In May 2018, we discovered a campaign targeting dozens of mobile Android devices belonging to Israeli citizens. Kaspersky spyware sensors caught the signal of an attack from the device of one of the victims; and a hash of the APK involved (Android application) was tagged in our sample feed for inspection. Once we looked into the file, we quickly found out that the inner-workings of the APK included a malicious payload, embedded in the original code of the application. This was an original spyware program, designed to exfiltrate almost all accessible information.
During the course of our research, we noticed that we were not the only ones to have found the operation. Researchers from Bitdefender also released an analysis of one of the samples in a blogpost. Although something had already been published, we decided to do something different with the data we acquired. The following month, we released a private report on our Threat Intelligence Portal to alert our clients about this newly discovered operation and began writing YARA rules in order to catch more samples. We decided to call the operation “ViceLeaker”, because of strings and variables in its code.


VICEROY TIGER is an adversary with a nexus to India that has historically targeted entities throughout multiple sectors. Older activity targeted multiple sectors and countries; however, since 2015 this adversary appears to focus on entities in Pakistan with a particular focus on government and security organizations. This adversary consistently leverages spear phishing emails containing malicious Microsoft Office documents, malware designed to target the Android mobile platform, and phishing activity designed to harvest user credentials. In March 2017, the 360 Chasing Team found a sample of targeted attacks that confirmed the previously unknown sample of APT's attack actions, which the organization can now trace back at least in April 2016. The chasing team named the attack organization APT-C-35. In June 2017, the 360 Threat Intelligence Center discovered the organization’s new attack activity, confirmed and exposed the gang’s targeted attacks against Pakistan, and analyzed in detail. The unique EHDevel malicious code framework used by the organization.


Vice Spider is a Russian-speaking ransomware group that has been active since at least April 2021 and is linked to a significant increase in identity-based attacks, with a reported 583% rise in Kerberoasting incidents. CrowdStrike attributes 27% of these intrusions specifically to Vice Spider, which exploits vulnerabilities in the Kerberos authentication protocol to crack user passwords.


ViciousTrap has compromised over 5,500 edge devices, transforming them into honeypots and utilizing a shell script called NetGhost to redirect incoming traffic from specific ports to their infrastructure. The actor has targeted various EOL devices, including ASUS routers, Linksys LRT224, and Araknis Networks AN-300-RT-4L2W VPN routers. Observations indicate attempts to deploy a web shell for executing their redirection script, although authorship of the web shell has not been attributed to ViciousTrap. The overall objectives of ViciousTrap remain unclear, but their activities suggest a honeypot-style network aimed at intercepting network flows.


Check Point Research discovered a new campaign against the Mongolian public sector, which takes advantage of the current Coronavirus scare, in order to deliver a previously unknown malware implant to the target.
A closer look at this campaign allowed us to tie it to other operations which were carried out by the same anonymous group, dating back to at least 2016. Over the years, these operations targeted different sectors in multiple countries, such as Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.


VIKING SPIDER is the criminal group behind the development and distribution of Ragnar Locker ransomware. While public reporting indicates the group began threatening to leak victim data in February 2020, a DLS was not observed until April 2020. The DLS is hosted on Tor, and similar to other actors, proof of data exfiltration is provided before the stolen data is fully leaked. It was also noted that On Dec. 22, 2020, a new post made to MountLocker ransomware’s Tor-hosted DLS was titled 'Cartel News' and included details of a victim of VIKING SPIDER’s Ragnar Locker


Void Arachne is a threat actor group targeting Chinese-speaking users with malicious MSI files containing legitimate software installers for AI software. They exploit public interest in VPN technology and AI software to distribute malware through SEO poisoning and Chinese-language-themed Telegram channels. The group's campaign includes bundling malicious Winos payloads with deepfake pornography-generating AI software and voice-and-face-swapping AI software. Void Arachne also promotes AI technologies for virtual kidnapping and uses AI voice-alternating technology to pressure victims into paying ransom.


