mrmoor/cyber-threat-intelligence · Datasets at Hugging Face

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511	Figure 1 shows the proportion of ransomware sample numbers for different families that Unit 42 detected in the wild.	[ { "id": 46142, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 87, "end_offset": 94 } ]	[]	[]
512	Among all, 6.7% of the ransomware samples are Virlock, which has been active since 2014.	[ { "id": 46143, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 46, "end_offset": 53 }, { "id": 46144, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 83, "end_offset": 87 } ]	[]	[]
513	Virlock has the largest number of variants due to its file-infector-like behavior.	[ { "id": 46145, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 54, "end_offset": 81 }, { "id": 44760, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 7 } ]	[ { "id": 159, "from_id": 44760, "to_id": 46145, "type": "uses" } ]	[]
514	Higher malware variant numbers don't necessarily imply a higher prevalence.	[]	[]	[]
515	Some ransomware families don’t deliver different variants every time, but the infection ratio per sample is high, meaning attackers delivered the same malware to huge numbers of victims.	[]	[]	[]
516	Figure 2 shows a completely different result from Figure 1 and stems from only counting ransomware samples from cases in which more than five hosts were infected with the same malware.	[]	[]	[]
517	From this lens, the top three families observed are Ryuk (31.7%), Sodinokibi (20%) and Maze (15%). Emails are still the most efficient method to deliver and propagate ransomware.	[ { "id": 46146, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 52, "end_offset": 56 }, { "id": 46147, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 66, "end_offset": 76 }, { "id": 46148, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 87, "end_offset": 91 } ]	[]	[]
518	Figure 3 shows ransomware arrives via different application protocols.	[]	[]	[]
519	The majority of ransomware is delivered by email.	[ { "id": 44761, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 16, "end_offset": 48 } ]	[]	[]
520	Web browsing is the second most common entry vector for ransomware infections.	[]	[]	[]
521	The process of delivering malware by a URL can include various techniques.	[]	[]	[]
522	For example, the URL links can be posted on forums or chat group software, sent by IM applications, offered via fake freeware for download or attached in emails.	[ { "id": 45793, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 112, "end_offset": 125 }, { "id": 46149, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 142, "end_offset": 160 } ]	[]	[]
523	Web hosting ransomware can also be downloaded and successfully installed through a multi-layered infection chain among different file types.	[ { "id": 46150, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 22 } ]	[]	[]
524	For example, AlumniLocker is first delivered as a phishing PDF.	[ { "id": 46151, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 13, "end_offset": 25 }, { "id": 46152, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 50, "end_offset": 62 } ]	[]	[]
525	It leads to downloading a ZIP archive that contains an LNK downloader.	[ { "id": 44763, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 26, "end_offset": 29 }, { "id": 44764, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 55, "end_offset": 69 } ]	[]	[]
526	This downloads and executes an obfuscated PowerShell script to finally install the ransomware.	[ { "id": 46153, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 42, "end_offset": 59 } ]	[]	[]
527	Figure 4 breaks down which file types we saw in the course of ransomware detection and their prevalence.	[]	[]	[]
528	32-bit EXE is the most common ransomware file type we observed.	[]	[]	[]
529	Other file types are often used as the first stage of infection or downloaders, such as archives, documents and scripts.	[]	[]	[]
530	Most ransomware is delivered via email with an attached archive; the ransomware is compressed in the archived files with or without password protection.	[]	[]	[]
531	“Resume” or “portfolio document” are examples of archive file names, and the archive contains one or more pieces of malware with fake document file icons.	[]	[]	[]
532	One example here is Makop, contained in a 7z archive along with an infostealer malware (SHA256: DE6DFA018773E07C218EF1DF62CE0D99A708841BF1DDFB4C6AD7E323D5D666A4).	[ { "id": 1760, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 67, "end_offset": 78 }, { "id": 1761, "label": "SHA2", "start_offset": 96, "end_offset": 160 }, { "id": 46154, "label": "tools", "start_offset": 42, "end_offset": 44 } ]	[ { "id": 156, "from_id": 1761, "to_id": 1760, "type": "related-to" } ]	[]
533	A script file is also used to download or install ransomware.	[]	[]	[]
534	For example, GandCrab uses JScript as a downloader, leveraging Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) to download the payload in the background (Figure 5).	[ { "id": 44765, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 13, "end_offset": 21 }, { "id": 44766, "label": "tools", "start_offset": 63, "end_offset": 117 } ]	[ { "id": 20, "from_id": 44765, "to_id": 44766, "type": "uses" } ]	[]
535	We also observed that Mailto (AKA NetWalker) tends to deliver ransomware in a highly obfuscated PowerShell script.	[ { "id": 1765, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 22, "end_offset": 28 }, { "id": 1766, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 34, "end_offset": 43 }, { "id": 46155, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 78, "end_offset": 113 } ]	[ { "id": 162, "from_id": 1766, "to_id": 1765, "type": "duplicate-of" }, { "id": 160, "from_id": 46155, "to_id": 1766, "type": "delivers" }, { "id": 161, "from_id": 46155, "to_id": 1765, "type": "delivers" } ]	[]
536	Exploit documents are seldom seen for delivering ransomware.	[]	[]	[]
