Fernando Tavella

Fernando Tavella

Malware Researcher


Education: Student of Information Systems Engineering at the National Technological University, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Career: I worked as a software developer for 4 years before transitioning into security almost 4 years ago. I started out as a pentester and them moved into malware research.

Position and history at ESET: I joined the ESET team as a malware researcher in late September 2020.

What type of malware do you hate the most? Ransomware.

Favorite activities: Playing the guitar, watching TV and movies.

Favorite computer game/activity: Perform reverse engineering on everything I can – malware, video games, software with a particular vulnerability, etc. I like playing games like Metro 2033 and Metro Exodus

What is your golden rule for cyberspace? Search for information from various sources, don't use information from only one source.


5 articles by Fernando Tavella

GhostRedirector poisons Windows servers: Backdoors with a side of Potatoes

GhostRedirector poisons Windows servers: Backdoors with a side of Potatoes

GhostRedirector poisons Windows servers: Backdoors with a side of Potatoes

ESET researchers have identified a new threat actor targeting Windows servers with a passive C++ backdoor and a malicious IIS module that manipulates Google search results

Fernando Tavella04 Sep 202516 min. read


Operation King TUT: The universe of threats in LATAM

Operation King TUT: The universe of threats in LATAM

Operation King TUT: The universe of threats in LATAM

ESET researchers reveal a growing sophistication in threats affecting the LATAM region by employing evasion techniques and high-value targeting

Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya and Fernando Tavella17 Oct 20233 min. read


Operation Jacana: Foundling hobbits in Guyana

Operation Jacana: Foundling hobbits in Guyana

Operation Jacana: Foundling hobbits in Guyana

ESET researchers discovered a cyberespionage campaign against a governmental entity in Guyana

Fernando Tavella05 Oct 20239 min. read


These aren’t the apps you’re looking for: fake installers targeting Southeast and East Asia

These aren’t the apps you’re looking for: fake installers targeting Southeast and East Asia

These aren’t the apps you’re looking for: fake installers targeting Southeast and East Asia

ESET researchers have identified a campaign using trojanized installers to deliver the FatalRAT malware, distributed via malicious websites linked in ads that appear in Google search results

Matías Porolli and Fernando Tavella16 Feb 202310 min. read


Bandidos at large: A spying campaign in Latin America

Bandidos at large: A spying campaign in Latin America

Bandidos at large: A spying campaign in Latin America

ESET Research uncovers an active malicious campaign that uses new versions of old malware, Bandook, to spy on its victims

Fernando Tavella and Matías Porolli07 Jul 202114 min. read