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So why would the malware not just check the C&C server for orders? Why hope that your victim checks Twitter and sees your memes? This seems like a really rounda
by mfoy_ 8y ago
So why would the malware not just check the C&C server for orders? Why hope that your victim checks Twitter and sees your memes? This seems like a really roundabout way of accomplishing something trivial (I mean, trivial as compared to infecting a machine with your malware in the first place...)
- taneliv 8y agoIf your C&C server has been "compromised" or blocked by, say, law enforcement, the tweets could instruct malware to use another?
- dotancohen 8y agoBecause that would reveal the location (IP address) of the C&C server, in addition to making it a point of failure.
- mfoy_ 8y agoBut the output of all the commands still sends to the C&C server, so I don't see how this protects that. Unless, as the other user suggested, the memes could actually also contain the IP to use for the C&C server. So the "order" is akin to "upload username to ###.##.###.#"
- saltcured 8y agoPerhaps the malware will sit idle like a "sleeper" agent until activated, and you want to reduce the chance of preemptive detection. Having its background polling look like a typical Twitter user agent would help it remain hidden and ensure that its command channel is not blocked. (At least for a large class of victims who do not have severe network restrictions in effect.) You could also send the destination address via Twitter, so that the malware does not leak information about the controller ahead of its activation or so that the controller can make last minute arrangements of temporary resources...