options and a small discount or a free trial. 

Therefore, your customer service agent must watch social media mentions of your brand to catch issues before they escalate into full-blown problems. This customer service strategy builds trust and loyalty. 

****7\. Embrace Technology and Automation****

If you want to offer good customer service experiences, use chatbots to handle simple questions and AI to route complex issues to the right specialist. Add the frequently asked questions section to let your customers find all the answers to their questions without waiting for your reply and the personalization to help them if they contact you. 

A simple example: there’s a tech shop that uses automation to send perfectly timed setup guides after purchase, preventing tons of support calls. Just make sure there’s always an easy escape hatch to reach your ecommerce customer service team when the bot can’t help. That’s crucial if you want to deliver an excellent customer service. 

****8\. Offer Easy Returns and Exchanges****

Make returns painless with prepaid labels, clear instructions, and quick processing. Yes, in the world of e-commerce, you have to provide the customer with the possibility to return in a fast, easy and free manner.

Here’s an example. There’s a shoe company that includes a return label right in the box and lets you start the return process with a single text message. And here comes an interesting fact: Good return policies increase sales because people feel safer trying new products. 

****9\. Solicit and Respond to Feedback****

Actively ask customers how they’re doing through quick surveys after purchases or support interactions. Every ecommerce business will benefit from customer service tools or special support software that collects data about the quality of service and customer communications. 

Just a simple case from our experience. There’s a coffee subscription that sends a three-question survey after each delivery, and when somebody mentioned their packaging was excessive in the comments, they changed it within a month. Show customers that the feedback matters by implementing changes and letting them know. There’s a necessity to adapt to the changing world of customer satisfaction. 

****10\. Invest in Ongoing Training and Development****

Keep your ecommerce customer support team sharp with regular product training and customer service skill development. My cousin works at an online beauty store where they spend Friday afternoons practising tough customer scenarios and learning about new product ingredients. Well-trained agents solve problems faster and make customers happier.

****11\. Foster a Culture of Customer-Centricity****

Make customer happiness everyone’s job, not just the support team’s. One of our customers, a small electronics brand, believes that excellent service is critical and so it invites its engineers to join support calls monthly to hear customer struggles firsthand. Then their support system analyses the available customer needs and the online shopping experience and thinks of ways to improve service to customers.

Celebrate team members who go above and beyond for customers, and use customer stories in company meetings to keep their needs front and center.

****An Effective eCommerce Customer Service: Key Takeaways****

Great online customer service is crucial as it talks to your customers directly. It’s all about being focused on customer wants, needs, and expectations. Plus, since great service is important for brand success, multi-channel customer support has become the new normal for companies who want to boost the customer’s lifetime value. Response speed matters hugely, but the quality and personal touch of those responses turn one-time buyers into loyal fans who spread the word.

The best online stores use the right software like Intercom and technology to handle routine stuff while freeing up humans to solve complex problems with empathy and creativity to improve their customer experience. Track what’s working (and what isn’t) through customer feedback and solid metrics, then actually use that info to keep improving. Remember that in the digital world where competitors are just a click away, exceptional service isn’t just nice to have – it’s often your biggest competitive advantage. 

Therefore, these are the eCommerce Customer Service Best Practices that help you improve customer service and provide an amazing customer service experience. Just remember that true customer service means the real care of your customers, not just words.

****Customer Service Channels FAQ********Why is customer service important for e-Commerce businesses?****

It’s your digital storefront’s personality! Without face-to-face interaction, it’s hard to make your customers happy. When one of our customers launched her handmade jewellery store, her amazing response time and personalized packaging notes turned first-time buyers into repeat customers who shared her store all over social media. Plus, in a world where switching to a competitor takes one click, great service is often the only thing keeping customers loyal.

****What are the key challenges of providing online customer support?****

The biggest headache is managing customer expectations for instant 24/7 help when you’re a small team (or solo entrepreneur). Then there’s the challenge of explaining products people can’t touch or try on, handling shipping issues you don’t directly control, and building trust without in-person connections. For instance, a hot sauce company can struggle with international customers who fail to understand the cause of shipping delays until they create a visual tracking system that shows exactly where packages are stuck.

