Cybersecurity Comedy of Errors: UAT-8099’s SEO Fraud Fiasco Unveiled!
UAT-8099, a Chinese-speaking cybercrime group, targets Microsoft Internet Information Services servers for SEO fraud and data theft. They manipulate search rankings by focusing on high-value IIS servers in regions like India and Brazil. Using tools like BadIIS malware and Cobalt Strike, they gain control and evade detection.

Hot Take:
Oh, those sneaky cybercriminals are at it again, turning SEO into “Sinister Engine Optimization”! UAT-8099 is proving that even the digital realm isn’t safe from the clutches of nefarious schemers. They’ve mastered the art of infiltrating Microsoft IIS servers to play the SEO game with all the subtlety of a hacker at a disco, leaving a trail of manipulated search rankings and hijacked credentials in their wake. Who knew cybercrime could be so…optimizing?
Key Points:
– UAT-8099 is a Chinese-speaking cybercrime group engaging in SEO fraud and credential theft.
– The group targets Microsoft IIS servers, with infections mainly reported in India, Thailand, and Vietnam.
– They employ web shells, Cobalt Strike, and BadIIS malware to manipulate search rankings and maintain persistence.
– UAT-8099 utilizes RDP and VPN tools for prolonged access and control over compromised hosts.
– BadIIS malware functions in proxy, injector, and SEO fraud modes to evade detection and facilitate exploits.