ESET researchers uncover 'Bootkitty', a first-of-its-kind UEFI bootkit for Linux Bootkitty seems to be in early stages of development, but could pose a major risk Linux users warned to be on their guard against possible attacks UEFI bootkits are reportedly making their way into Linux,

By infecting the firmware that runs immediately before the operating system loads, these UEFI bootkits continue to run even when the hard drive is replaced or reformatted. Now the same type of chip-dwelling malware has been found in the wild for backdooring Linux machines.

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered the first-ever bootkit designed to target Linux systems and subvert their boot process for malicious purposes. The

The first UEFI bootkit specifically targeting Linux systems has been discovered, marking a shift in stealthy and hard-to-remove bootkit threats that previously focused on Windows.

Dubbed Bootkitty by its creators who go by the name BlackCat, the bootkit is assessed to be a proof-of-concept (PoC) and there is no evidence that it has been put to use in real-world attacks. Also tracked as IranuKit, it was uploaded to the VirusTotal platform on November 5, 2024.

ESET has discovered the first proof-of-concept UEFI bootkit malware for Linux: Bootkitty. This is the first time a type of UEFI bootkit malware has been

Security researchers say they've stumbled upon the first-ever UEFI bootkit targeting Linux, illustrating a key moment in the evolution of such tools. Dubbed "Bootkitty" by Slovak security shop ESET, the first sample of the bootkit was detected on malware encyclopedia VirusTotal earlier this month.

ESET researchers have uncovered a prototype UEFI bootkit targeting Ubuntu Linux, marking an expansion of bootkit attacks beyond Windows.

This appears to be the first UEFI bootkit that goes beyond Windows and targets Linux machines, according to ESET security researchers.

ESET's discovery of the first UEFI bootkit designed for Linux sendss an important message: UEFI bootkits are no longer confined to Windows systems alone.