Massive Meris Botnet Embeds Ransomware Notes from REvil
Notes threatening to tank targeted companies' stock price were embedded into the DDoS ransomware attacks as a string_of_text directed to CEOs and webops_geeks in the URL.
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Background for this topic.
A botnet is a network of compromised internet-connected devices controlled remotely by an attacker through malware. These devices, known as bots, receive commands from centralized or decentralized command-and-control (C2) servers to perform coordinated actions such as launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, sending spam, or distributing additional malware. Botnets vary in size and complexity, often leveraging vulnerabilities in devices or weak authentication to propagate.
In information security, botnets pose significant risks including large-scale service disruptions from DDoS attacks and the unauthorized use of infected devices for malicious activities. Detecting botnet activity involves monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns and identifying communication with known C2 infrastructure. Effective defense includes timely patching of vulnerable systems, blocking C2 domains or IPs based on threat intelligence, and isolating infected hosts to prevent further spread or damage. Coordinated efforts to disrupt botnet infrastructure can reduce their operational impact.
Notes threatening to tank targeted companies' stock price were embedded into the DDoS ransomware attacks as a string_of_text directed to CEOs and webops_geeks in the URL.
The Log4Shell vulnerabilities in the widely used Log4j software are still leveraged by threat actors today to deploy various malware payloads, including recruiting devices into DDoS botnets and for planting cryptominers. [...]
One of the most dangerous and infamous threats is back again. In January 2021, global officials took down the botnet. Law enforcement sent a destructive update to the Emotet's executables. And it looked like the end of the trojan's story. But the malware never ceased to surprise. November 2021, it was reported that TrickBot no longer works alone and delivers Emotet. And ANY.RUN with colleagues