Web-based DNS amplification DDoS attack mode supporting PHP script spotted in the wild

by Blog Staff | Sep 10, 2013 | Industry Intel, Threat Lab

The idea of controlling multiple, high-bandwidth empowered servers for launching DDoS attacks, compared to, for instance, controlling hundreds of thousands of malware-infected hosts, has always tempted cybercriminals to ‘innovate’ and seek pragmatic ‘solutions’ in order to achieve this particular objective.

Among the most recent high profile example utilizing this server-based DDoS attack tactic is Operation Ababil, or Izz ad-Din al-Qassam a.k.a Qassam Cyber Fighters attacks against major U.S financial institutions, where the use of high-bandwidth servers was utilized by the attackers. This indicates that wishful thinking often tends to materialize.

In this post, we’ll take a peek inside what appears to be a command and control PHP script in its early stages of development, which is capable of integrating multiple (compromised) servers for the purpose of launching distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) taking advantage of their bandwidth.

More details:

(more…)

Scammers pop up in Android’s Calendar App

by Blog Staff | Sep 9, 2013 | Industry Intel, Threat Lab

Over the last couple of days, we’ve intercepted a rather interesting fraudulent approach that’s not just successfully hitting the inboxes of users internationally, but is also popping up as an event on their Android Calendar apps.

How is this possible? Fairly simple.

(more…)

DIY malicious Android APK generating ‘sensitive information stealer’ spotted in the wild

by Blog Staff | Sep 6, 2013 | Industry Intel, Threat Lab

Back in June, 2013, we offered a peek inside a DIY Android .apk decompiler/injector that was not only capable of ‘binding’ malicious Android malware to virtually any legitimate app, but also, was developed to work exclusively with a publicly obtainable Android-based trojan horse.

In this post, I’ll profile a similar, recently released cybercrime-friendly Windows-based tool that’s capable of generating malicious ‘sensitive information stealing’ Android .apk apps, emphasize on its core features, and most importantly, discuss in depth the implications this type of tool could have on the overall state of the Android malware market.

More details: (more…)

Cybercrime-friendly underground traffic exchanges help facilitate fraudulent and malicious activity – part two

by Blog Staff | Aug 29, 2013 | Industry Intel, Threat Lab

The list of monetization tactics a cybercriminal can take advantage of, once they manage to hijack a huge portion of Web traffic, is virtually limitless and is entirely based on his experience within the cybercrime ecosystem.

Through the utilization of blackhat SEO (search engine optimization), RFI (Remote File Inclusion), DNS cache poisoning, or direct impersonation of popular brands in spam/phishing campaigns tactics, on a daily basis, traffic is sold and resold for achieving a customer’s or a seller’s fraudulent/malicious objectives, and is then most commonly converted to malware-infected hosts.

In this post, I’ll profile two cybercrime-friendly iFrame traffic exchanges, with the second ‘vertically integrating’ by also offering spamming services, as well as services violating YouTube’s ToS (Terms of Service) such as likes, comments, views, favorites and subscribers on demand, with an emphasis on the most common ways through which a potential cybercriminal can abuse any such traffic exchange network.

More details:

(more…)

Cybercriminals offer spam-ready SMTP servers for rent/direct managed purchase

by Blog Staff | Aug 28, 2013 | Industry Intel, Threat Lab

We continue to observe an increase in underground market propositions for spam-ready bulletproof SMTP servers, with the cybercriminals behind them trying to differentiate their unique value proposition (UVP) in an attempt to attract more customers.

Let’s profile the underground market propositions of what appears to be a novice cybercriminal offering such spam-ready SMTP servers and discuss their potential, as well as the re-emergence of bulletproof SMTP servers as a propagation method of choice.

More details:

(more…)