DISCARDED: Tales From the Threat Research Trenches

Hello, cyber sleuths! In today's exciting episode of the Discarded Podcast, hosts Selena Larson and Sarah Sabotka are joined by the brilliant Pim Trouerbach, Senior Reverse Engineer at Proofpoint. Pim gives us the lowdown on this massive law enforcement operation targeting multiple high-profile botnets across the globe, called Operation Endgame, and how this coordinated takedown affects the cybercrime landscape and the significance of arresting the individuals behind these operations.

He also breaks down the different malware impacted including SystemBC, IcedID, Pikabot, Bumblebee, and more.

We also talk about: 

• the rise and fall of Bumblebee, comparing it to its predecessor, Baza Loader, and contemplating why it didn't quite live up to its anticipated potential despite its advanced features
• the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and private sector partners, emphasizing the effectiveness of these joint operations in curbing cyber threats
• the high-quality, cinematic videos released as part of Operation Endgame

Resources mentioned:
https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/major-botnets-disrupted-global-law-enforcement-takedown
https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-insight/post/systembc-christmas-july-socks5-malware-and-exploit-kits
https://operation-endgame.com/
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/911-s5-botnet-dismantled-and-its-administrator-arrested-coordinated-international-operation
https://x.com/Shadowserver/status/1797945864004210843

For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.

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Hello to all our cyber squirrels! Joining our series host, Selena Larson, is our co-host today, Tim Kromphardt. Together they welcome our special guest–Dr. Bob Hausmann, Proofpoint's Manager of Learning Architecture and Assessments and a seasoned psychologist.

Our conversation explores how cyber threat actors exploit the different systems of thought in our brains and how attackers leverage our rapid, emotionally-driven responses (system one thinking) to bypass our more deliberate, rational processes (system two thinking).

Dr. Bob introduces us to the concept of cognitive biases, particularly normalcy bias, and how these mental shortcuts can shape our cyber defense strategies. He explains how organizations often fall into the trap of thinking "it won't happen to us," leading to underinvestment in critical security measures. Drawing parallels to historical events like the sinking of the Titanic and the COVID-19 pandemic, he underscores the importance of overcoming these biases to enhance preparedness.

We also talk about: 

• Real-world implications and examples of social engineering attacks.
• The impact of urgency and stress on decision-making in cybersecurity.
• The alarming rise and mechanics of pig butchering scams.
• The role of AI in scams and cybersecurity
• Empathetic approaches to helping scam victims

Resources mentioned:

• Book: "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman

• Book: "The Art of Deception" by Kevin Mitnick

• Previous Discarded Episode on Pig Butchering

• Have I Been Pwned

• PhishMe

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

• SANS Institute

• https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/broken-dreams-and-piggy-banks-pig-butchering-crypto-fraud-growing-online

• https://therecord.media/southeast-asian-scam-syndicates-stealing-billions-annually

• https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/how-myanmar-became-global-center-cyber-scams

• https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/dont-answer-russia-aligned-ta499-beleaguers-targets-video-call-requests
  
  
  

For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.

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Hello to all our cyber pals! Joining our series host, Selena Larson, is our co-host today, Tim Kromphardt. Together they welcome our special guest–Daniel Blackford, the Director of Threat Research at Proofpoint. The conversation dives into the intricate world of cyber threats and the impact of law enforcement disruptions on malware, botnets, and ransomware actors.

We'll explore how threat actors react when their preferred infrastructures or ransomware-as-a-service systems get taken down, offering insights into their various responses—from rebuilding and rebranding to the emergence of new power players in the cybercriminal ecosystem.

We also talk about: 

• Analysis of the Hive ransomware takedown and the massive Qbot operation, including the technical and human aspects of these disruptions
• How other groups rise to prominence despite disruptions
• Differences between malware disruptions and business email compromise (BEC) or fraud-focused disruptions
• The evolution of threat actor techniques, such as, legitimate remote management tools and living off the land techniques

For more information about Proofpoint, check out our website.

