What is Malware?

Threat actors utilize malware, a catch-all phrase for viruses, trojans, and other harmful computer programs, to infect systems and networks and get access to sensitive data.Malware is software designed to block a computer’s regular operation. Malware is a file or piece of code that can almost perform any action an attacker needs. It is often distributed via a network.

Types of Malware

• A computer virus is made to replicate itself, spread from one application or file to another, and less frequently, to other computers connected to a network.
• When triggered, Trojan horses attack their host computer even if they appear to be harmless apps. A Trojan horse, in contrast to a virus, does not spread itself. instead, this malware typically tries to steal files or passwords.
• Computer worms spread via a network. In contrast to viruses, which often travel from file to file on a single machine, a computer worm will propagate over computer networks.
• Spyware infects a user’s computer and runs on it to track user activities and gather data. For instance, while spyware is installed on a computer, a hacker can keep track of the websites and programs that are used, as well as keystrokes, to discover login and password information.
• Programs can contain logic bombs that can be released either by a user action or at a predetermined time. They have the power to destroy hard drives or crash systems.
• When your computer and files are locked, ransomware claims to delete everything unless you pay a ransom.
• Botnets are networks of infected computers that cooperate under the direction of an attacker rather than being malware. DDoS attacks frequently make use of botnets.
• Rootkits are a harmful, difficult-to-detect type of malware that infects your computer deeply to grant a hacker total administrative access. Utilizing a rootkit removal tool specifically designed for them is the best solution.

How Malware infiltrate your computer?

There are various methods by which malware might infiltrate your computer.As examples, consider the following:

Downloading malware-infected free software from the Internet.

• Downloading software that is legitimate but is infected with malware.
• Navigating a maliciously infected website.
• By opening a pop-up window or a fake error message that contains malware.
• Opening a malware-filled email attachment.

How does Malware affect IoT devices?

Malware is malicious software created to access your computer or other device and harm you. IoT technology is susceptible to malware attacks, according to experts. Because they lack security, these devices are always online. The following are a few of the attacks that can harm your IoT device.

Botnets:

1. Mirai DDoS

A virus that spreads itself is a Mirai botnet attack. By utilizing the factory default login information on unprotected devices like the Internet of Things, this malware spreads quickly.

On September 19, 2016, Mirai launched its first significant wave of attacks on the French host OVH because. OVH was the home of a widely used tool that Minecraft server hosts use to defend against DDoS attacks.

Someone else began the significant attack on October 12 against Dyn, an infrastructure provider that, among other things, provides DNS services to many large websites. The FBI thinks that Microsoft game servers were the ultimate target of this attack.

2. ProwliBotnet

Prowli was discovered on April 4th, 2018, when a set of secure-shell (SSH) attacks was discovered to be connecting with a command-and-control (C&C) server.Attackers were performing similarly, communicating with the same command and control server. The goal was to download several r2r2 attack tools as well as a cryptocurrency miner.

Ransomware:

1. RedAlert Ransomware

MalwareHunterTeam made the Red Alert ransomware public on Twitter on July 5, 2022.In its activities, the organization behind the attacks has used two designations: Red Alert in its attacks and ransom notes, but also “N13V” internally.The malware targets both Linux and Windows VMWare ESXi virtual servers.

Red Alert is intended to be utilized through the command line, allowing the threat author to shut down any active virtual machines.The Red Alert ransomware can then encrypt the data associated with the virtual machines, such as .vmdk drives, SWAP files, blogs, and so on.

2. AstraLocker Ransomware

AstraLocker is based on the Babuk Locker ransomware source code, which was disclosed in June 2021.Emsisoft, a cybersecurity firm located in New Zealand, has released a free decryption tool to assist AstraLocker and Yashma ransomware victims in recovering their files without paying a ransom.AstraLocker’s developer provided a ZIP archive containing decryptors for the AstraLocker ransomware via VirusTotal.

The descryptors were recently posted by the ransomware’s developer to the VirusTotal virus research portal after they apparently shut down their operation to transition to cryptojacking.

Spyware:

1. Hermit Spyware

In April 2022, Hermit spyware was discovered for the first time in Kazakhstan, where the government was attempting to aggressively repress any criticism of its policies.

The moment the victim unintentionally downloads the malicious software, the hackers have access to the victim’s location, photographs, phone logs, and text messages. Calls can be intercepted by hackers as well. They can use the victim’s device to record audio as well.

Additionally, it can steal data from installed apps and secretly install or remove apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Rootkit:

1. CaketapRootkit:

The Mandiant Advanced Practices team discovered a new rootkit they have called CAKETAP that targets Oracle Solaris systems running on ATM switch servers. This rootkit, which Mandiant identifies as UNC2891, is a Unix kernel module that carries out several malicious operations to let attackers make fake ATM transactions.

By intercepting messages – such as card and PIN verification messages—sent to the Payment Hardware Security Module of the ATM system, his rootkit can carry out unauthorized bank transactions. Banks create, manage, and validate cryptographic keys for PINs, magnetic stripes, and EMV chips using this tamper- and intrusion-proof hardware component.

General Prerequisitesfor protecting IoT devices from Malware

There is no way to prevent malware attacks, but there are reliable ways to detect and block attacks, keeping your computers safe from dangerous software.

• Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Update your security software frequently. Immediately remove any malware you find. Check your files for errors, missing information, and unauthorized modifications.
• Utilize secure authentication methods. Enable multi-factor authentication, which requires additional factors to a password, such as a PIN or security questions.
• Malware frequently has the same rights as the logged-in user. The most sensitive areas of a computer or network system are typically off-limits to non-administrator accounts. That’s why when necessary, use only the administrator account.
• Follow and maintain the least-privilege principle. Provide users with the minimal amount of system capabilities, services, and data they require to fulfill their tasks.
• An email is a crucial tool for business communication, but it is also a major source of malware. With a solution, Implement spam and email security measures. Check the attachments in every incoming email message for malware. For unwanted email reduction, configure spam filters. Ensure that users can only access emails, links, and messages that the company has authorized.
• You may exchange files with other people very effortlessly on some websites and programs. Many of these websites and programs provide insufficient malware protection.
• Use caution when exchanging or downloading files over these file-sharing techniques to avoid malware. Malware frequently assumes the form of a well-known film, song, game, or application.

eInfochips is working with a client in bridging this divide between the IT-OT silos to reduce system failures. Our IoT Consulting Services provide high availability, resilience, dependability, and scalability and solve major issues relating to IT-OT convergence, such as compatibility and security issues.

To protect products against roots, we use a secure-by-design strategy. We incorporate secure by design and VAPT testinginto the product development life cycle. We approach VAPT Android/Web application and VAPT on the cloud which detect any form of suspicious activity and generate malware reports.

eInfochips with its IoT Cybersecurity Serviceshelps companies in the design, development, and management to secure connected products across the device, connection, and application levels using a variety of cybersecurity platform services and tool stacks. We are experienced in turnkey implementations, security monitoring operations, and strategic analyses and transformations. To know more about our expertise, refer below brochure or talk to our experts.