Given how widespread malware has become, new "families" of each type are being developed. Qbot, a family of malware that is used to steal data, falls under this category.
Qbot's history
As is sometimes the case with malware, Qbot (also referred to as Qakbot, Quakbot, or Pinkslipbot) wasn't identified until it was actually spotted in the wild. In the context of cybersecurity, the phrase "in the wild" describes a situation in which malware spreads unintentionally among targeted devices. As a kind of malware, Qbot is suspected to have existed at least as far back as 2007, making it much older than many of the more well-known varieties now in use.
Simply because they are ineffective against new technology, several types of malware from the 2000s are no longer in use. But Qbot stands out in this case. Qbot has been running for at least 16 years as of the time of writing, an astonishing longevity for malware.
Although this has also been interrupted by stretches of inactivity, Qbot has been routinely seen in use in the wild since 2007. In any event, cybercriminals continue to favour it as a choice.
Qbot has changed throughout time and has been utilised by different hackers for a variety of purposes. Qbot started out as a Trojan, a virus that hides itself inside of software that seems to be safe. Data theft and remote access are only two of the many destructive uses for trojans. More precisely, Qbot targets banking credentials. It is regarded as a banking Trojan as a result.
Is this still the case, though? How does Qbot function right now?
Modus operandi
The most notable type of the Qbot that is currently being spotted is an infostealer Trojan. Infostealer Trojans are intended to steal valuable data, including financial information, login passwords, and contact information, as their name implies. This particular strain of Qbot malware is mostly used to steal credentials.
Variants of Qbot have also been seen engaging in keylogging, process hooking, and even system attacks using backdoors.
Qbot has been altered to have backdoor capabilities since it was first developed in the 2000s, making it an even greater threat. A backdoor is essentially an unauthorised method of accessing a network or system. Backdoors are frequently used by hackers to conduct their assaults because they provide a simpler entry point. This Qbot variation is referred to as "Backdoor.Qbot."
Initially, the Trojan-like Emotet virus was used to propagate Qbot. Nowadays, malicious email campaigns using attachments are the main way that Qbot is disseminated. Large quantities of spam are sent during such campaigns to hundreds or even thousands of recipients in the hopes that some of the users who are being targeted would respond.
Qbot has frequently been seen as a.zip file with an XLS dropper that contains macros inside malicious email attachments. Malware can be installed on a recipient's device if they open a malicious attachment, frequently without their awareness.
Exploit kits can also be used to propagate Qbot. These are instruments that help cybercriminals spread malware.
Exploit kits can identify security flaws in a device's construction and then take advantage of such flaws to get unauthorised access.
However, things continue even after backdoors and password theft. Operators of Qbots have been crucial Initial Access Brokers. These are cybercriminals who offer other hostile actors system access for sale. Access has been allowed to some very large organizations, including the ransomware-as-a-service provider REvil, in the instance of the Qbot perpetrators. In fact, a number of ransomware partners have been seen employing Qbot to get initial access to systems, giving the malware yet another alarming use.
Qbot is used to target a variety of industries and has surfaced in numerous harmful activities. Qbot has targeted manufacturing enterprises, government agencies, banking websites, healthcare organizations, and more. 2020 data from TrendMicro indicated that 28.1% of Qbot's targets are in the healthcare industry.
In the same analysis, TrendMicro also noted that the US, China, and Thailand had the greatest rates of Qbot detection in 2020. Qbot is obviously a worldwide danger because it was also frequently detected in Australia, Germany, and Japan.
Mitigation tips
It's crucial that you are aware of the signs of malicious mail because Qbot is frequently disseminated through spam campaigns.
Starting with the contents, there are many warning signs that an email may be malicious. It's advisable to avoid clicking any links or attachments from new email addresses until you are certain they can be trusted. You may check a URL's validity on a number of link-checking websites to see whether it is safe to click or not.
The file extensions.pdf,.exe,.doc,.xls, and.scr are among those that are frequently used to propagate malware. Although not the only file extensions used to spread malware, these are among the most popular kinds, so be on the lookout for them when you receive emails with attached files.
Additionally, you should exercise caution if an email from a new sender carries a sense of urgency. In order to persuade victims to comply, cybercriminals frequently utilise persuasive language in their emails.