Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Artificial Intelligence

Anthropic Warns Claude Users of Infostealer Malware Infections

The AI giant is logging customers out of their accounts and removing payment data to prevent unauthorized Claude usage.

Malware

Anthropic has warned some Claude users that infostealer malware on their computers allowed attackers to hijack login sessions and run up usage limits, according to an email the company sent to affected customers. 

The company said it detected the activity, signed out the compromised sessions, and removed saved payment methods from affected accounts as a precaution.

Anthropic is alerting Claude AI users whose computers were infected with infostealer malware such as Vidar, Lumma, StealC, RedLine, and Acreed on Windows, along with Atomic Stealer (AMOS) on a small number of macOS devices.

The AI giant emphasized that the malware is general-purpose and not tied to Claude itself, typically arriving via unofficial downloads or malicious apps. 

The company said the malware quietly copies saved passwords, browser login cookies, and credentials for other local applications. 

Anthropic believes a threat actor subsequently began selecting the stolen Claude sessions out of that harvested data and using them to access accounts. Users who saw their usage limits appear to refill and then drain without actively using Claude were told this was the likely cause.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

In response to the campaign, Anthropic signed out the affected sessions and warned it may sign users out again if it observes further signs of account misuse. 

The company also said it removed saved payment methods so accounts could not be charged, and users must add a payment method again to renew or make further purchases. Anthropic also noted that it refunded any Claude charges it identified as unauthorized.

Victims of this campaign have been told to only re-add a payment method after ensuring that all malware has been removed from their computers. 

Related: Irregular Details How a Naming Error Let AI Models Attack a Real Company

Related: Judge Says Pentagon’s Measures Against Anthropic Were ‘Illegal and Baseless’

Related: Conflicting Test Goals Pushed Claude Agents to Deploy Self-Replicating Malware

Written By

Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is senior managing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher before starting a career in journalism in 2011. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering.

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing for the latest cybersecurity threats, trends, and expert insights.

Trending

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Join as speakers examine the various components of ASM strategy, the push to mandate continuous asset visibility and inventory tools, and the use of red-teaming, bug bounties and pen-tests in modern security programs.

Register

In this live webinar, learn how to define your minimum viable business, identify the systems it depends on, measure actual recovery time against business requirements, and present the gaps to the board as measurable risk.

Register

People on the Move

Social engineering protection company Doppel has promoted Alyssa Smrekar to Chief Marketing Officer.

Naveen Bhateja has been appointed Chief People Officer at HackerOne.

The Department of War has appointed Sonu Shankar as Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer.

More People On The Move

Expert Insights

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest cybersecurity news, threats, and expert insights. Unsubscribe at any time.