Void Balaur is a highly active hack-for-hire / cyber mercenary group with a wide range of known target types across the globe. Their services have been observed for sale to the public online since at least 2016. Services include the collection of private data and access to specific online email and social media services, such as Gmail, Outlook, Telegram, Yandex, Facebook, Instagram, and business emails.


Void Banshee is an APT group targeting North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia for information theft and financial gain. They exploit vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-38112 to deliver the Atlantida info-stealer through malicious PDFs disguised as book files. The group uses internet shortcuts with MHTML protocol handlers to access and execute files through disabled Internet Explorer, posing a significant threat to organizations. Void Banshee's TTPs include crafting URL strings to control window sizes in IE and using HTML files to hide malicious downloads from victims.


Void Blizzard’s cyberespionage operations tend to be highly targeted at specific organizations of interest to the Russian government, including in government, defense, transportation, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and healthcare sectors primarily in Europe and North America. The threat actor uses stolen credentials—which are likely procured from commodity infostealer ecosystems—and collects a high volume of email and files from compromised organizations.


Void Manticore is an Iranian APT group affiliated with MOIS, known for conducting destructive wiping attacks and influence operations. They collaborate with Scarred Manticore, sharing targets and conducting disruptive operations using custom wipers. Void Manticore's TTPs involve manual file deletion, lateral movement via RDP, and the deployment of custom wipers like the BiBi wiper. The group utilizes online personas like 'Karma' and 'Homeland Justice' to leak information and amplify the impact of their attacks.


Void Rabisu is an intrusion set associated with both financially motivated ransomware attacks and targeted campaigns on Ukraine and countries supporting Ukraine.


Beginning in late 2012, a carefully orchestrated attack campaign we call Volatile Cedar has been targeting individuals, companies and institutions worldwide. This campaign, led by a persistent attacker group, has successfully penetrated a large number of targets using various attack techniques, and specifically, a custom-made malware implant codenamed Explosive.


[Microsoft] Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored actor based in China that typically focuses on espionage and information gathering. Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises.

[Secureworks] BRONZE SILHOUETTE likely operates on behalf the PRC. The targeting of U.S. government and defense organizations for intelligence gain aligns with PRC requirements, and the tradecraft observed in these engagements overlap with other state-sponsored Chinese threat groups.


VulzSec, also known as VulzSecTeam, is a hacktivist group that has been involved in various cyber-attacks. They have targeted government websites in retaliation for issues such as police brutality and the treatment of Indian Muslims. The group has been involved in campaigns like OpIndia2.0, where they planned to launch DDoS attacks on Indian government websites.


WageMole is a North Korean state-sponsored APT that employs social engineering and technology to secure remote job opportunities in Western countries, leveraging stolen personal data from the Contagious Interview campaign. Threat actors create fake identities, including passports and driver's licenses, and prepare study guides for interviews, often utilizing generative AI for well-structured responses. They target small to mid-sized businesses and utilize job platforms like Upwork and Indeed, while employing automation scripts for account creation. WageMole's activities include sharing code within their group and requesting payments through platforms like PayPal to conceal their identity.


WARP PANDA is a China-nexus APT that targets VMware vCenter environments and Microsoft Azure infrastructures, primarily focusing on legal, technology, and manufacturing sectors in the U.S. The group exploits internet-facing edge devices for initial access, later pivoting to vCenter environments using compromised credentials or vulnerabilities. Their toolkit includes the BRICKSTORM backdoor, along with implants like Junction and GuestConduit, which facilitate command execution and network traffic tunneling. WARP PANDA demonstrates advanced OPSEC and aims for long-term persistence and data exfiltration aligned with the interests of the People's Republic of China.


