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A Remote Access Trojan (RAT) is one of the most common forms of malware you are likely to encounter, and it’s crucial you understand what they are.

It’s important for all organizations to be aware of the danger posed by a RAT in terms of cybersecurity. After all, a RAT could easily take down your entire IT infrastructure or compromise your business data. And all it takes is one mistake for your team to fall victim to a RAT. Due to the severity posed by RATs, we’re going to define what a RAT is, how they work, and the best way to defend and protect against this threat.

The Basics of a RAT

A RAT is a strain of malware which is designed to give threat actors unauthorized access and control over a victim’s PC from a remote location. This is always completed without the victim’s consent, a fact made possible by the stealthy nature of a RAT.

For a RAT to succeed, it first needs to infect the victim’s PC, and this can be achieved in the following ways:

Phishing emails may be used to send malicious attachments which, once opened, activate the RAT and allow it to access the PC it is on.
Malicious downloads may be activated by unsuspecting users who are downloading them from illegal file sharing websites.
If hardware and software is not updated regularly, there is a chance that vulnerabilities may be discovered which a RAT can exploit.

RATs are stealthy types of malware and this cloak of invisibility is put in place by changes that the RAT makes to system settings and registry entries. With this deception in place, a RAT is then able to communicate to a command and control (C&C) server located in a remote location. This C&C server allows the RAT to transmit stolen data and, at the same time, gives the threat actor the opportunity to send commands directly to the RAT.

Some notable examples of RATs are ZuroRat from 2022, NginRAT from 2021 and, more recently, the QwixxRAT attack. All of these examples share one key thing in common: their main objective is to cause digital chaos for all those who fall victim. Accordingly, your organization needs to understand how to defend themselves against these threats.

Detecting and Protecting Against RATs

Protecting your IT infrastructure is far from difficult. In fact, as long as you implement the following measures, it’s relatively easy:

Always update your antivirus and anti-malware software. These security suites have the potential to put a strong barrier in place and detect any incoming malware. However, they also rely on regular updates to keep up to date on the latest threats. Therefore, you need to make sure these are put in place to maximize your defenses.
Make sure that network monitoring solutions are implemented to combat unauthorized network access. This means that your IT team will be able to identify unusual network traffic patterns and take actions to shut this down.

Email and web filtering can seriously reduce your risk of falling victim to a RAT. These excellent pieces of software will analyze and block any malicious attachments before they have a chance to reach your email inbox.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

HiatusRAT Malware Returns with a Vengeance

HiatusRAT, malware, network, Ophtek, Security, Updateseducate, HiatusRAT, malware, network, Ophtek, security, updatesOphtek, LLC

Oct 2023

The HiatusRAT malware has re-emerged from its slumber to prove how resilient it is by targeting multiple organizations in Taiwan and the US.

As with most malware which is deemed successful in terms of its longevity, the threat actors launching HiatusRAT have ensured that it’s more powerful than ever. And, to strengthen its attack, they have redesigned it to escape detection. So far, the majority of the organizations targeted by this latest version of HiatusRAT have been based in Taiwan, but at least one US-based military system has also been attacked. And, with HiatusRAT seemingly operating at full throttle, it’s likely to spread even further.

Due to the potential danger contained within HiatusRAT, we’re going to take you through how it operates and how you can protect your organization.

The Lowdown on the Latest HiatusRAT Campaign

HiatusRAT was first detected back in March 2023, when it was discovered infecting the routers of various organizations in Europe and North and South America. This attack involved stealing data by hijacking email channels as well as installing a remote-access Trojan (RAT) on infected routers. It was an attack which led to significant data loss, but the malware’s activity soon dropped off. However, during this downtime, HiatusRAT has been refined and reconfigured.

Again, HiatusRAT appears to be targeting routers and similar networking devices. By redesigning HiatusRAT to target ARM and Intel hardware, the threat actors – who are currently unknown – have managed to enhance the potency of their malware. Operating with two types of servers – Tier 1 and Tier 2 – they have been able to use multiple IP addresses to transmit data to remote sources. As the attack has targeted at least one military system, it’s suspected that there may be a nation-state involved with the attack. However, as of now, security researchers have been unable to pinpoint the true motives outside of data theft.

Protecting Your Organization from HiatusRAT

You may not run an organization in the military industry, but RAT-based malware doesn’t tend to discriminate. Therefore, you need to be on your guard against HiatusRAT and other similar attacks. Remaining vigilant is crucial, and you can strengthen this vigilance by practicing the following:

Always install updates: many malware attacks are the result of an unpatched vulnerability giving threat actors free access to your IT systems. This means that installing updates, for every piece of software and hardware you use, is vital. It may feel like a time-consuming task in the short-term, but ultimately it could save your organization from data breaches and significant disruption.