****How can I improve response times for customer inquiries?****

*   Create templates for common questions so you’re not typing the same shipping policy explanation fifty times a day.
*   Set up auto-responses that acknowledge messages immediately even if you’ll answer fully later.
*   Use a smartphone app connected to your help desk so you can quickly answer simple questions while on the go.
*   You can dramatically cut response times by creating a shared Google Doc where all staff will document weird questions and answers for everyone to reference.

****What are the best tools for managing eCommerce customer service?****

For small shops, Zendesk or Freshdesk are solid starting points that won’t break the bank. Gorgias is amazing if you’re on Shopify since it shows order history right alongside customer conversations. Help Scout has a super clean interface that’s easy for non-tech folks. The gaming stores often Intercom so they can chat with the customers right on their website while they are browsing, which saves from abandoning the cart multiple times.

****How can I handle difficult customers effectively?****

First, take a deep breath and remember it’s rarely personal. Listen fully before responding – sometimes people just want to be heard. Offer concrete solutions instead of excuses. Know when to give a little (like a small discount) to solve a bigger problem.

One more tip to keep in mind: if you have a super angry customer about shipping damage, remember that customer service is important and it’s imperative to react instantly. So, immediately send a replacement with a small bonus. That can help you turn your angry customer into the biggest Instagram advocate.

****What role does automation play in e-Commerce customer support?****

Automation handles the repetitive stuff so humans can focus on complex problems. Think automatic order confirmations, shipping updates, and chatbots that answer basic questions like “What’s your return policy?” The smart plant shop I order from automatically emails care instructions based on what I purchased and sends reminders when it’s time to report – this prevents tons of support questions while making me feel taken care of.

****How can live chat improve customer satisfaction?****

Live chat catches customers right when they’re considering a purchase but have questions – like when I was about to abandon a pricey camera purchase until their chat agent explained why it was worth the investment. It feels more immediate than email but less intrusive than phone calls. 

****What are the best practices for handling returns and refunds?****

Make your policy crystal clear and easy to find. Don’t make customers jump through hoops – include return labels in the original package if possible. Process refunds quickly once items are received. Be flexible when it makes sense – that clothing store that gave me store credit past their return window earned way more of my money long-term. The best companies view returns as opportunities to learn product issues and improve, not as losses to minimize.

****How can I measure the success of my ecommerce customer service?****

Track obvious stuff like response time and resolution time, but also watch customer satisfaction scores (quick post-interaction surveys) and Net Promoter Score (would they recommend you?). Look at repeat purchase rates after service interactions – my favourite coffee subscription saw that customers who had a resolved issue spent 20% more in the following six months than those who never had problems. Also, track how many support tickets you get per 100 orders – this should decrease as you improve product descriptions and FAQs.

****What are some common mistakes to avoid in online customer support?****

The biggest fails include: making customers repeat their problem to multiple agents, hiding contact information so people can’t easily reach you, using robotic templated responses without personalizing them, promising unrealistic shipping/delivery times, and not following up after resolving issues. My worst experience was with that electronics store that transferred me three times, made me re-explain my issue each time, then promised to call back and disappeared forever – I’ll never shop there again!

Featured Image via Pixabay

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eCommerce Customer Service Tips For Online Support: The Basics

Do you want to have the best communication system at your workplace? Learn how to maximize the benefits…

Do you want to have the best communication system at your workplace? Learn how to maximize the benefits of Slack for business. This guide walks you through setting up your workspace and explores how its features can enhance team collaboration.

****Setting Up Your Slack Workspace****

The initial task to solve your company’s communication problems is to create your own Slack workspace. Start with a company-associated email and organize your workspace. 

The first step is to select a unique and attractive name, suggest the goal and purpose of your workspace, and then refer to your teammates to invite them to the channel. Communicate the objectives and construction of your Slack workspace so that you can promote the team’s organization and alignment of ideas.