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Don't miss out on future episodes—subscribe to the Discarded Podcast on your favorite platform.

The Discarded Podcast team is gearing up and working hard for a new season! Until then we have a special Re-Run treat--one of our favorite episodes! Enjoy!

Engineering skills can play a massively beneficial role in cyber security, as Pim Trouerbach, a Senior Reverse Engineer at Proofpoint and Jacob Latonis, Senior Threat Research Engineer at Proofpoint, are able to share. 

They emphasize the importance of understanding the requirements and context of security researchers to build effective tools. The conversation touches on the potential impact of AI and LLMs (large language models) in threat research. While AI tools can be valuable for entry-level tasks, the context, experience, and expertise of human engineers are essential for handling complex code and understanding threat actors' behaviors.

Join us as we also discuss:
[02:59] The uniqueness of engineering skills in understanding researchers' requirements for data cleaning, tool development, and working in a security environment.
[11:06] How the versioning in malware samples can provide insights into the threat actors' behavior and trajectory.
[13:24] How malware is simply software with malicious intent, and how practices of developers and threat actors can overlap.
[17:10] The tools and techniques used by threat actors, including obfuscation and encryption methods.[21:42] The importance of context and experience in writing tools and understanding researchers' workflows.

For more information, check out our website.

Today’s focus is on the elusive threat actor known as TA4903. But that's not all - we've got a special treat for you as well. Our longtime producer, Mindy, is joining us as a co-host, bringing her expertise and insights to the table, as we turn the mic around and interview, Selena! 

We explore recent research conducted by Selena and her team on TA4903’s distinct objectives. Unlike many cybercrime actors, TA4903 demonstrates a unique combination of tactics, targeting both high-volume credential phishing campaigns and lower-volume direct business email compromises.

We also dive into:

• TA4903 spoofs government entities like the Department of Transportation and the Department of Labor to lure victims
• Use of advanced techniques including evil proxy for multi-factor authentication token theft and QR codes for phishing campaigns
• Rising trends in cryptocurrency-related scams and other financial frauds

Resources mentioned:
MFA Bypass (Blog) by Timothy Kromphardt

IC3 2023 FBI Report 

New TA4903 research: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/ta4903-actor-spoofs-us-government-small-businesses-phishing-bec-bids

For more information, check out our website.

It has been a busy first quarter for the Proofpoint Threat Research team! Today we have returning guest, Pim Trouerbach, to share his personal stories about his favorite malware and discuss the current landscape, including insights on Pikabot, Latrodectus, and WikiLoader. 

The conversation explores the evolution from old school banking trojans to the current favored payloads from major cybercrime actors, and the changes in malware development through the years. Pim shares the different meticulous analysis and research efforts, and we learn about mechanisms to combat the malware.  

We also dive into:

• a valuable lesson about the consequences of malware running rampant in a sandbox environment
• the shifts in attack chains and tactics employed by threat actors
• the need for adaptive detection methods to combat evolving cyber threats

Resources mentioned:
Countdown to Zero Day by Kim Zetter

Shareable Links:
https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/out-sandbox-wikiloader-digs-sophisticated-evasion 

https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/ta577s-unusual-attack-chain-leads-ntlm-data-theft

https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/battleroyal-darkgate-cluster-spreads-email-and-fake-browser-updates

https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/bumblebee-buzzes-back-black

https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/security-brief-tis-season-tax-hax 

Pim’s Favorite Malware: 

* Emotet: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa20-280a 

* IcedID: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/fork-ice-new-era-icedid  

* Dridex: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa19-339a 

* Hancitor: https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.hancitor 

* Qbot: https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.qakbot 

* Hikit (APT): https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0009/ 

* Stuxnet (APT): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/219931/countdown-to-zero-day-by-kim-zetter/ 

* Cutwail: https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.cutwail

For more information, check out our website.

Network-based detections, such as those developed by threat detection engineers using tools like suricata and snort signatures, play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating cyber threats by scrutinizing and analyzing network traffic for malicious patterns and activities.

