New EarlyRAT Malware Linked to North Korea Emerges 

EarlyRAT, educate, Hackers, install updates, malicious websites, malware, North Korea, Ophtek, Remote Access Trojan, Safety, , , , , , , , ,
19
Sep 2023

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: 

  • 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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Security Experts Targeted by Malware on GitHub

GitHub, Hackers, install updates, malicious websites, malware, Ophtek, POC, proof of concept, , , , , , ,
12
Sep 2023

It’s always important to be cautious online, but it’s easy for people to fall victim to malware. Even security experts can fall for the tricks of hackers. 

Yes, even those skilled and highly experienced security researchers can find themselves on the receiving end of malware. The most recent piece of evidence for this phenomena is an attack which is as brazen as it is powerful. It revolves around a piece of bait left, by threat actors, on GitHub, an online repository for developers to store and share their code. And it was a piece of code, disguised as a highly tempting piece of software for a security expert, which led to many of these professionals being left embarrassed.  

How Were the Experts Fooled? 

The GitHub attack involved a piece of software being made available which claimed to be a proof-of-concept (POC). Typically, a POC is a demonstration of a software project, and is used to determine how feasible the project is and the potential of its long-term success. For a security researcher, a POC is a useful way to test for security vulnerabilities, and this is why they are frequently downloaded and analyzed. 

However, this specific ‘POC’ proved to be little more than malware in disguise. Within the fake POC structure was a malware downloader, which was used to download malware and set off a chain of malicious events. Once the malware was downloaded, it began by executing a Linux script to automate specific commands. This allowed the threat actors to start stealing data, which was automatically downloaded to a remote location, by scraping the entire directory of the infected PC. 

The fake POC also allowed the threat actors to gain full access to any of the infected systems. This was achieved by adding their secure shell (a protocol for operating network services) to the authorized keys file on the infected system. All of this was made possible, for the threat actors, due to a vulnerability – known as CVE-2023-35829 – discovered in the Linux operating system, an OS usually used by software developers. 

Avoid the Mistakes of the Experts 

You may be thinking that, if a security expert can fall victim to malware, what hope do you have in the face of targeted attacks? However, as we know, nobody is 100% immune from the efforts of threat actors, and this includes security researchers. As ever, vigilance is key to maintaining the security of your IT infrastructure: 

  • Be wary of malicious websites: while GitHub is far from malicious, the people using it often are. This means you should always do some research on what you’re downloading and who you’re downloading it from. So, for example, try Googling the username of whoever is offering you a download, and see whether there are any trustworthy results or otherwise. Alternatively, ask an IT professional to take a look and assess the risk – contrary to the GitHub attack, they can usually spot malware from a mile away. 

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

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Microsoft Teams at Risk of Letting Malware In 

install updates, malware, Microsoft Teams, Ophtek, Phishing, security, , , , ,
29
Aug 2023


Microsoft Teams has experienced a surge in popularity among businesses since the pandemic, and this makes it a highly prized target for hackers. 

Businesses find Microsoft Teams a powerful tool as it allows employees to work remotely, communicate and be productive. And it’s all through one app. This is why it’s a fantastic business solution and used by 280 million people. Naturally, the size of this audience is going to turn a threat actor’s head. Where there are high numbers of users, there’s an opportunity for malware to be successful. And that’s why the discovery of a vulnerability in Teams has caused so much concern. 

The Vulnerability Lying Within Microsoft Teams 

One of the main uses of Teams is as a communication tool, and this means that the potential for spreading malware via file transfers and linked hard drives is high. But this newly discovered vulnerability is very different. Therefore, it’s important you understand the threat it poses. 

Now, Microsoft Teams allows you to communicate with a wide range of people within your organization. It also allows you to communicate with external parties e.g. subcontractors, clients and facility management teams. Usually, these external users are unable to transmit files to other organizations through Teams. And this is a good thing, as it lowers the risk of malware being sent between businesses. 

However, the security protocols which are in place to stop unauthorized file sending can, it turns out, be compromised. Once this vulnerability is exploited, a threat actor can start sending malware direct to the Teams inbox of staff within that business. Often, the threat actors are increasing the chances of their attack being successful by setting up similar email addresses to that of their target. All it takes is for one employee to open the malware and it can start to spread. 

While the incoming message will still be tagged as “External”, the busy nature of many employees’ days means that it’s likely this message will be ignored. Also, this method of attack is relatively new. Users are well drilled in the telltale signs of a phishing email, but a Teams instant message is very different. Accordingly, the risk of falling victim to this attack is concerning. 

Staying Safe on Microsoft Teams 


Curiously, Microsoft has advised that this vulnerability doesn’t, at present, warrant fixing. No doubt, at some point, it will be patched, but for now you should remain cautious. To help strengthen your defenses, make sure you practice the following: 

  • Always update: there’s never an excuse for not carrying out software updates once they are available. It’s the quickest and simplest way to plug weak points in your cyber defenses, so, if they are not already in place, setting up automatic updates should be your priority. 
  • Reduce your availability: it’s possible to limit your communication through Teams to specific domains only. Again, this reduces your risk by ensuring that your staff can only communicate with trusted sources and not threat actors operating from similar, yet malicious domains. 