WASSONITE is a North Korea-linked APT that has targeted industrial sectors, including electric generation, nuclear energy, manufacturing, and research entities in India, South Korea, and Japan since at least 2018. The group employs DTrack RAT for remote access, Mimikatz for credential capture, and various system tools for lateral movement and file transfers. WASSONITE has been observed using nuclear energy-themed spear phishing lures to deploy the AppleSeed backdoor, which can take screenshots, log keystrokes, and execute commands from a C2 server. Their operations focus on initial access, reconnaissance, and data collection without demonstrating disruptive capabilities.


Thief Libra is a cloud-focused threat group that has a history of cryptojacking operations as well as cloud service platform credential scraping. They were first known to operate on January 27, 2019. They use a variety of custom build Go Scripts as well as repurposed cryptojacking scripts from other groups including TeamTNT. They are currently considered to be an opportunistic threat group that targets exposed cloud instances and applications.


Water Bakunawa is a cybercriminal group identified by Trend Micro, responsible for the RansomHub ransomware, which exploits the Zerologon vulnerability to gain unauthorized network access. The group employs EDRKillShifter to evade detection and disrupt security monitoring processes, utilizing advanced anti-EDR techniques. Their targets include sectors such as water and wastewater, IT, healthcare, and financial services. Members of the group and related affiliates have linked by association with other high-profile RaaS groups like Scattered Spider and ALPHV.


Water Barghest is a cybercriminal group that has compromised over 20,000 IoT devices by October 2024, monetizing them through a residential proxy marketplace. They automate the entire process from identifying vulnerable devices using n-day and zero-day exploits to deploying Ngioweb malware and selling the compromised assets. Their operations include leveraging Ubiquiti EdgeRouter devices for espionage and utilizing automated scripts to exploit vulnerabilities within minutes of discovery. Water Barghest has maintained a low profile for years, but their activities gained attention due to the deployment of a zero-day vulnerability against Cisco IOS XE devices in October 2023.


With its emergence in 2022, Water Curupira has established itself as a persistent threat actor targeting organizations primarily in South America and Europe. Their modus operandi involves a combination of social engineering tactics and a diversified malware arsenal, including ransomware variants like Black Basta and credential stealers like Cobalt Strike. This multifaceted approach enables them to gain unauthorized access to victim systems, steal sensitive data, and ultimately extort victims through ransomware demands. It has been actively using Pikabot, a loader malware with similarities to Qakbot, in spam campaigns throughout 2023.


Water Gamayun exploits the MSC EvilTwin zero-day vulnerability to compromise systems and exfiltrate data, utilizing custom payloads and advanced data exfiltration techniques. Their arsenal includes backdoors like SilentPrism and DarkWisp, as well as information stealers such as Stealc and Rhadamanthys. They employ delivery methods like provisioning malicious payloads through signed Microsoft Installer files and leveraging LOLBins to maintain persistence and control over infected systems. Comprehensive analysis of their command-and-control infrastructure reveals sophisticated evasion techniques and dynamic control capabilities.


Water Kurita is a financially motivated cybercriminal entity associated with the Lumma Stealer infostealer-as-a-service operation, primarily active on underground forums and marketplaces. It focuses on credential and information theft at scale, monetizing access via subscription-based malware distribution and resale of stolen data to other actors. The group demonstrates solid operational security and marketing tactics typical of mature MaaS ecosystems, although a 2025 doxxing campaign exposing alleged core members (personal and financial data) significantly disrupted its activity and drove customers toward competing infostealers.


Trend Micro discovered a threat actor they named Water Labbu that was targeting cryptocurrency scam websites. Typically, cryptocurrency scammers use social engineering techniques,  interacting with victims to gain their trust and then manipulating them into providing the permissions needed to transfer cryptocurrency assets. While Water Labbu managed to steal cryptocurrencies via a similar method by obtaining access permissions and token allowances from their victim’s wallets, unlike other similar campaigns, they did not use any kind of social engineering — at least not directly. Instead, Water Labbu lets other scammers use their social engineering tricks to scam unsuspecting victims.


