Malsmoke is a financially motivated cybercriminal group first documented to be active since at least late 2018, initially operating exploit kits such as Fallout before pivoting in late 2019 to sophisticated social engineering tactics for malware distribution. This shift involved abandoning exploit kits in favor of malvertising campaigns, particularly targeting users visiting high-traffic adult websites and employing fake software updates. The group distinguishes itself through its adaptability, specifically its transition from exploit kit operations to social engineering schemes and its later abuse of Microsoft's e-signature verification to facilitate its attacks, all aimed at the widespread delivery of various malicious payloads.