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

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Ukraine’s Military Hacked by Russian Backed USB Malware 

malware, Ophtek, Phishing, Pteredo, Russian Hackers, Shuckworm, Ukraine, USB_malware, , , , , , ,
22
Aug 2023

The news footage may focus on military strikes, but, behind the war in Ukraine, cyberattacks are being utilised as a major weapon by Russia. 

Government-backed cyberattacks are nothing new, and they will continue to be utilized as part of global espionage campaigns for the foreseeable future. However, while these attacks are unlikely to be aimed at small businesses, the methods and techniques employed are likely to trickle down into the arsenal of smaller hackers. Therefore, in the near future, these powerful attacks could regularly be launched against your business. 

At Ophtek, we pride ourselves on keeping our clients up to date on contemporary threats. But we also strive to keep you one step ahead of the hackers. And that’s why we’re going to take you through this latest attack. 

Understanding the Mechanics of this Military Hack  

Warfare has always relied on much more than just weapons, intelligence has always been equally important. And, with the rise of technology in the digital age, compromising IT equipment has proven to be highly rewarding in the pursuit of sensitive information. This latest attack, which has links with Russia’s FSB security service, has been launched by Shuckworm, a Russian threat actor with a long history of attacks. 

February 2023 saw Shuckworm intensifying their attacks against Ukraine, a campaign which has been running for several years. Most notably, Shuckworm have been developing new malware in conjunction with command-and-control servers. Central to these attacks has been a strain of malware called Pterodo. Developed by Shuckworm, Pterodo is a backdoor attack which is executed when malicious USB drives are installed onto PCs. The first step that Pterodo takes is to install shortcut links on the infected PC, with these links given names such as evidence.rtf.lnk in order to tempt users into clicking them. 

Clicking these links will install Pterodo on the user’s PC and allow Pterodo to spread through any connected drives and download further malware. To cover its tracks, Pterodo uses a number of innovative approaches. Numerous variants of Pterodo have been developed to bypass identification tools and, in order to conceal their identity, the related command-and-control servers regularly rotate their IP addresses. While the USB route for launching this attack appears to be Shuckworm’s preferred method, there is also evidence that it’s being spread through phishing emails. 

How Do You Beat Military Backed Hackers? 

Threat actors which receive government support are very powerful, but it doesn’t mean they are unbeatable. In fact, this latest attack by Shuckworm can easily be deflected by practicing the following: 

  • Be wary of USB drives: USB drive attacks have been commonplace for many years, so it’s important that you don’t let your guard down. Mysterious USB drives which arrive in the mail or are found out in the parking lot should be fully scrutinized and never plugged into your PCs. As well as compromising data security, malicious USB drives also have the potential to destroy your PC. 

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

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Where is Cybersecurity Heading in 2023?

Artificial Intelligence, cryptojacking, cybersecurity, malware, Ophtek, Phishing, Ransomware, remote workers, , , , , , ,
08
Aug 2023

We’re already halfway through 2023 and threat actors are showing no signs of slowing up, but just where is cybersecurity heading?

It may feel as though you’re waging a never-ending battle against hackers and, well, that’s exactly what you’re doing. However, the strategies and techniques of threat actors has changed significantly in the last two decades. Back in 2003, for example, ransomware was less prevalent, but now it’s a major player in terms of cyber-attacks. Therefore, it’s always good to keep one step ahead of the hackers and understand where they are likely to go next.

What Will Future Cyber Attacks Look Like?

The future of cybersecurity will be concerned with maintaining defenses against existing threats and tackling new, innovative strategies launched by threat actors. These attacks are expected to be based in the following categories:

Artificial Intelligence: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has been huge in the last couple of years, just look at the interest generated by ChatGPT in 2023. However, the power to cause damage with AI is causing just as many headlines. You can, for example, ask AI systems to help generate code to build computer programs. The exact same code which is used to build malware. This means that designing and executing malware could be easier than ever before, and lead to a surge in new attacks.

Remote working: since the pandemic, more and more employees have been working remotely. While this is convenient, and has been shown to enhance productivity, it also increases the risk of falling victim to malware. Although many remote workers connect to their employers through a VPN, they are often accessing this through devices which aren’t secure. Also, as they will not have colleagues directly around them to offer advice, employees will be more vulnerable to, for example, clicking a malicious link.

Phishing: threat actors have been launching phishing attacks for nearly 20 years, and this means that many PC users can easily spot a phishing email. But this doesn’t mean we’re safe. Instead, it’s likely that future attacks will be more sophisticated to be successful. Taking advantage of AI and machine learning, threat actors will be able to craft phishing emails which are both engaging and convincing. This will allow their attacks to be more successful and harvest more stolen data.

Cryptojacking: despite several significant attacks, cryptojacking is yet to hit the mainstream PC user in the same way that ransomware has. Nonetheless, cryptojacking attacks are on the rise. Accordingly, PC users are likely to become more familiar with them in the next few years. Cryptojacking, as the name suggests, involves hijacking a PC and using its computing resources to mine cryptocurrencies. Due to the huge amount of processing power required to mine cryptocurrency, these attacks target entire networks and can grind them to a halt.

Final Thoughts

These four attack strategies may not be troubling you every day, but they could soon become regular headaches. That’s why you need to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Make sure that you

keep updated on the latest threats, regularly review your security measures, and ensure that your staff are fully trained in cybersecurity best practices.

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

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