537	One example is an exploit RTF that led to downloading and installing Makop ransomware remotely.	[ { "id": 44767, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 18, "end_offset": 29 }, { "id": 44768, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 69, "end_offset": 85 } ]	[ { "id": 21, "from_id": 44767, "to_id": 44768, "type": "delivers" } ]	[]
538	Besides encrypting files on infected hosts, the main feature of ransomware is, of course, the demand for ransom.	[]	[]	[]
539	Since ransomware threat actors have had years to evolve their techniques, there are now several different ways for attackers to receive payments and provide the "service" they claim to offer.	[]	[]	[]
540	Usually, after the ransomware successfully installs, it pops up a message box or leaves text files to explain how to pay the ransom – the ransom note.	[]	[]	[]
541	Some ransomware locks the victim's screen and only displays the ransom note.	[]	[]	[]
542	Unit 42 has reviewed ransom notes from different ransomware families.	[ { "id": 46156, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 8 } ]	[]	[]
543	Most ransom notes request payment in cryptocurrency or mention reaching out via the darknet, though some other contact methods also appear. In these cases, the ransom note asks victims to pay a specific amount in cryptocurrency – Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), etc. — to a specific wallet address.	[ { "id": 45794, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 246, "end_offset": 252 }, { "id": 44769, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 231, "end_offset": 238 }, { "id": 44770, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 231, "end_offset": 244 }, { "id": 44772, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 246, "end_offset": 258 } ]	[]	[]
544	Two ransomware families that utilize these types of ransom notes are Virlock and WanaCrypt0r.	[ { "id": 46157, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 69, "end_offset": 76 }, { "id": 46158, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 81, "end_offset": 92 } ]	[]	[]
545	Some ransomware families, including Babuk, Sodinokibi, Cerber, Mailto, Ryuk and others, seldom show the ransom amount or cryptocurrency wallet address.	[ { "id": 46160, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 44, "end_offset": 54 }, { "id": 46159, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 37, "end_offset": 42 }, { "id": 46161, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 56, "end_offset": 62 }, { "id": 46163, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 72, "end_offset": 76 }, { "id": 46162, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 64, "end_offset": 70 } ]	[]	[]
546	Instead, they instruct victims to install TOR and reach out to them on the darknet.	[ { "id": 44773, "label": "tools", "start_offset": 42, "end_offset": 45 } ]	[]	[]
547	Usually, they host a website for victims to input the identification key found in the ransom note, upload encrypted files for decryption – and pay the ransom.	[]	[]	[]
548	Ransom notes from Makop, Dharma, Ryuk, DearCry and others, sometimes ask victims to reach out to them via email.	[ { "id": 46164, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 19, "end_offset": 24 }, { "id": 46166, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 34, "end_offset": 38 }, { "id": 46167, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 40, "end_offset": 47 }, { "id": 46165, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 26, "end_offset": 32 } ]	[]	[]
549	The email addresses given are usually from untraceable email accounts.	[]	[]	[]
550	At other times, a threat actor lets the victim chat with them directly on group chat software.	[]	[]	[]
551	The victims can find the threat actor’s user name through specific group chat software or follow a chat group link in the ransom note. Ransom payment operations are complicated and highly automated processes.	[]	[]	[]
552	Attackers can create a lot of cryptocurrency wallets automatically; they can even make a unique wallet address for each victim.	[]	[]	[]
553	Once a ransom is received, the ransom will be involved in the multiple transactions that are managed to distribute and aggregate the ransom across thousands of virtual wallets.	[]	[]	[]
554	For example, the Xorist ransomware (SHA256: 4979A10B81C41ECC0FC3A0F376ADE766CE616D2301639F74E0277047CC40E3D6) demanded £1,000 for a ransom; the bitcoin wallet address was 1BFqrLCDwwrxueY7FFDn8DqeoasPJignxt.	[ { "id": 1837, "label": "SHA2", "start_offset": 44, "end_offset": 108 }, { "id": 46168, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 34 }, { "id": 46169, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 144, "end_offset": 151 } ]	[ { "id": 157, "from_id": 1837, "to_id": 46168, "type": "indicates" } ]	[]
555	However, this wallet had not really received any ransom payments when the malware was delivered.	[]	[]	[]
556	The wallet got involved in the operation of mixing and tumbling among several other virtual wallets.	[]	[]	[]
557	This is a pretty common operation when attackers want to withdraw or disperse currency from ransom payments into other wallets.	[]	[]	[]
558	During the operation, 25.1 BTC from 538 wallets was sent to 1NDyJtNTjmwk5xPNhjgAMu4HDHigtobu1s (SHA256: CE11703DEF517306326C48A67A7C859A3DE0F18E2451DF226CE171389A5B7953), which is a wallet owned by Binance cryptocurrency exchange.	[ { "id": 1845, "label": "SHA2", "start_offset": 104, "end_offset": 168 }, { "id": 44776, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 198, "end_offset": 229 } ]	[ { "id": 164, "from_id": 44776, "to_id": 1845, "type": "owns" } ]	[]
559	(ref: Binance on Twitter ).	[ { "id": 46171, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 6, "end_offset": 13 }, { "id": 46172, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 24 } ]	[]	[]
560	The 25.1 BTC amount was worth $1.18 million at that time, and now is about $876,000.	[]	[]	[]
561	Since Virlock only requests a $250 ransom, it does not draw too much public attention.	[ { "id": 45795, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 7, "end_offset": 14 } ]	[]	[]
562	Other ransomware families, however, target enterprises and ask for multimillion dollar ransoms, which garners much more media attention.	[]	[]	[]
