The IT security company Check Point Software has released its latest security landscape report for the month of June. The report highlights AsyncRat – a remote access trojan (RAT) that has risen to the top three on the list of malicious programs globally. AsyncRat exploits trusted platforms to spread malware and infiltrate systems.

Cybercriminals are constantly developing their methods and finding new ways to spread malware. Researchers at Check Point Research recently discovered a campaign where cybercriminals were able to hijack expired Discord links to distribute malware, and by exploiting users’ trust in trusted platforms, they can operate under the radar. Through these sophisticated methods, cybercriminals are able to bypass traditional security measures to infiltrate systems and exfiltrate data.

First identified in 2019, AsyncRat primarily targets Windows systems to exfiltrate information, download plug-ins, terminate processes, and the code can also update itself. As of June 2025, 2.14 percent of Swedish businesses have been affected, and has a global impact of 2.94 percent.

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“This report highlights cybercriminals’ increasingly sophisticated methods for distributing malware covertly,” says Fredrik Sandström, security expert at Check Point SoftwareIt is critical that companies and businesses implement advanced and proactive security measures to protect against these threats.

In addition to AsyncRat, FakeUpdates continues to dominate the cyber threat landscape this month. In total, 13.39 percent of Swedish businesses have been affected – a jump of almost 8 percent compared to the previous month. In third place is Androxgh0st with 4.27 percent of Swedish operations vulnerable.

Read more on Check Point's blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com/research/june-2025-malware-spotlight-discord-exploits-lead-to-rising-threats/