FOG Ransomware Cites U.S. DOGE, Trend Micro Reports; Elusive Comet Uses Zoom Remote Control for Crypto Theft

The FOG ransomware campaign has been linked to cybercriminals who reference the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in their ransom notes, encouraging victims to spread the malware further. According to cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, these ransom notes mock victims by invoking DOGE, which is officially the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization focused on federal government efficiency. Separately, a group dubbed 'Elusive Comet' has been reported to use Zoom's remote control feature to swindle victims, with North Korean hackers specifically exploiting this functionality for cryptocurrency theft. These attacks highlight emerging tactics in cybercrime involving both ransomware propagation and abuse of remote collaboration tools.