563	Based on the way Virlock spreads the ransom amount it demands, it is likely designed to target consumers or home users.	[ { "id": 46173, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 24 } ]	[]	[]
564	After infection, Virlock hides the file extension through modification of the registry (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\HideFileExt = 1, HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Hidden = 2).	[ { "id": 1874, "label": "REGISTRYKEY", "start_offset": 88, "end_offset": 164 }, { "id": 1876, "label": "REGISTRYKEY", "start_offset": 170, "end_offset": 241 }, { "id": 44778, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 24 } ]	[ { "id": 165, "from_id": 1874, "to_id": 44778, "type": "indicates" }, { "id": 166, "from_id": 1876, "to_id": 44778, "type": "indicates" } ]	[]
565	The encrypted file icon will look the same as usual, but after opening the infected file, the ransom note will pop up.	[]	[]	[]
566	Virlock uses, but isn’t limited to, PDF, DOC, PPT, JPG, BMP,GIF, RAR, 7Zip, Zip and EXE files.	[ { "id": 46174, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 7 } ]	[]	[]
567	Figure 6 is a screenshot of a recently captured Virlock ransom note.	[ { "id": 44781, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 48, "end_offset": 55 } ]	[]	[]
568	The attacker asked for $250 and required payment as 0.004 BTC (suggesting that at the time the ransom note was written, 1 BTC equaled approximately $62,500).	[]	[]	[]
569	At the time of infection experiments, 1 BTC equaled approximately $54,649, suggesting that the exchange rate in the ransom note is not updated on the fly.	[]	[]	[]
570	Some Virlock variants ask for more ransom, such as 0.771 BTC, 1.008 BTC or more.	[ { "id": 44782, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 5, "end_offset": 12 } ]	[]	[]
571	The top three samples we observed spreading in early 2021 were Ryuk, Maze, and Sodinokibi.	[ { "id": 1907, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 64, "end_offset": 68 }, { "id": 1910, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 80, "end_offset": 90 }, { "id": 46175, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 70, "end_offset": 74 }, { "id": 46176, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 54, "end_offset": 58 } ]	[]	[]
572	These three contribute 7.2% out of the total infected numbers we collected.	[]	[]	[]
573	Ryuk will change the infected file extension to .RYK, and leave a ransom note called RyukReadMe.html.	[ { "id": 44783, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 5 }, { "id": 44784, "label": "FILEPATH", "start_offset": 86, "end_offset": 101 } ]	[ { "id": 22, "from_id": 44784, "to_id": 44783, "type": "indicates" } ]	[]
574	One of the reasons Ryuk causes so much damage is because it will scan the local network and try to infect other machines through Server Message Block (SMB) protocols.	[ { "id": 1919, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 19, "end_offset": 23 }, { "id": 46177, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 129, "end_offset": 155 } ]	[]	[]
575	Ryuk will even send out Wake-on-LAN packets to wake up systems that have been configured with this feature.	[ { "id": 1923, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 4 } ]	[]	[]
576	In this research, we discussed ransomware family trends we observed in the first three months of 2021.	[ { "id": 44785, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 97, "end_offset": 101 } ]	[]	[]
577	First, we reviewed the trends from prevalent ransomware families, then we discussed the most common file types used as attack vectors leveraged by ransomware.	[]	[]	[]
578	Lastly, we gave an example of ransom operations and updates about top ransomware families.	[]	[]	[]
579	Ransomware threats are a serious challenge.	[]	[]	[]
580	Employing effective backup strategies and disaster recovery procedures is important.	[]	[]	[]
581	Palo Alto Networks customers are further protected from ransomware.	[ { "id": 46178, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 18 } ]	[]	[]
582	Cortex XSOAR can automatically and instantly coordinate with network security, malware analysis and threat management solutions to ensure customers remain protected.	[ { "id": 44786, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 12 } ]	[]	[]
583	Cortex XDR endpoint protection stops malware, exploits and ransomware before they can compromise endpoints.	[ { "id": 46179, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 10 } ]	[]	[]
584	With AI-powered Inline analysis, the Next-Generation Firewall stops exploits that lead to infection, and WildFire’s always up-to-date machine learning models monitor behavior to preemptively detect unknown ransomware.	[ { "id": 46180, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 105, "end_offset": 113 } ]	[]	[]
585	If you think you may have been impacted by ransomware, please email unit42-investigations@paloaltonetworks.com or call (866) 4-UNIT42 to get in touch with the Unit 42 Incident Response team.	[ { "id": 1952, "label": "EMAIL", "start_offset": 69, "end_offset": 111 }, { "id": 1954, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 160, "end_offset": 167 }, { "id": 44787, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 128, "end_offset": 134 }, { "id": 44788, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 160, "end_offset": 190 } ]	[]	[]
586	Highlights from the 2021 Unit 42 Ransomware Threat Report Ransomware Threat Assessments: A Companion to the 2021 Unit 42 Ransomware Threat Report Sign up to receive the latest news, cyber threat intelligence and research from us Please enter your email address!	[ { "id": 1956, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 26, "end_offset": 33 }, { "id": 1958, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 115, "end_offset": 122 } ]	[]	[]
587	Please mark, I'm not a robot!	[]	[]	[]
588	By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Statement.	[]	[]	[]
589	If you need to understand one thing about cybercrime, it’s that it is all about business.	[]	[]	[]