Water Makara employs the Astaroth banking malware, which features a new defense evasion technique. Their spear phishing campaigns exploit human error by targeting users to click on malicious files. To mitigate these threats, organizations should implement regular security training, enforce strong password policies, utilize multifactor authentication (MFA), keep security solutions updated, and apply the principle of least privilege.


Water Orthrus is a threat actor known for distributing CopperStealer and CopperPhish malware. They target Microsoft 365 users with phishing campaigns to steal credit card information. The actor has evolved their malware to include rootkits for stealthy installations and has shifted their focus from personal information to cryptocurrency and credit card data. Water Orthrus has been linked to the Scranos campaign reported in 2019.


Water Saci is a sophisticated cyber threat actor operating in Brazil, utilizing a multi-format attack chain that includes HTA files, ZIP archives, and PDFs to bypass security measures. The campaign employs an email-based C&C infrastructure using IMAP connections to terra.com.br accounts, enhancing its resilience and evasion tactics. It leverages social engineering through WhatsApp to propagate malware, specifically the SORVEPOTEL banking trojan, and incorporates advanced techniques for infection and persistence. The modular architecture of the malware allows for dynamic adaptation and extraction of sensitive credentials, indicating a significant evolution in adversarial capabilities.


The 8220 Gang, also known as Water Sigbin, is a threat actor group that focuses on deploying cryptocurrency-mining malware. They exploit vulnerabilities in Oracle WebLogic servers, such as CVE-2017-3506 and CVE-2023-21839, to deliver cryptocurrency miners using PowerShell scripts. The group has demonstrated a sophisticated multistage loading technique to deploy the PureCrypter loader and XMRIG crypto miner. They are known for using obfuscation techniques, such as hexadecimal encoding and code obfuscation, to evade detection and compromise systems.


Space Pirates is a cybercrime group that has been active since at least 2017. They primarily target Russian companies and have been observed using various malware, including Deed RAT and ShadowPad. The group uses a combination of publicly available tools and their own protocols to communicate with their command-and-control servers.


WeedSec is a threat actor group that recently targeted the online learning and course management platform Moodle. They posted sample databases of Moodle on their Telegram channel, which is widely used by educational institutions and workplaces.


WeRedEvils is a hacking group that has claimed responsibility for multiple cyber attacks. They targeted the Iranian Electric Grid and the Tasnimnews website, causing the latter to go offline. The group also claimed to have hacked into Iran's oil infrastructure, causing significant damage. They emerged in response to the Hamas massacre and are believed to be a group of Israeli cyber experts.


WhiteCobra is a threat actor that has infiltrated the Visual Studio Code marketplace and Open VSX registry, deploying 24 malicious extensions targeting cryptocurrency development tools, particularly Solidity. The group employs social engineering tactics, manipulates download counts and reviews, and uses fake branding to establish credibility for their extensions, which deliver LummaStealer on Windows and unknown malware on macOS. WhiteCobra has been linked to a $500,000 cryptocurrency theft in July 2025 and maintains detailed playbooks with revenue targets, showcasing their organized and persistent operations. Despite ongoing efforts by security researchers to remove their malicious extensions, WhiteCobra continues to upload new threats weekly, highlighting the sophistication of their TTPs.


In July 2018, an attack on Singapore’s largest public health organization, SingHealth, resulted in a reported 1.5 million patient records being stolen. Until now, nothing was known about who was responsible for this attack. Symantec researchers have discovered that this attack group, which we call Whitefly, has been operating since at least 2017, has targeted organizations based mostly in Singapore across a wide variety of sectors, and is primarily interested in stealing large amounts of sensitive information.