After:

*   Next, have a one-off name for your workspace that is very precise.

*   Let your team know that they are welcome to join and include them in the invites.

*   So, begin by using a company-associated email to create a well-organized workspace.

*   Take a moment to clearly define the Slack workspace objective and scope, which will further boost the team members’ communication and collaboration.

After your workspace is set up, be the coordinator of the projects, ensuring that everything is done in detail. Targeted channels ensure that discussions are quick, simple, and well-organised.

Additionally, optimize apps to streamline processes and increase productivity. Implement the conversational ticketing systems to manage tasks efficiently and adapt the workspace to your team’s unique requirements.

****Create Dedicated Channels****

There is nothing more important in Slack than dedicated channels, which are the center and goal of effective communication. These channels allow for the grouping of discussions based on projects, departments, or other topics. 

Certain channels can be tailored to particular projects to bring clarity and eliminate the communication mess. Channels might be public or private, letting you decide who can access particular topics, such as sensitive information, and the discussions.

Setting up customized channels oriented towards particular projects or topics allows team members to communicate with each other in a focused manner, which results in productive conversations. This style is not only a way of information that is concerned with the flow but also diminishes the risk of information overflow.

Dedicated channels guarantee fast and efficient information retrieval for your team.

****Ticketing System for Conversation****

Conversational ticketing within Slack can simply redefine the way in which your business goes about tasks and support requests. According to Suptask, a Slack ticketing system allows users to create tickets and carry out tasks directly inside Slack, streamlining conversations into actionable items, reducing context-switching, and ensuring requests are tracked and resolved efficiently.

*   This tool can receive tickets from every corner of Slack, therefore, tracking them and managing easy. 

*   This leads to the possibility of private tickets, guaranteeing a level of security for sensitive data and collaboration among users to go on a well-resolved journey on the road of tickets.

*   Introduces options like smart and interactive Service Level Agreements (SLA), custom ticket forms, and dashboard analytics with KPI metrics.

*   It offers a range of integrations and the ability to manage tasks in Slack seamlessly. It is a type of helpdesk that uses direct messaging applications such as Slack to provide customer support.

****Integrate Essential Apps****

Integrating essential apps into Slack massively increases team productivity and significantly boosts not only employee engagement but also new skills that each employee acquires. 

Slack provides unlimited app integration options thus companies can choose the tools that fit their preferences.

There are over 2,600 different apps available, and Slack allows you to construct your ones so you can enjoy the functions tailored to your specific demands. As a result of the integrations with tools like 

1.  Trello
2.  Zoom
3.  Dropbox 
4.  Google Drive

App integration brings all the communication and task management to one place, and that is how the workspace is the most optimized. This way, communication is managed and the workflow is improved. Slack’s powerful API is also able to give developers the flexibility to design custom integrations, which means that businesses can customize Slack based on their specific requirements.

****Personalize Workspace****

Personalize your Slack workspace based on the specific needs and preferences of your team. Without any additional fees, users can add a theme to the chatroom, include seasonal emojis, and edit their links so that when opening a discussion, they can be the first to engage with the bot.

For personal notifications, the messages can be made to pop up at the right time that one is working on a specific item in the list of things. These are the tasks that matter.

Introducing a communication timeframe into existing work allows for increased team property effectiveness. The use of custom emojis, themes, and notification settings not only excites the users but also facilitates a smoother and stress-free working environment for the teammates.

****Improved Communication with Slack Features****

Due to Slack’s multitasking features that are all aimed at communication efficiency, Slack can bring people together in a team. 

1.  Specific Slack channels for various projects and teams create a proper internal communication system that helps members stay together.  
    
2.  The concept of threads in individual channels is meant to both clear the main conversation and provide the opportunity for different users to have sub-conversations. A well-organized chat reduces the use of emails and ensures that essential messages are read.  
    
3.  Direct messages on Slack, Slack Huddles, and Slack Connect are the primary communication and collaboration tools that are instant and efficient. 

