Bitcoin botnet
The precautions are designed to thwart security defenders who routinely dismantle botnets by taking over the command-and-control server that administers them in a process known as sinkholing. Recently, a botnet that researchers have been following for about two years began using a new way to prevent command-and-control server takedowns: by camouflaging one of its IP addresses in the bitcoin blockchain. When things are working normally, infected machines will report to the hardwired control server to receive instructions and malware updates. In the event that server gets sinkholed, however, the botnet will find the IP address for the backup server encoded in the bitcoin blockchain, a decentralized ledger that tracks all transactions made using the digital currency.
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Content:
- Crypto-mining malware fiends exploit insecure Docker installations with botnet
- For a while the infamous Mirai botnet could have exploited your IoT devices to mine Bitcoins
- 'Pony' botnet stealing Bitcoin and other virtual currencies: Trustwave
- Cryptocurrency mining botnets on the rise
- Google shut down crypto-jacking botnet affecting Bitcoin blockchain
- Bitcoins, other digital currencies stolen in massive ‘Pony’ botnet attack
- ZombieCoin: Powering Next-Generation Botnets with Bitcoin
- Botnet based on crypto clipping steals half a million dollars in crypto from victims
- Disrupting the Glupteba operation
Crypto-mining malware fiends exploit insecure Docker installations with botnet
Last week, Google announced that it had partially disrupted the operations of a massive botnet—a gargantuan network of over one million malware-infected Windows computers. In the world of cybersecurity, that would be news on its own, but this particular network was using an alarming blockchain integration that makes it tough to beat. So, obviously, disruption of something like that is good.
At the same time that Google said it had disrupted Gluteba, it also had to admit that the infected network would soon reconstitute and return itself to full strength through an innovative resilience mechanism based in the Bitcoin blockchain.
PT on February 9 for the Galaxy Unpacked live stream. The primary problem for any cybercriminal who wants to operate a botnet is how to maintain control over their zombified hordes. But, to manage its herds, the botmaster needs a channel by which to stay connected to them and give commands—and this is where things can get tricky. Lots of botnet C2 infrastructures utilize basic web protocols like HTTP , which means that they have to be connected to a specific web domain to remain in contact with their herd.
The domain acts as the C2's portal to the internet and, thus, the extended network of infected devices. Law enforcement can bring them down by merely incapacitating the domains associated with the C2—either by getting its DNS provider, like Cloudflare , to shut off access, or by finding and seizing a domain itself. To get around this, criminals have increasingly looked for innovative ways to stay connected to their bot herds.
In particular, criminals have sought to use alternative platforms—such as social media or, in some cases, Tor—to act as C2 hubs. The Flashback Trojan retrieved instructions from a Twitter account. The results have been mixed. What frequently happens is a game of whack-a-mole between cops and criminals, in which police repeatedly take down domains or whatever other web infrastructure is being used, only to have the same criminals reconstitute and get the botnet back up and running again via a different medium.
By leveraging the tamper-proof infrastructure of the Bitcoin blockchain. For cybercriminals, the issue of how to stay connected to their bot herds can be solved via the creation of a backup mechanism. If the primary C2 server and its associated domain get taken down by cops, the malware within infected devices can be engineered to search the web for another, backup C2 domain, which then resurrects the entire infected network. Typically, criminals will hard-code these backup web domains into the malware itself.
Hard-coding is the practice of embedding data directly into the source code of a particular program. In this way, the botmaster can register droves of backups. At some point, the botnet will run out of new addresses because only a finite amount can be coded into the malware.
Glupteba has taken advantage of this feature by using it as a communication channel. So, uh, what to do? Plante seems similarly pessimistic. In other words, the botnet will live on as long as the hackers care to keep updating it. And security professionals will have to keep tracking its updates until the hackers give up or are apprehended in real life.
