New Malware Threat Discovered in Trusted Creative Platforms

AV-Comparatives released its Real-World Protection Test results for February to May 2026, revealing a significant shift in the threat landscape. The test identified MEL/Vacphage.A, a Python-based worm embedded in Autodesk Maya Binary files, distributed through Epic Games' Fab.com. This malware targets users who trust these platforms for creative assets, highlighting a growing trend of attackers embedding malware in legitimate files. The test evaluated 20 consumer security products, assessing their effectiveness against real-world threats. Seven products received the ADVANCED+ award for high performance, including Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton, and TotalAV. The findings emphasize the importance of robust security measures in an evolving threat environment.

Key Points: • MEL/Vacphage.A worm found in Autodesk Maya files on Epic Games' Fab.com. • AV-Comparatives tested 20 security products, revealing varied effectiveness against new threats. • Seven products achieved the ADVANCED+ award for superior protection.