Switzerland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has uncovered a sophisticated cyber attack campaign that leverages traditional postal mail to distribute the dangerous Coper banking trojan. In this unprecedented attack vector, cybercriminals are impersonating the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology through physical letters containing malicious QR codes.
Attack Methodology: Blending Physical and Digital Threats
The attackers have meticulously crafted official-looking correspondence that mimics legitimate communications from Switzerland’s meteorological authority. When victims scan the embedded QR codes, they are directed to download a fraudulent weather alert application. The malicious app masquerades as “AlertSwiss” – a slight variation of the legitimate “Alertswiss” app – and is distributed through unofficial channels outside the Google Play Store.
Technical Analysis of the Coper Banking Trojan
First identified in 2021, the Coper trojan represents a sophisticated threat to mobile banking security. The malware’s capabilities include keystroke logging, SMS interception, push notification hijacking for compromising two-factor authentication, banking credential theft, phishing overlay deployment, and remote command execution through Command & Control (C2) servers.
Advanced Evasion and Data Theft Mechanisms
The trojan employs advanced techniques to avoid detection while harvesting sensitive financial information. Its ability to intercept authentication mechanisms makes it particularly dangerous for mobile banking users, as it can bypass traditional security measures.
Campaign Scope and Strategic Implications
The NCSC has documented over ten reported incidents related to this campaign. Given the substantial cost of Swiss postal services (approximately $1.35 per letter), security experts assess this as a highly targeted operation rather than a mass-distribution attempt. This innovative attack strategy demonstrates cybercriminals’ evolving tactics in bypassing digital security measures through traditional communication channels.
Rising Trends in QR Code-Based Attacks
Microsoft’s threat intelligence reveals an alarming increase in QR code abuse across various sectors. The education sector alone faces more than 15,000 malicious QR code-containing emails daily. Criminals are expanding their reach by placing fraudulent QR codes in public spaces, including gas stations and parking facilities.
To mitigate risks from this emerging threat vector, organizations and individuals should implement comprehensive security measures, including QR code verification tools, strict application installation policies, and advanced mobile security solutions. This hybrid attack methodology underscores the critical importance of maintaining vigilance across both digital and physical security domains, while highlighting the need for continuous adaptation of cybersecurity strategies to address evolving threats.