590	In our latest Unit 42 research on cybercriminals using the Hancitor malware, we show that not only are their attacks about business, we can see these cybercriminals deftly applying some fundamental business principles around timing, specialization, and globalization.	[ { "id": 46181, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 15, "end_offset": 22 }, { "id": 46182, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 60, "end_offset": 68 } ]	[]	[]
591	Hancitor is a malware that focuses getting other malware onto the victim’s system.	[ { "id": 44790, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 9 } ]	[]	[]
592	In the case of Hancitor, it’s typically banking Trojans that steal the victim’s banking information.	[ { "id": 46183, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 15, "end_offset": 23 }, { "id": 46184, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 61, "end_offset": 99 } ]	[]	[]
593	In our latest research, we can see the attackers behind Hancitor have been timing their attacks to happen during the busiest time of the global working week, the middle of the week.	[ { "id": 46185, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 57, "end_offset": 65 } ]	[]	[]
594	And we’ve seen that in adapting their attacks to better evade detection, they’ve specialized their operations around the globe.	[]	[]	[]
595	Hancitor isn’t particularly advanced in its tactics: it’s ideal target is an old or outdated version of Microsoft Windows like Windows 7 or even Windows XP.	[ { "id": 46187, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 9 }, { "id": 46188, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 105, "end_offset": 122 }, { "id": 46189, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 128, "end_offset": 137 }, { "id": 46190, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 146, "end_offset": 157 } ]	[]	[]
596	But it’s effective enough that when used in several hundred different spam campaigns every month it pays for the criminals to keep up these attacks against targets around the world.	[]	[]	[]
597	Timing In our most recent research, one of the things that jumped out for our researchers is the clear pattern around the timing of the attacks.	[]	[]	[]
598	As you can see in Figure 1 below, throughout 2017, the Hancitor attacks show clear spikes in their occurrence and these spikes happen during the middle of the week.	[ { "id": 46192, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 45, "end_offset": 49 }, { "id": 46191, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 55, "end_offset": 63 } ]	[]	[]
599	Figure 1: Timeline of Hancitor campaign activity since January 2017.	[ { "id": 46193, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 23, "end_offset": 31 }, { "id": 46194, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 56, "end_offset": 68 } ]	[]	[]
600	The attackers behind Hancitor aren’t the first to time their spam attacks like this, but it is an effective tactic to try and increase their chances of success, especially when combined with the other innovation that we’ve seen.	[ { "id": 44791, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 22, "end_offset": 30 }, { "id": 44792, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 62, "end_offset": 74 } ]	[ { "id": 23, "from_id": 44791, "to_id": 44792, "type": "uses" } ]	[]
601	Adapting the Attacks	[]	[]	[]
602	In the past, Hancitor was sent as a malicious attachment in a spam email which would then download and install the attackers’ final malware like a banking Trojan.	[ { "id": 46195, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 13, "end_offset": 21 }, { "id": 46196, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 36, "end_offset": 72 } ]	[ { "id": 167, "from_id": 46195, "to_id": 46196, "type": "uses" } ]	[]
603	When they would do this, the Hancitor attachment would download and install the final malware from a malicious or compromised site.	[ { "id": 44793, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 29, "end_offset": 37 } ]	[]	[]
604	But as organizations have gotten more effective at blocking malicious attachments like Hancitor, we’ve seen the attackers behind Hancitor adapt to evade detection and prevention.	[ { "id": 46198, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 130, "end_offset": 138 }, { "id": 46200, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 88, "end_offset": 96 } ]	[]	[]
605	They’ve done this by moving the Hancitor malware from being a malicious attachment in spam to itself being a malicious download.	[ { "id": 46201, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 33, "end_offset": 41 } ]	[]	[]
606	The spam the attackers use no long has a malicious attachment but instead a malicious link that downloads the malicious Hancitor attachment.	[ { "id": 44794, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 120, "end_offset": 128 }, { "id": 44795, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 76, "end_offset": 91 }, { "id": 44796, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 41, "end_offset": 61 } ]	[ { "id": 24, "from_id": 44796, "to_id": 44794, "type": "delivers" }, { "id": 25, "from_id": 44795, "to_id": 44794, "type": "delivers" } ]	[]
607	To do this, they make the spam look like something that requires you to click and download something like and invoice, a message, or a delivery notification.	[]	[]	[]
608	Figure 2 shows one of these that was made to look like an Amazon shipping notice.	[ { "id": 46202, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 58, "end_offset": 64 } ]	[]	[]
609	Figure 2: Hancitor malspam example from February 2017.	[ { "id": 44797, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 10, "end_offset": 18 }, { "id": 44798, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 40, "end_offset": 53 } ]	[]	[]
610	This means that a Hancitor attack now has two downloads rather than one and what these attackers did around the malicious downloads shows another modern business tactic: globalization.	[ { "id": 46203, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 19, "end_offset": 27 } ]	[]	[]

