Unveiling “Gayfemboy”: The Playful Malware You Shouldn’t Ignore

Sergiu Marias
Aug 28
2 min read

Hey everyone! Let's take a moment to talk about something weirdly fascinating and absolutely serious: the malware called “Gayfemboy”—and trust me, its name alone isn't what makes it dangerous.

What’s Going On?

So, as of August 2025, cybersecurity firm Fortinet has started warning us about a new Mirai-derivative malware nicknamed Gayfemboy

Here’s the lowdown:

It’s spreading globally—hitting sectors in Brazil, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, the U.S., and Vietnam
It targets XMRig cryptocurrency miners and routers with known vulnerabilities.
Totally bizarrely, the code is filled with playful strings like “twinks :3”, “meowmeow”, alongside eerie domains such as “i‑kiss‑boys” and “twinkfinder”

But don’t be fooled—beneath its quirky veneer lie sophisticated evasion tactics like automatic file renaming and kill-switch hibernation, meaning it silently hides until it strikes.

Why We Should Care… Now

This is no harmless prank—it's high severity, and here's why:

It joins a growing wave of AI-powered and stealthy threats, making detection harder than ever.
By exploiting crypto miners and exposed routers, it shows how everyday devices become entry points for massive attacks.
Its playful aesthetics are actually a smokescreen—most threats hide in plain sight.

Let’s Make It Interactive!

1. Your turn!

Have you ever come across an oddly named malware or virus? What was it?
How did you first hear about it?

2. Imagine this:

Your home router gets compromised by malware. What’s your first move?

Reboot?
Call your ISP?
Run a scan?
Panic (we all do that sometimes 😅)?

3. Fill in the blank:

“An everyday device can become a danger zone when…”(Example: “An everyday device can become a danger zone when it's left unpatched.”)

Quick Recap for Your To-Do List

Tip	Action
Update devices	Keep your routers and software patched—don’t let vulnerabilities linger.
Monitor logs	Watch for strange behavior in routers or mining tools—not all threats announce themselves.
Use robust defences	Invest in good EDR or network protection that can detect evasion tactics.