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For a while the infamous Mirai botnet could have exploited your IoT devices to mine Bitcoins
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'Pony' botnet stealing Bitcoin and other virtual currencies: Trustwave
Either way, the cryptomining code then works in the background as unsuspecting victims use their computers normally. The only sign they might notice is slower performance or lags in execution. One is to trick victims into loading cryptomining code onto their computers. This is done through phishing-like tactics: Victims receive a legitimate-looking email that encourages them to click on a link. The link runs code that places the cryptomining script on the computer. The script then runs in the background as the victim works. The other method is to inject a script on a website or an ad that is delivered to multiple websites. Once victims visit the website or the infected ad pops up in their browsers, the script automatically executes. Hackers often will use both methods to maximize their return. Some cryptomining scripts have worming capabilities that allow them to infect other devices and servers on a network.
Cryptocurrency mining botnets on the rise
Even with recent volatility in the price of most cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, interest among mainstream users and the media remains high. At the same time, Bitcoin alternatives like Monero and Ethereum continue their overall upward trend in value Figure 1 , putting them squarely in the crosshairs of threat actors looking for quick profits and anonymous transactions. Because obtaining these cryptocurrencies through legitimate mining mechanisms is quite resource-intensive, cybercriminals are stealing them , demanding ransomware payments in them, and harnessing other computers to mine them for free. Recently, Proofpoint researchers have been tracking the massive Smominru botnet, the combined computing power of which has earned millions of dollars for its operators.
Google shut down crypto-jacking botnet affecting Bitcoin blockchain
Over the last few days, Imperva researchers have monitored the emergence of a new botnet, one whose primary activity is performing different DDoS attacks and mining cryptocurrency. It also acts as a worm trying to extend its reach by scanning specific subnets and ports and using different remote code execution CVE vulnerabilities in an effort to infect them. This particular botnet attack is unique given its rapid exploitation of the latest web vulnerabilities as a way to extend its reach and size. The first recorded attack attempt took place on January 8. The captured attacks seem to take advantage of some of the most recently published RCE vulnerabilities.
Bitcoins, other digital currencies stolen in massive ‘Pony’ botnet attack
The administrator of your personal data will be Threatpost, Inc. Detailed information on the processing of personal data can be found in the privacy policy. In addition, you will find them in the message confirming the subscription to the newsletter. The volume of attacks fell 31 percent in the last part of , as Bitcoin values skyrocketed. But there were still several notable trends, such as a rise in Linux botnets.
ZombieCoin: Powering Next-Generation Botnets with Bitcoin
For around a week at the end of March, one of the many versions of the Mirai malware was spotted delivering a Bitcoin-mining module to its infected hosts, which typically are routers, DVRs, and IP cameras. According to the IBM X-Force team, the Bitcoin mining module was seen only between March 20 and March 27, and the group behind that specific Mirai variant stopped distribution after that date. The reason is pretty obvious to anyone who knows how Bitcoin works.
Botnet based on crypto clipping steals half a million dollars in crypto from victims
RELATED VIDEO: CloudBots: Harvesting Crypto Coins Like a Botnet FarmerWhen used with a modern GPU, this can produce hash rates orders of magnitude higher than what can be achieved with a CPU. It was claimed that a rogue engineer, Sean Hunczak, was responsible. ESEA said it would donate double the value of the bitcoins to chairty and began a program to compensate users whose hardware had been damaged. ESEA subsequently released a weaselly statement full text below that, in part, argued:. The press release issued by the Attorney General about our settlement represents a deep misunderstanding of the facts of the case, the nature of our business, and the technology in question. Curious; ESEA admitted to doing what was claimed in a forum but argues that the claims made by NJ attorney general were somehow erroneous.
Disrupting the Glupteba operation
Last week, Google announced that it had partially disrupted the operations of a massive botnet—a gargantuan network of over one million malware-infected Windows computers. In the world of cybersecurity, that would be news on its own, but this particular network was using an alarming blockchain integration that makes it tough to beat. So, obviously, disruption of something like that is good. At the same time that Google said it had disrupted Gluteba, it also had to admit that the infected network would soon reconstitute and return itself to full strength through an innovative resilience mechanism based in the Bitcoin blockchain. PT on February 9 for the Galaxy Unpacked live stream. The primary problem for any cybercriminal who wants to operate a botnet is how to maintain control over their zombified hordes.
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