511

Figure 1 shows the proportion of ransomware sample numbers for different families that Unit 42 detected in the wild.

[ { "id": 46142, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 87, "end_offset": 94 } ]

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512

Among all, 6.7% of the ransomware samples are Virlock, which has been active since 2014.

[ { "id": 46143, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 46, "end_offset": 53 }, { "id": 46144, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 83, "end_offset": 87 } ]

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513

Virlock has the largest number of variants due to its file-infector-like behavior.

[ { "id": 46145, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 54, "end_offset": 81 }, { "id": 44760, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 7 } ]

[ { "id": 159, "from_id": 44760, "to_id": 46145, "type": "uses" } ]

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514

Higher malware variant numbers don't necessarily imply a higher prevalence.

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515

Some ransomware families don’t deliver different variants every time, but the infection ratio per sample is high, meaning attackers delivered the same malware to huge numbers of victims.

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516

Figure 2 shows a completely different result from Figure 1 and stems from only counting ransomware samples from cases in which more than five hosts were infected with the same malware.

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517

From this lens, the top three families observed are Ryuk (31.7%), Sodinokibi (20%) and Maze (15%). Emails are still the most efficient method to deliver and propagate ransomware.

[ { "id": 46146, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 52, "end_offset": 56 }, { "id": 46147, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 66, "end_offset": 76 }, { "id": 46148, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 87, "end_offset": 91 } ]

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518

Figure 3 shows ransomware arrives via different application protocols.

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519

The majority of ransomware is delivered by email.

[ { "id": 44761, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 16, "end_offset": 48 } ]

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520

Web browsing is the second most common entry vector for ransomware infections.

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521

The process of delivering malware by a URL can include various techniques.

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522

For example, the URL links can be posted on forums or chat group software, sent by IM applications, offered via fake freeware for download or attached in emails.

[ { "id": 45793, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 112, "end_offset": 125 }, { "id": 46149, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 142, "end_offset": 160 } ]

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523

Web hosting ransomware can also be downloaded and successfully installed through a multi-layered infection chain among different file types.

[ { "id": 46150, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 22 } ]

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524

For example, AlumniLocker is first delivered as a phishing PDF.

[ { "id": 46151, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 13, "end_offset": 25 }, { "id": 46152, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 50, "end_offset": 62 } ]

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525

It leads to downloading a ZIP archive that contains an LNK downloader.

[ { "id": 44763, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 26, "end_offset": 29 }, { "id": 44764, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 55, "end_offset": 69 } ]

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526

This downloads and executes an obfuscated PowerShell script to finally install the ransomware.

[ { "id": 46153, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 42, "end_offset": 59 } ]

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527

Figure 4 breaks down which file types we saw in the course of ransomware detection and their prevalence.

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528

32-bit EXE is the most common ransomware file type we observed.

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529

Other file types are often used as the first stage of infection or downloaders, such as archives, documents and scripts.

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530

Most ransomware is delivered via email with an attached archive; the ransomware is compressed in the archived files with or without password protection.

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531

“Resume” or “portfolio document” are examples of archive file names, and the archive contains one or more pieces of malware with fake document file icons.

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532

One example here is Makop, contained in a 7z archive along with an infostealer malware (SHA256: DE6DFA018773E07C218EF1DF62CE0D99A708841BF1DDFB4C6AD7E323D5D666A4).

[ { "id": 1760, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 67, "end_offset": 78 }, { "id": 1761, "label": "SHA2", "start_offset": 96, "end_offset": 160 }, { "id": 46154, "label": "tools", "start_offset": 42, "end_offset": 44 } ]

[ { "id": 156, "from_id": 1761, "to_id": 1760, "type": "related-to" } ]

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533

A script file is also used to download or install ransomware.

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534

For example, GandCrab uses JScript as a downloader, leveraging Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) to download the payload in the background (Figure 5).

[ { "id": 44765, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 13, "end_offset": 21 }, { "id": 44766, "label": "tools", "start_offset": 63, "end_offset": 117 } ]

[ { "id": 20, "from_id": 44765, "to_id": 44766, "type": "uses" } ]

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535

We also observed that Mailto (AKA NetWalker) tends to deliver ransomware in a highly obfuscated PowerShell script.

[ { "id": 1765, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 22, "end_offset": 28 }, { "id": 1766, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 34, "end_offset": 43 }, { "id": 46155, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 78, "end_offset": 113 } ]

[ { "id": 162, "from_id": 1766, "to_id": 1765, "type": "duplicate-of" }, { "id": 160, "from_id": 46155, "to_id": 1766, "type": "delivers" }, { "id": 161, "from_id": 46155, "to_id": 1765, "type": "delivers" } ]

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536

Exploit documents are seldom seen for delivering ransomware.