These applications contribute to streamlining dialogue, regardless of whether it is fast two-person conversations, team meetings, or dealing with external partners. All those features can greatly escalate the communication between the team members.

****Chat Or Private Conversation With The Group****

Direct messages on Slack provide more effective communication as their communication paths are clearer, and the endless threads present in traditional emails are only obstacles. Direct messages are for quick questions and elaborated dialogues, and they allow you the possibility to communicate in real time as well as keep the conversations concise and private. Teams can do the same by setting up group direct messages, through which several participants can hold the conversation aside from the main channels.

Direct messages help avoid the cluttering of public or private channels and thus keep the important chats organized. This not only optimizes the communication but also keeps the direct message workspace structure.

****Slack Huddles and Video meetings****

Slack Huddles are pretty simple immediate video group calls that can be arranged to ensure the efficient flow of vital information, especially when numerous people are working remotely. 

These calls provide the live-audio multimedia element that intensifies the interactive discussion as it lets the group members communicate without being present physically. This tool can be a great asset for companies that use instant communication as their main channel for making important decisions.

Allowing Slack Huddles to become a standard part of your daily schedule will make sure that meetings using audio and video are as smooth as silk – and they are, thus, more likely to be efficient and effective. This tool is indispensable for teams working on different stages, and therefore, it is a must for those who want to solve business problems quickly, it is also needed for those who are adding new members to the team in the early stages of the project.

****Slack Connect****

Slack Connect is a feature of great potential which is deployed (or that can be set up) in the same manner as for businesses who use direct collaboration with other secure accounts. 

It also prevails as an embodiment that has, the advantage, of being based on the premise that it connects different organizations so that they can transmit messages (one-on-one and group direct messages) among them, apart from the fact that in case the number of participating organizations can exceed 250, the topic of inter-organizational communication will be the subject of a prominent content. 

The saving of time and money in centralized communication contributes not only to the efficiency of partnerships but also to the ease of collaboration with outsiders.

Slack Connect is a medium between customers and partners, who communicate frequently with their partners to improve the efficiency of their systems. This means that they can eliminate the difficulties they have using centralized communication and consequently, increase the performance of the overall organization.

****Conclusion****

Slack has a lot to offer with its various tools and features that are used to help the work environment be more efficient and productive. Right from the company to connecting channels, the vital software to be integrated, and the automation system to provide maximum security, Slack is the complete package that a company can use for streamlining.

Implementing my directions and suggestions will allow you to fully use Slack in your business. Enjoy using these functions, which will help you communicate better, manage your tasks more effectively, and, above all, sustain a friendly atmosphere in your team. Utilize Slack to the fullest and see your company rise on the digital world graph.

Image Via Unsplash

How to Use Slack for Business: Workplace Communication

Auto-color: New Linux backdoor malware targeting the US and Asia. Learn about its advanced evasion, persistence, and detection…

Auto-color: New Linux backdoor malware targeting the US and Asia. Learn about its advanced evasion, persistence, and detection methods.

A newly discovered Linux malware, dubbed Auto-color, is targeting educational institutions and government entities in North America and Asia, employing advanced stealth techniques to avoid detection and removal.

Researchers at Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 identified this malware. Their investigation reveals that this malware was active between November and December 2024. Auto-color distinguishes itself by using innocuous file names, such as common words like “door” or “egg,” to disguise its initial executable.

“Although the file sizes are always the same, the hashes are different. This is because the malware author statically compiled the encrypted C2 configuration payload into each malware sample,” Unit 42’s blog post, authored by Alex Armstrong, revealed.

Upon execution, it checks its file name and, if it doesn’t match a designated name, initiates an installation phase. This phase involves embedding a malicious library implant, mimicking a legitimate system library, within the system. The malware’s behaviour varies depending on whether the user has root privileges. If root access is available, it installs a library designed to override core system functions.