As a part of our Kaspersky APT Intelligence Reporting subscription, customers received an update in mid-February 2017 on some interesting APT activity that we called WhiteBear. Much of the contents of that report are reproduced here. WhiteBear is a parallel project or second stage of the Skipper Turla cluster of activity documented in another private intelligence report “Skipper Turla – the White Atlas framework” from mid-2016. Like previous Turla activity, WhiteBear leverages compromised websites and hijacked satellite connections for command and control (C2) infrastructure. As a matter of fact, WhiteBear infrastructure has overlap with other Turla campaigns, like those deploying Kopiluwak, as documented in “KopiLuwak – A New JavaScript Payload from Turla” in December 2016. WhiteBear infected systems maintained a dropper (which was typically signed) as well as a complex malicious platform which was always preceded by WhiteAtlas module deployment attempts. However, despite the similarities to previous Turla campaigns, we believe that WhiteBear is a distinct project with a separate focus. We note that this observation of delineated target focus, tooling, and project context is an interesting one that also can be repeated across broadly labeled Turla and Sofacy activity.
From February to September 2016, WhiteBear activity was narrowly focused on embassies and consular operations around the world. All of these early WhiteBear targets were related to embassies and diplomatic/foreign affair organizations. Continued WhiteBear activity later shifted to include defense-related organizations into June 2017. When compared to WhiteAtlas infections, WhiteBear deployments are relatively rare and represent a departure from the broader Skipper Turla target set. Additionally, a comparison of the WhiteAtlas framework to WhiteBear components indicates that the malware is the product of separate development efforts. WhiteBear infections appear to be preceded by a condensed spearphishing dropper, lack Firefox extension installer payloads, and contain several new components signed with a new code signing digital certificate, unlike WhiteAtlas incidents and modules.


Wildcard is a threat actor that initially targeted Israel's educational sector with the SysJoker malware. They have since expanded their operations and developed additional malware variants, disguised as legitimate software, including one written in the Rust programming language called RustDown. Their precise identity remains unknown, but they have shown advanced capabilities and a focus on critical sectors within Israel.


A corporate espionage group has compromised a string of major corporations over the past three years in order to steal confidential information and intellectual property. The gang, which Symantec calls Butterfly, is not-state sponsored, rather financially motivated. It has attacked multi-billion dollar companies operating in the internet, IT software, pharmaceutical, and commodities sectors. Twitter, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft are among the companies who have publicly acknowledged attacks.
 Butterfly is technically proficient and well resourced. The group has developed a suite of custom malware tools capable of attacking both Windows and Apple computers, and appears to have used at least one zero-day vulnerability in its attacks. It keeps a low profile and maintains good operational security. After successfully compromising a target organization, it cleans up after itself before moving on to its next target.
 This group operates at a much higher level than the average cybercrime gang. It is not interested in stealing credit card details or customer databases and is instead focused on high-level corporate information. Butterfly may be selling this information to the highest bidder or may be operating as hackers for hire. Stolen information could also be used for insider-trading purposes.


WildPressure is a threat actor that targets industrial-related entities in the Middle East. They use a variety of programming languages, including C++, VBScript, and Python, to develop their malware. They have been observed using virtual private servers and compromised servers, particularly WordPress websites, in their infrastructure. While there are some minor similarities with other threat actors in the region, there is not enough evidence to make any attribution.


In August of 2018, DarkMatter released a report entitled “In the Trails of WINDSHIFT APT”, which unveiled a threat actor with TTPs very similar to those of Bahamut. Subsequently, two additional articles were released by Objective-See which provide an analysis of some validated WINDSHIFT samples targeting OSX systems. Pivoting on specific file attributes and infrastructure indicators, Unit 42 was able to identify and correlate additional attacker activity and can now provide specific details on a targeted WINDSHIFT attack as it unfolded at a Middle Eastern government agency.


Winter Vivern is a cyberespionage group first revealed by DomainTools in 2021. It is thought to have been active since at least 2020 and it targets governments in Europe and Central Asia. To compromise its targets, the group uses malicious documents, phishing websites, and a custom PowerShell backdoor.