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537

One example is an exploit RTF that led to downloading and installing Makop ransomware remotely.

[ { "id": 44767, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 18, "end_offset": 29 }, { "id": 44768, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 69, "end_offset": 85 } ]

[ { "id": 21, "from_id": 44767, "to_id": 44768, "type": "delivers" } ]

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538

Besides encrypting files on infected hosts, the main feature of ransomware is, of course, the demand for ransom.

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539

Since ransomware threat actors have had years to evolve their techniques, there are now several different ways for attackers to receive payments and provide the "service" they claim to offer.

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540

Usually, after the ransomware successfully installs, it pops up a message box or leaves text files to explain how to pay the ransom – the ransom note.

[]

541

Some ransomware locks the victim's screen and only displays the ransom note.

[]

542

Unit 42 has reviewed ransom notes from different ransomware families.

[ { "id": 46156, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 8 } ]

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543

Most ransom notes request payment in cryptocurrency or mention reaching out via the darknet, though some other contact methods also appear. In these cases, the ransom note asks victims to pay a specific amount in cryptocurrency – Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), etc. — to a specific wallet address.

[ { "id": 45794, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 246, "end_offset": 252 }, { "id": 44769, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 231, "end_offset": 238 }, { "id": 44770, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 231, "end_offset": 244 }, { "id": 44772, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 246, "end_offset": 258 } ]

[]

544

Two ransomware families that utilize these types of ransom notes are Virlock and WanaCrypt0r.

[ { "id": 46157, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 69, "end_offset": 76 }, { "id": 46158, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 81, "end_offset": 92 } ]

[]

545

Some ransomware families, including Babuk, Sodinokibi, Cerber, Mailto, Ryuk and others, seldom show the ransom amount or cryptocurrency wallet address.

[ { "id": 46160, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 44, "end_offset": 54 }, { "id": 46159, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 37, "end_offset": 42 }, { "id": 46161, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 56, "end_offset": 62 }, { "id": 46163, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 72, "end_offset": 76 }, { "id": 46162, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 64, "end_offset": 70 } ]

[]

546

Instead, they instruct victims to install TOR and reach out to them on the darknet.

[ { "id": 44773, "label": "tools", "start_offset": 42, "end_offset": 45 } ]

[]

547

Usually, they host a website for victims to input the identification key found in the ransom note, upload encrypted files for decryption – and pay the ransom.

[]

548

Ransom notes from Makop, Dharma, Ryuk, DearCry and others, sometimes ask victims to reach out to them via email.

[ { "id": 46164, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 19, "end_offset": 24 }, { "id": 46166, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 34, "end_offset": 38 }, { "id": 46167, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 40, "end_offset": 47 }, { "id": 46165, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 26, "end_offset": 32 } ]

[]

549

The email addresses given are usually from untraceable email accounts.

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550

At other times, a threat actor lets the victim chat with them directly on group chat software.

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551

The victims can find the threat actor’s user name through specific group chat software or follow a chat group link in the ransom note. Ransom payment operations are complicated and highly automated processes.

[]

552

Attackers can create a lot of cryptocurrency wallets automatically; they can even make a unique wallet address for each victim.

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553

Once a ransom is received, the ransom will be involved in the multiple transactions that are managed to distribute and aggregate the ransom across thousands of virtual wallets.

[]

554

For example, the Xorist ransomware (SHA256: 4979A10B81C41ECC0FC3A0F376ADE766CE616D2301639F74E0277047CC40E3D6) demanded £1,000 for a ransom; the bitcoin wallet address was 1BFqrLCDwwrxueY7FFDn8DqeoasPJignxt.

[ { "id": 1837, "label": "SHA2", "start_offset": 44, "end_offset": 108 }, { "id": 46168, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 34 }, { "id": 46169, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 144, "end_offset": 151 } ]

[ { "id": 157, "from_id": 1837, "to_id": 46168, "type": "indicates" } ]

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555

However, this wallet had not really received any ransom payments when the malware was delivered.

[]

556

The wallet got involved in the operation of mixing and tumbling among several other virtual wallets.

[]

557

This is a pretty common operation when attackers want to withdraw or disperse currency from ransom payments into other wallets.

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558

During the operation, 25.1 BTC from 538 wallets was sent to 1NDyJtNTjmwk5xPNhjgAMu4HDHigtobu1s (SHA256: CE11703DEF517306326C48A67A7C859A3DE0F18E2451DF226CE171389A5B7953), which is a wallet owned by Binance cryptocurrency exchange.

[ { "id": 1845, "label": "SHA2", "start_offset": 104, "end_offset": 168 }, { "id": 44776, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 198, "end_offset": 229 } ]

[ { "id": 164, "from_id": 44776, "to_id": 1845, "type": "owns" } ]

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559

(ref: Binance on Twitter ).