Auto-color Flow diagram (Source Palo Alto Networks)

A key aspect of Auto-color’s stealth is its manipulation of the Linux system’s ld.preload file. This allows the malware to ensure its malicious library is loaded before other system libraries, enabling it to intercept and modify system functions. This technique grants the malware significant control over the system’s behaviour, including the ability to hide its network activity.  

Auto-color employs sophisticated methods to conceal its network connections. It hooks into functions within the C standard library, allowing it to filter and manipulate the system’s network connection information. By altering the contents of the /proc/net/tcp file, it effectively hides its communication with command-and-control servers, making it difficult for security analysts to detect. This manipulation is more advanced than similar techniques used by previously discovered malware, researchers observed.

The malware uses a proprietary encryption mechanism to connect to remote servers, retrieving target server details from a dynamically generated configuration file or an embedded encrypted payload. It uses a custom stream cipher for secure communication with the attackers’ infrastructure.

“A stream cipher is an encryption scheme in which the key interacts with each byte of the ciphertext,” the blog post read.

Once established, the malware exchanges encrypted messages with the server, enabling the execution of commands on the compromised system.

Auto-color discovery highlights the growing sophistication of Linux-based malware as it can manipulate core system processes and its advanced evasion techniques pose a significant threat to targeted sectors. Organizations should strengthen their security measures, including stringent privilege controls, behavioural threat detection, and continuous monitoring of Linux systems, to mitigate the risk of infection.

New Backdoor Auto-color Linux Targets Systems in US and Asia

FortiGuard Labs discovers Winos 4.0 malware targeting Taiwan via phishing. Learn how this advanced threat steals data and…

FortiGuard Labs discovers Winos 4.0 malware targeting Taiwan via phishing. Learn how this advanced threat steals data and how to protect your Windows system.

Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs has disclosed details of a new malware campaign targeting Taiwanese businesses. Reaching out to Hackread.com on this discovery, prior to its publishing on Thursday, researchers revealed that this campaign was discovered in January 2025 and deployed a highly advanced malware framework, known as Winos 4.0. This attack exhibited a high severity level, and utilized a multi-stage infection process, ultimately aiming to steal sensitive information for future malicious activities.

Further probing revealed that this malware specifically targeted Microsoft Windows platforms. A phishing email, carefully crafted to impersonate Taiwan’s National Taxation Bureau, served as the initial attack vector. This deceptive email claimed to contain a list of companies scheduled for tax inspections, urging recipients to forward the information to their financial departments. The attached file, disguised as an official document from the Ministry of Finance, contained a malicious DLL for the next attack stage.

The Deceptive PDF (Source: Fortinet)

The attack unfolded through a series of executable and dynamic link library (DLL) files. The ZIP file contained files that executed in a sequence: 20250109.exe, ApowerREC.exe, and lastbld2Base.dll.

“20250109.exe is a launcher originally used to execute the actual APowerREC.exe in ./app/ProgramFiles. The attacker created the same folder structure in the ZIP file and used a loader to replace ApowerREC.exe. The fake ApowerREC.exe does nothing but call a function imported from lastbld2Base.dll,” researchers explained in the blog post.

This DLL decrypts and executes shellcode, which contains configuration data including the command-and-control (C2) server address. The shellcode further implements optional features, such as permission escalation, anti-sandbox techniques (e.g. taking multiple screenshots to detect user activity, delaying execution if no user interaction was detected), and process window hiding. The malware downloads encrypted shellcode and the core Winos 4.0 module from the C2 server. This data was stored within the system’s registry for later decryption and execution.

The Attack Flow (Source: Fortinet)

The module initiates several malicious tasks, such as establishing persistence, bypassing UAC (User Account Control), collecting system information (including computer name, operating system version, and installing antivirus software), and disabling screen savers and power-saving features on the infected system.

In addition, the malware actively monitors and manipulates user activity. This includes capturing screenshots, logging keystrokes and clipboard contents (even connected USB devices with their insertion and removal logs), and modifying clipboard data based on predefined rules. It can also disable network connections for security software. Alternative attack chains were also observed, involving Python scripts and further shellcode injection techniques. These variations demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of the Winos 4.0 framework.

