In addition to showing sensitive information that may not be stored on the machine, such as e-banking balances and encrypted web mail, these can be used in combination with the key and mouse logger data to determine access credentials for other Internet resources. Screen Grabber: the malware agent can take periodic screen capture images.Combined with screen grabs, this can be used to obtain passwords that are entered using a virtual on-screen keyboard. Keylogger and Mouse Logger: the malware agent can capture each keystroke, mouse movement and click that the target user makes.Camera: the device cameras can be activated in order to covertly capture images or video.A computer like this is easily set up by a double-agent working in the IT department by install a second Wireless card in a computer and special software to remotely monitor an employee's computer through this second interface card without them being aware of a side-band communication channel pulling information off of his computer. A compute that is being spied upon can be plugged into a legitimate corporate network that is heavy monitored for malware activity and at same time belongs to a private wifi network outside of the company network that is leaking confidential information off of an employee's computer. Hidden Private Networks that bypass the corporate network security. ![]() Likewise, audio streams intended for the local speakers can be intercepted at the device level and recorded. Bug: the device microphone can be activated in order to record audio.Capture location: GPS, WiFi, network information and other attached sensors are used to determine the location and movement of the infiltrated device.Data scan: local and network storage are scanned to find and copy files of interest, these are often documents, spreadsheets, design files such as Autocad files and system files such as the passwd file.Ĭommon functionality of cyber-collection systems include: Specific technical details of these attack methods often sells for six figure sums. State intelligence agencies often have their own teams to develop cyber-collection tools, such as Stuxnet, but require a constant source of zero-day exploits in order to insert their tools into newly targeted systems. and Netragard of the United States and Vupen from France. Bespoke cyber-collection tool companies, many offering COTS packages of zero-day exploits, include Endgame, Inc. Major manufacturers of Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) cyber collection technology include Gamma Group from the UK and Hacking Team from Italy. Tools are known to exist for Microsoft, Apple, and Linux computers and iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows phones. Ĭyber-collection tools have been developed by governments and private interests for nearly every computer and smart-phone operating system. The ethical situation likewise depends on one's viewpoint, particularly one's opinion of the governments involved. Such operations, like non-cyber espionage, are typically illegal in the victim country while fully supported by the highest level of government in the aggressor country. More recently, cyber spying involves analysis of public activity on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Details Ĭyber spying typically involves the use of such access to secrets and classified information or control of individual computers or whole networks for a strategic advantage and for psychological, political and physical subversion activities and sabotage. Since that time, there have been numerous cases of such activities. ![]() History Ĭyber spying started as far back as 1996, when widespread deployment of Internet connectivity to government and corporate systems gained momentum. It may wholly be perpetrated online from computer desks of professionals on bases in far away countries or may involve infiltration at home by computer trained conventional spies and moles or in other cases may be the criminal handiwork of amateur malicious hackers and software programmers. Cyber spying, cyber espionage, or cyber-collection is the act or practice of obtaining secrets and information without the permission and knowledge of the holder of the information from individuals, competitors, rivals, groups, governments and enemies for personal, economic, political or military advantage using methods on the Internet, networks or individual computers through the use of proxy servers, cracking techniques and malicious software including Trojan horses and spyware.
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