[ { "id": 46171, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 6, "end_offset": 13 }, { "id": 46172, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 24 } ]

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560

The 25.1 BTC amount was worth $1.18 million at that time, and now is about $876,000.

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561

Since Virlock only requests a $250 ransom, it does not draw too much public attention.

[ { "id": 45795, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 7, "end_offset": 14 } ]

[]

562

Other ransomware families, however, target enterprises and ask for multimillion dollar ransoms, which garners much more media attention.

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563

Based on the way Virlock spreads the ransom amount it demands, it is likely designed to target consumers or home users.

[ { "id": 46173, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 24 } ]

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564

After infection, Virlock hides the file extension through modification of the registry (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\HideFileExt = 1, HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Hidden = 2).

[ { "id": 1874, "label": "REGISTRYKEY", "start_offset": 88, "end_offset": 164 }, { "id": 1876, "label": "REGISTRYKEY", "start_offset": 170, "end_offset": 241 }, { "id": 44778, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 17, "end_offset": 24 } ]

[ { "id": 165, "from_id": 1874, "to_id": 44778, "type": "indicates" }, { "id": 166, "from_id": 1876, "to_id": 44778, "type": "indicates" } ]

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565

The encrypted file icon will look the same as usual, but after opening the infected file, the ransom note will pop up.

[]

566

Virlock uses, but isn’t limited to, PDF, DOC, PPT, JPG, BMP,GIF, RAR, 7Zip, Zip and EXE files.

[ { "id": 46174, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 7 } ]

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567

Figure 6 is a screenshot of a recently captured Virlock ransom note.

[ { "id": 44781, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 48, "end_offset": 55 } ]

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568

The attacker asked for $250 and required payment as 0.004 BTC (suggesting that at the time the ransom note was written, 1 BTC equaled approximately $62,500).

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569

At the time of infection experiments, 1 BTC equaled approximately $54,649, suggesting that the exchange rate in the ransom note is not updated on the fly.

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570

Some Virlock variants ask for more ransom, such as 0.771 BTC, 1.008 BTC or more.

[ { "id": 44782, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 5, "end_offset": 12 } ]

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571

The top three samples we observed spreading in early 2021 were Ryuk, Maze, and Sodinokibi.

[ { "id": 1907, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 64, "end_offset": 68 }, { "id": 1910, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 80, "end_offset": 90 }, { "id": 46175, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 70, "end_offset": 74 }, { "id": 46176, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 54, "end_offset": 58 } ]

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572

These three contribute 7.2% out of the total infected numbers we collected.

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573

Ryuk will change the infected file extension to .RYK, and leave a ransom note called RyukReadMe.html.

[ { "id": 44783, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 5 }, { "id": 44784, "label": "FILEPATH", "start_offset": 86, "end_offset": 101 } ]

[ { "id": 22, "from_id": 44784, "to_id": 44783, "type": "indicates" } ]

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574

One of the reasons Ryuk causes so much damage is because it will scan the local network and try to infect other machines through Server Message Block (SMB) protocols.

[ { "id": 1919, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 19, "end_offset": 23 }, { "id": 46177, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 129, "end_offset": 155 } ]

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575

Ryuk will even send out Wake-on-LAN packets to wake up systems that have been configured with this feature.

[ { "id": 1923, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 4 } ]

[]

576

In this research, we discussed ransomware family trends we observed in the first three months of 2021.

[ { "id": 44785, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 97, "end_offset": 101 } ]

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577

First, we reviewed the trends from prevalent ransomware families, then we discussed the most common file types used as attack vectors leveraged by ransomware.

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578

Lastly, we gave an example of ransom operations and updates about top ransomware families.

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579

Ransomware threats are a serious challenge.

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580

Employing effective backup strategies and disaster recovery procedures is important.

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581

Palo Alto Networks customers are further protected from ransomware.

[ { "id": 46178, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 18 } ]

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582

Cortex XSOAR can automatically and instantly coordinate with network security, malware analysis and threat management solutions to ensure customers remain protected.

[ { "id": 44786, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 12 } ]

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583

Cortex XDR endpoint protection stops malware, exploits and ransomware before they can compromise endpoints.

[ { "id": 46179, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 0, "end_offset": 10 } ]

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584

With AI-powered Inline analysis, the Next-Generation Firewall stops exploits that lead to infection, and WildFire’s always up-to-date machine learning models monitor behavior to preemptively detect unknown ransomware.

[ { "id": 46180, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 105, "end_offset": 113 } ]

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585

If you think you may have been impacted by ransomware, please email unit42-investigations@paloaltonetworks.com or call (866) 4-UNIT42 to get in touch with the Unit 42 Incident Response team.

[ { "id": 1952, "label": "EMAIL", "start_offset": 69, "end_offset": 111 }, { "id": 1954, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 160, "end_offset": 167 }, { "id": 44787, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 128, "end_offset": 134 }, { "id": 44788, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 160, "end_offset": 190 } ]

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586

Highlights from the 2021 Unit 42 Ransomware Threat Report Ransomware Threat Assessments: A Companion to the 2021 Unit 42 Ransomware Threat Report Sign up to receive the latest news, cyber threat intelligence and research from us Please enter your email address!