Protecting yourself from sophisticated malware like Winos 4.0 requires being highly suspicious of unsolicited emails, especially those with attachments or links, avoiding opening compressed files (ZIP, RAR) attached to emails, as they are often used to deliver malware, and enabling real-time scanning to detect and block threats before they can infect your system.

“This attack follows a classic phishing pattern but with a fun twist around the trusted authority to invoke a reaction,” explains J. Stephen Kowski, Field CTO at SlashNext. “The threat actors cleverly exploit human psychology by creating urgency and curiosity, making recipients more likely to download malicious content.”

Beyond email security, Kowski highlights the importance of a multi-layered approach to defence. “Most organizations are now using managed file transfer systems that require registration and internal approval while simultaneously blocking zip attachments altogether. Combining user education with advanced threat detection technologies is key to stopping sophisticated social engineering attempts before they reach inboxes.”

Hackers Impersonate Taiwan’s Tax Authority to Deploy Winos 4.0 Malware

Angry Likho APT resurfaces, targeting Russian and Belarusian organizations with Lumma Stealer malware via phishing attacks, stealing credentials, banking data, and more.

Cybersecurity researchers at Kaspersky’s Securelist have found a cyber espionage group known as Angry Likho APT (also referred to as Sticky Werewolf by some security vendors) has reemerged with a new wave of cyberattacks, primarily targeting organizations in Russia and Belarus.

This group, which has been active since 2023, shares similarities with the previously analyzed Awaken Likho group, and is linked to cyber attacks against government agencies and large corporate contractors in Russia and parts of Belarus.

**Who Are They Targeting?**

Angry Likho APT has a history of sending highly targeted spear-phishing emails, focusing on employees of large organizations, including government agencies and their contractors. These messages come with malicious RAR files that include harmful shortcut files along with an apparently harmless document.

Once opened, the archive triggers a complex infection chain, ultimately deploying a stealer malware known as Lumma Stealer.

The group’s phishing emails and bait files are written in fluent Russian, suggesting the attackers are likely native Russian speakers. While the majority of victims are in Russia and Belarus, some incidental targets have been identified in other countries, possibly researchers or users of Tor and VPN networks.

According to Securelist’s technical details put together in its blog post, in June 2024, researchers discovered a new implant associated with Angry Likho APT, distributed under the name FrameworkSurvivor.exe. This implant, created using the legitimate Nullsoft Scriptable Install System, functions as a self-extracting archive (SFX).

Upon execution, it extracts files into a folder named $INTERNET_CACHE and launches a heavily obfuscated command file, Helping.cmd. This file, in turn, executes a malicious AutoIt script, which injects the Lumma stealer into the system.

Phishing emails used in the campaign (Via Securelist)

****What Does Lumma Stealer Do?****

The Lumma stealer is designed to harvest sensitive data from infected devices. It collects system information, installed software details, and personal data such as cookies, usernames, passwords, banking card numbers, and connection logs. It also targets data from popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, as well as cryptocurrency wallets and extensions like MetaMask and Authenticator.

****Recent Activity****

In January 2025, Russian cybersecurity firm F6 ( (previously F.A.C.C.T) reported new attacks from Angry Likho APT. These attacks involved image files (e.g., test.jpg and test2.jpg) containing Base64-encoded malicious payloads, a tactic previously observed in 2024.

Researchers also identified several new command servers used by Angry Likho, including domains like averageorganicfallfawshop and distincttangyflippanshop. By analyzing these servers, they uncovered over 60 malicious implants, some of which shared the same payload. This suggests the group is actively expanding its infrastructure to evade analysis and detection.

Nevertheless, the research shows that Angry Likho continues to operate consistently, though in a predictable manner. While they make small changes each time, their approach stays the same: targeted phishing emails, a self-extracting archive, and a final payload designed to steal sensitive data.

Source

HackRead