Monitor network activity: HiatusRAT was observed to be transmitting data to a remote server for around two hours, and this is why monitoring network activity is so important. Occasionally, there can be a surge in network activity, but this is most often related to identifiable reasons and directed towards known destinations. However, anything out of the ordinary – such as unusual destinations and IP addresses – should immediately be investigated.
Educate your employees: one of the surest ways for malware to breach your IT infrastructure is through your employees. This means that strong IT induction programs need to be implemented and regular refresher courses conducted to solidify this knowledge.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

IcedID Malware Evolves to Become More Dangerous Than Ever

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Oct 2023

The only thing worse than a powerful piece of malware, is a powerful piece of malware which has evolved into something more dangerous, just like IcedID.

IcedID first emerged onto the digital landscape in 2017, when it was classed as a banking trojan and started targeting financial institutions in the US, Canada, and UK. IcedID’s main objective, in 2017, was to steal sensitive data such as credit card details. However, the very best threat actors are those that regularly update and repurpose their malware to evade detection and become more effective. And that’s exactly what they have done with IcedID, turning it from a banking trojan into something much more complex.

What is IcedID’s New Strategy?

IcedID has evolved, but what exactly has it evolved in to? Well, the objective of retrieving sensitive financial details appears to have been removed. However, IcedID is now concentrating its efforts on delivering further malicious payloads to compromised systems. Essentially, it’s opening your IT systems up to a whole new world of pain.

Using the BackConnect module, IcedID communicates with a command-and-control server which allows the transfer of commands and files to the infected system. Originally, this attack was easy to detect as IcedID used TCP port 8080 to transfer data and communications. However, the threat actors behind this new wave of attacks, quickly changed their approach and began to compromise TCP port 443, which is much harder for security software to detect as it usually only handles encrypted data.

At least 20 command-and-control servers have been detected since April 2023, indicating that the threat actors behind IcedID are keen to not only disguise their tracks, but also keep security experts guessing. IcedID appears to compromise its victims by carrying out a sustained campaign of data harvesting and using them as a connection point in spamming campaigns, which are used to spread IcedID even further.

Staying Safe from IcedID

The exact point at which this current IcedID campaign infects a host is currently unknown, but earlier variants of IcedID from 2023 used malicious email attachments. Therefore, it’s important for all your PC users to remain vigilant against the threat of infected emails arriving in their inbox. In particular, make sure they look out for the following:

Check email address and domain: always make sure that the sender’s email is genuine, without misspellings or unusual domain extensions that resemble well-known entities e.g. G00glemail. And when it comes to unfamiliar addresses, especially those that claim to be official sources, scrutinize them closely.
Content and language: pay attention to language inconsistencies and an urgent tone, especially one which urges you to take immediate action. Unexpected attachments and links, particularly from unknown senders, should always be checked by an IT professional as the risk of malware in these instances is high.
Requests for personal information: it’s vital that you treat requests for sensitive data, such as passwords or financial details, with suspicion. Legitimate organizations typically won’t ask for this information via email. Verify such requests directly through secure channels such as face-to-face or via telephone before responding.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

BundleBot Malware Hidden in Fake Google AI Chatbot

BundleBot, Facebook Ads, Google AI Chatbot, malware, monitor network, network security, OphtekBundleBot, Facebook Ads, Google AI Chatbox, malware, network, Ophtek, securityOphtek, LLC

Sep 2023

As the popularity of AI apps soars, the latest being Google’s Bard, it’s becoming clearer that threat actors are taking advantage of this popularity.

The latest attack to be launched revolves around BundleBot, a new brand of malware which is as stealthy as it is dangerous. Bundlebot is typically found lurking within Facebook ads that promise to take you to websites containing AI utilities and games. These websites, however, are malicious. Users report that these malicious websites are similar, in terms of design, to Bard, but their main objective is to encourage users to download malicious files, most typically hosted on an external storage site such as Dropbox.

As we become more and more interested in AI, it’s important that we remain on guard against threats such as BundleBox, so let’s take a more in-depth look at what it is.