[ { "id": 1956, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 26, "end_offset": 33 }, { "id": 1958, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 115, "end_offset": 122 } ]

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Please mark, I'm not a robot!

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588

By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Statement.

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589

If you need to understand one thing about cybercrime, it’s that it is all about business.

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590

In our latest Unit 42 research on cybercriminals using the Hancitor malware, we show that not only are their attacks about business, we can see these cybercriminals deftly applying some fundamental business principles around timing, specialization, and globalization.

[ { "id": 46181, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 15, "end_offset": 22 }, { "id": 46182, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 60, "end_offset": 68 } ]

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591

Hancitor is a malware that focuses getting other malware onto the victim’s system.

[ { "id": 44790, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 9 } ]

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592

In the case of Hancitor, it’s typically banking Trojans that steal the victim’s banking information.

[ { "id": 46183, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 15, "end_offset": 23 }, { "id": 46184, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 61, "end_offset": 99 } ]

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593

In our latest research, we can see the attackers behind Hancitor have been timing their attacks to happen during the busiest time of the global working week, the middle of the week.

[ { "id": 46185, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 57, "end_offset": 65 } ]

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594

And we’ve seen that in adapting their attacks to better evade detection, they’ve specialized their operations around the globe.

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595

Hancitor isn’t particularly advanced in its tactics: it’s ideal target is an old or outdated version of Microsoft Windows like Windows 7 or even Windows XP.

[ { "id": 46187, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 1, "end_offset": 9 }, { "id": 46188, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 105, "end_offset": 122 }, { "id": 46189, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 128, "end_offset": 137 }, { "id": 46190, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 146, "end_offset": 157 } ]

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596

But it’s effective enough that when used in several hundred different spam campaigns every month it pays for the criminals to keep up these attacks against targets around the world.

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597

Timing In our most recent research, one of the things that jumped out for our researchers is the clear pattern around the timing of the attacks.

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598

As you can see in Figure 1 below, throughout 2017, the Hancitor attacks show clear spikes in their occurrence and these spikes happen during the middle of the week.

[ { "id": 46192, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 45, "end_offset": 49 }, { "id": 46191, "label": "SOFTWARE", "start_offset": 55, "end_offset": 63 } ]

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599

Figure 1: Timeline of Hancitor campaign activity since January 2017.

[ { "id": 46193, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 23, "end_offset": 31 }, { "id": 46194, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 56, "end_offset": 68 } ]

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600

The attackers behind Hancitor aren’t the first to time their spam attacks like this, but it is an effective tactic to try and increase their chances of success, especially when combined with the other innovation that we’ve seen.

[ { "id": 44791, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 22, "end_offset": 30 }, { "id": 44792, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 62, "end_offset": 74 } ]

[ { "id": 23, "from_id": 44791, "to_id": 44792, "type": "uses" } ]

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601

Adapting the Attacks

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602

In the past, Hancitor was sent as a malicious attachment in a spam email which would then download and install the attackers’ final malware like a banking Trojan.

[ { "id": 46195, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 13, "end_offset": 21 }, { "id": 46196, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 36, "end_offset": 72 } ]

[ { "id": 167, "from_id": 46195, "to_id": 46196, "type": "uses" } ]

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603

When they would do this, the Hancitor attachment would download and install the final malware from a malicious or compromised site.

[ { "id": 44793, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 29, "end_offset": 37 } ]

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604

But as organizations have gotten more effective at blocking malicious attachments like Hancitor, we’ve seen the attackers behind Hancitor adapt to evade detection and prevention.

[ { "id": 46198, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 130, "end_offset": 138 }, { "id": 46200, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 88, "end_offset": 96 } ]

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605

They’ve done this by moving the Hancitor malware from being a malicious attachment in spam to itself being a malicious download.

[ { "id": 46201, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 33, "end_offset": 41 } ]

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606

The spam the attackers use no long has a malicious attachment but instead a malicious link that downloads the malicious Hancitor attachment.

[ { "id": 44794, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 120, "end_offset": 128 }, { "id": 44795, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 76, "end_offset": 91 }, { "id": 44796, "label": "attack-pattern", "start_offset": 41, "end_offset": 61 } ]

[ { "id": 24, "from_id": 44796, "to_id": 44794, "type": "delivers" }, { "id": 25, "from_id": 44795, "to_id": 44794, "type": "delivers" } ]

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607

To do this, they make the spam look like something that requires you to click and download something like and invoice, a message, or a delivery notification.

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608

Figure 2 shows one of these that was made to look like an Amazon shipping notice.

[ { "id": 46202, "label": "identity", "start_offset": 58, "end_offset": 64 } ]

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609

Figure 2: Hancitor malspam example from February 2017.

[ { "id": 44797, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 10, "end_offset": 18 }, { "id": 44798, "label": "TIME", "start_offset": 40, "end_offset": 53 } ]

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610

This means that a Hancitor attack now has two downloads rather than one and what these attackers did around the malicious downloads shows another modern business tactic: globalization.

[ { "id": 46203, "label": "malware", "start_offset": 19, "end_offset": 27 } ]

[]