Today’s guest is Isaac Shaughnessy, a Threat Detection Engineer at Proofpoint. Isaac shares his insights into the challenges of detecting and mitigating malware, especially those using social platforms for command and control. He emphasizes the team's engagement with the InfoSec community, highlighting the value of platforms like Twitter and Mastodon for sharing and receiving information.

We also dive into:

• the unique challenges of crafting effective signatures
• the specifics of malware, focusing on Vidar stealer and highlighting the dynamic nature of Vidar's command and control infrastructure
• the distribution methods of these malware strains, from email campaigns to unconventional tactics like using video game platforms and social media for luring victims

Resources mentioned:

Intro to Traffic Analysis w/ Issac Shaughnessy
Emerging Threats Mastodon: https://infosec.exchange/@emergingthreats
Threat Insight Mastodon: https://infosec.exchange/@threatinsight
Vidar Stealer Picks Up Steam!

For more information, check out our website.

The esteemed Katie Nickels joins us on the show today! Katie is the Director of Intelligence Operations at Red Canary, and our conversation with her explores a wide array of topics, ranging from career growth in threat intelligence to the intricacies of attribution and threat actor naming.

Katie delves into her diverse career journey and transitions to advice for those entering the field, emphasizing persistence, creativity, and considering entry-level roles like SOC analyst positions. There is also talk of avoiding burnout while pursuing one’s passion, especially in cybersecurity.

We also dive into:

• Communication and attribution challenges including the confusion of different naming conventions
• Marketing and the personification of threat actors
• Strategic approaches in handling incidents and avoiding panic

For more information, check out our website.

*This episode contains content warnings of suicide and self-harm*

“It’s not about preventing something from happening, it’s being prepared for when it does.” This episode is filled with stories from the different scenarios that have been plaguing people with cyber security attacks.

Today’s guest is Kevin Collier, a cybersecurity reporter at NBC. He joins us to discuss his experiences covering cybersecurity stories for a mainstream audience. As the first and only dedicated cybersecurity reporter at NBC, Collier reflects on the evolving nature of media coverage in the cybersecurity space, emphasizing the increasing need for dedicated coverage in major news publications. He highlights the rise of scams facilitated through text messages, emails, and zero-day exploits, emphasizing the geopolitical circumstances that enable these threats, and also helping audiences understand the reality behind the cyber threats they face.

They also dive into:

• The poignant reporting process on a story of pig butchering scams
• The normalization of cyber threats, such as ransomware, and the role of the media in shaping public perception
• The process of convincing stakeholders to prioritize certain topics
• The emotional toll of reporting on sensitive cybersecurity topics and the importance of self-care in navigating this challenging intersection.

Resources mentioned: trigger warning for content of suicide and self-harm

“Online romance scams are netting millions of dollars — and pushing some to self-harm” by Kevin Collier

Discarded Episode with Tim Utzig

Colonial Pipeline Blog by CISA.gov







For more information, check out our website.

Is 2024 the year of adaptability and collaboration within the security community? Let’s hope so!

Today’s episode is Part Two of what to expect in cybersecurity in 2024, and our guests are Randy Pargman and Rich Gonzalez. Randy sheds light on the crucial role of the Detections Team and emphasizes the constant innovation of malware authors, and the team’s mission to outsmart them. Rich discusses the Emerging Threats team and dives into open source and paid resources as force multipliers for security teams.

While some reflections were shared about 2023, namely multiple high-profile vulnerability events and the challenges posed by QR codes, the conversation focused on the upcoming year. They anticipate increased creativity from threat actors, and emphasize the constant battle between red and blue teams. The conversation underscores the need for constant adaptation, response to emerging threats, and collaboration within the security community.

Other topics discussed include:

• Incidents like WinRAR, Citrix NetScaler ADC, and ScreenConnect vulnerabilities
• The positive impact of public-private partnerships and international cooperation in enhancing cybersecurity defenses
• Hopeful vision for the industry, advocating for understanding, education, & increased diversity

For more information, check out our website.