The Lowdown on BundleBox

Once the malicious file – an RAR archive file often named Google_AI.rar – is downloaded and executed, the BundleBox campaign begins. Within this archive file, is an executable file called GoogleAI.exe which, once activated, retrieves a ZIP file (ADSNEW-1.0.0.3.zip). Once opened, this ZIP file contains a further application by the name of RiotClientServices.exe. This executable is used to fully launch, through the use of a .dll file, the BundleBox attack.

Thanks to junk code being built into Bundlebox’s design, it is able to operate stealthily and away from the attentions of anti-malware software. While it remains hidden, BundleBox utilizes a ‘command and control’ function to steal sensitive data and transmit it to a remote location. The perpetrators behind BundleBox, currently, remain a mystery, but it’s believed they are from Vietnam, due to similar Vietnamese-based attacks being launched through Facebook in recent months.

Staying Safe from BundleBox and Similar Threats

There is no definitive solution to a BundleBox infection at present, but there are plenty of ways you can protect your PCs from falling victim. Make sure that your organization enforces the following:

Be wary of attractive ads: you should always be wary of what adverts are promising, but this is doubly true for online adverts. With little information being publicly available regarding the creator of a Facebook ad, you are always taking a risk when you click on one. The claim at the heart of the ad may sound enticing, but you have to remember that this is the simplest way to get people to click it. Therefore, if something sounds too good to be true, such as expensive software offered for free, then it most likely is too good to be true.
Check your network activity: Monitoring network activity is crucial when it comes to identifying the presence of malware activity. By analyzing incoming and outgoing data packets, abnormal patterns and suspicious connections can be spotted, indicating potential malware activity. Sudden spikes in data traffic or unauthorized access attempts should be read as clear warning signs that an immediate investigation is required. Additionally, network monitoring also detects unusual data transfers and command-and-control communication.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

State-sponsored hacking remains a serious problem for PC users around the world, and the latest headline grabber – with links to North Korea – is EarlyRAT.

A remote access trojan (RAT) is nothing new in the world of cybercrime, with the earliest examples believed to have been released in the late 1980s. However, their impact has grown significantly over the last 30 years, and this means they need to be taken seriously. There’s a culture of evolution in the world of hacking and, as a result, new RATs are always more powerful than the previous generation. And that’s why the emergence of EarlyRAT has got so many IT professionals concerned.

What is a Remote Access Trojan?

You may not be familiar with the ins and outs of a RAT, so we’re going to take a second to explain what they are and why they are so dangerous. A RAT is a malicious software program designed to provide unauthorized remote access and control over a targeted PC. They tend to be disguised as genuine files – this is why RATs are often distributed through phishing emails – but are nothing short of digital chaos.

Once installed, a RAT allows attackers to gain control of the victim’s computer, and this is all carried out remotely. This allows the threat actors to steal sensitive information, monitor user activity, execute commands, and even activate the webcam or microphone to carry out surveillance. All of these dangers put the victim at risk of data theft and further cyber-attacks.

How Does EarlyRAT Work?

EarlyRAT was first detected by security experts at Kaspersky, who were analyzing a hacking campaign from 2022. The attack was made possible due to a flaw discovered in Log4j, a Java library used to log error messages generated by applications. This vulnerability was exploited by the Andariel hacking group, a team believed to be sponsored by North Korea. Once Log4j had been compromised, Andariel was able to download malware to the victims’ PCs.

Part of this initial attack also included a phishing campaign, and it was here that EarlyRAT was first detected. Phishing documents, once activated, would download EarlyRAT from servers well known for having connections to threat actors. EarlyRAT’s first objective was to start logging system information and, after this, it would begin downloading additional malware, affecting the productivity of infected machines and stealing user credentials.

Keeping Safe from EarlyRAT

It’s important that you protect your IT infrastructure and your data, so staying one step ahead of threats like EarlyRAT is vital. To achieve this, make sure you always practice the following:

Install ALL updates: EarlyRAT’s campaign is a fine example of why installing updates is essential. All it takes is one vulnerability for malware to spread through an IT system and steal huge amounts of data. Therefore, plugging any holes in your defenses should be a priority. And installing updates as soon as possible is the best way to achieve this.

Educate your staff: phishing campaigns, as EarlyRAT has demonstrated, can cause you a severe IT headache. With this in mind, it’s crucial that your staff are well educated on the dangers posed by phishing emails. If your employees can take that important step of stopping and thinking before opening an email, they could save your IT system significant down time.

Identify malicious websites: a large number of RATs are located on malicious websites, so it’s important that you know how to spot one of these. With this knowledge at your disposal, you will be able to not only identify a malicious website, but you’ll be able to realize a link is malicious before you even click it.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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