Microsoft warns of a new ClickFix variant that tricks users into running DNS commands to fetch malware via nslookup. Microsoft has revealed a new ClickFix variant that deceives users into running a malicious nslookup command through the Windows Run dialog to retrieve a second-stage payload via DNS. ClickFix typically uses fake CAPTCHA or error messages […] Microsoft warns of a new ClickFix variant that tricks users into running DNS commands to fetch malware via nslookup. Microsoft has revealed a new ClickFix variant that deceives users into running a malicious nslookup command through the Windows Run dialog to retrieve a second-stage payload via DNS. ClickFix typically uses fake CAPTCHA or error messages to trick victims into infecting their own systems, helping attackers evade security defenses. The technique has evolved into multiple variants over the past two years. “Microsoft Defender researchers observed attackers using yet another evasion approach to the ClickFix technique: Asking targets to run a command that executes a custom DNS lookup and parses the `Name:` response to receive the next-stage payload for execution.” Microsoft wrote on X. Microsoft Defender researchers observed attackers using yet another evasion approach to the ClickFix technique: Asking targets to run a command that executes a custom DNS lookup and parses the `Name:` response to receive the next-stage payload for execution. pic.twitter.com/NFbv1DJsXn— Microsoft Threat Intelligence (@MsftSecIntel) February 13, 2026
Published: 2026-02-16T12:24:39