Cyber Attack: Shamoon Malware Infects, Steals, Wipes MBR
There is a new malware making the rounds that has security researchers scratching their heads.
Shamoon, also known as Disttrack, is unusual as it infects a PC, steals certain data, sends the data to another infected PC and then overwrites the PC's master boot record, which makes the system virtually useless.
There has been some speculation why the attacker may have an interest in actually destroying the infected PC. Kaspersky Labs hinted that the 900 KB malware could be related to Wiper, that was used in a cyber attack on Iran in April. After an analysis, the company concluded that this malware is more likely to come from "scriptkiddies" who were inspired by Wiper.
"Our opinion, based on researching several systems attacked by the original Wiper, is that it is not," Kaspersky wrote in a blog post. "The original “Wiper” was using certain service names (“RAHD...”) together with specific filenames for its drivers (“%temp%\~dxxx.tmp”) which do not appear to be present in this malware. Additionally, the original Wiper was using a certain pattern to wipe disks which again is not used by this malware."
However, Kaspersky also said that there have been only two reports of Shamoon in the wild, both cases in China, which led them to believe that the malware was used in "very focused targeted attacks."
Symantec followed up with a detailed description of a 3-phase attacked structure consisting of a dropper, wiper and reporter component that were used "against at least one organization in the energy sector."
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Wolfgang Gruener is an experienced professional in digital strategy and content, specializing in web strategy, content architecture, user experience, and applying AI in content operations within the insurtech industry. His previous roles include Director, Digital Strategy and Content Experience at American Eagle, Managing Editor at TG Daily, and contributing to publications like Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware.
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freggo I'd like to spend 10 minutes alone with the idiot who created this, in a sound proof room; I will bring my favorite baseball bat.Reply
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jhansonxi ReplyShamoon, also known as Disttrack, is unusual as it infects a PC, steals certain data, sends the data to another infected PC and then overwrites the PC's master boot record, which makes the system virtually useless.
Scary, but it's not PC-specific. It's just more Windows malware. Obviously not the usual suspects since most malware is used to gain control of a system for spying or botnets. -
thorkle freggoI'd like to spend 10 minutes alone with the idiot who created this, in a sound proof room; I will bring my favorite baseball bat.Reply
Why do you have do many baseball bats that you would have a favorite bat? :-P -
face-plants According to the BBC's reporting on the Shamoon bug 2 days ago, it was a Saudi Arabian company, Aramco (their national oil provider and one of the largest in the world) not a Chinese one who first announced they were infected.Reply -
kristoffe Good article, and if you're worried about it, just make a record of your MBR to a USB drive or dropbox it to yourself.Reply
http://www.ghacks.net/2010/09/01/how-to-backup-and-restore-the-mbr-in-windows/
you can also start your pc up with HIREN'S BOOT CD and restore your MBR from the backup you have made as well :)
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd -
olaf yawwwnnn lame nothing more then a hindrance rly ... your data is still on the drive, makes for good business i guess if you fix computers :DReply