WIP19 is a Chinese-speaking threat group involved in espionage targeting the Middle East and Asia. They utilize a stolen certificate to sign their malware, including SQLMaggie, ScreenCap, and a credential dumper. The group has been observed targeting telecommunications and IT service providers, using toolsets authored by WinEggDrop. WIP19's activities suggest they are after specific information and are part of the broader Chinese espionage landscape.


WIRTE is a threat actor group that was first discovered in 2018. They are suspected to be part of the Gaza Cybergang, an Arabic politically motivated cyber criminal group. WIRTE has been observed changing their toolkit and operating methods to remain undetected for longer periods of time. They primarily target governmental and political entities, but have also been known to target law firms and financial institutions.


Witchetty was first documented by ESET in April 2022, who concluded that it was one of three sub-groups of TA410, a broad cyber-espionage operation with some links to the Cicada group (aka APT10). Witchetty’s activity was characterized by the use of two pieces of malware, a first-stage backdoor known as X4 and a second-stage payload known as LookBack. ESET reported that the group had targeted governments, diplomatic missions, charities, and industrial/manufacturing organizations.


Wizard Spider is reportedly associated with Grim Spider and Lunar Spider.
The WIZARD SPIDER threat group is the Russia-based operator of the TrickBot banking malware. This group represents a growing criminal enterprise of which GRIM SPIDER appears to be a subset. The LUNAR SPIDER threat group is the Eastern European-based operator and developer of the commodity banking malware called BokBot (aka IcedID), which was first observed in April 2017. The BokBot malware provides LUNAR SPIDER affiliates with a variety of capabilities to enable credential theft and wire fraud, through the use of webinjects and a malware distribution function.
GRIM SPIDER is a sophisticated eCrime group that has been operating the Ryuk ransomware since August 2018, targeting large organizations for a high-ransom return. This methodology, known as “big game hunting,” signals a shift in operations for WIZARD SPIDER, a criminal enterprise of which GRIM SPIDER appears to be a cell. The WIZARD SPIDER threat group, known as the Russia-based operator of the TrickBot banking malware, had focused primarily on wire fraud in the past.


Worok is a cyber espionage group, mostly targeting Central Asia. The group toolset includes a C++ loader named CLRLoad, a PowerShell backdoor named PowHeartBeat, and a C# loader named PNGLoad.


XakNet is a self-proclaimed hacktivist group that has targeted Ukraine. They claim to be comprised of Russian patriotic volunteers and have conducted various threat activities, including DDoS attacks, compromises, data leaks, and website defacements. They coordinate their operations with other hacktivist groups and have connections to APT28, a cyber espionage group sponsored by the GRU.


Cloud security company Lacework says it discovered a threat actor group named Xcatze that uses a Python named AndroxGh0st to take over AWS servers and send out massive email spam campaigns. Lacework says the malware operates by scanning web apps written in the Laravel PHP framework for exposed configuration files to identify and steal server credentials. Researchers said AndroxGh0st specifically searches for AWS, SendGrid, and Twilio credentials, which it uses to take control of email servers and accounts and send out the spam campaigns.


Rare is the APT group that goes largely undetected for nine years, but XDSpy is just that; a previously undocumented espionage group that has been active since 2011. It has attracted very little public attention, with the exception of an advisory from the Belarusian CERT in February 2020. In the interim, the group has compromised many government agencies and private companies in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.


Xiaoqiying is a primarily Chinese-speaking threat group that is most well known for conducting website defacement and data exfiltration attacks on more than a dozen South Korean research and academic institutions in late-January 2023. Research from Recorded Futures Insikt Group has found that the groups affiliated threat actors have signaled a new round of cyberattacks against organizations in Japan and Taiwan. Although it shows no clear ties to the Chinese government, Xiaoqiying is staunchly pro-China and vows to target NATO countries as well as any country or region that is deemed hostile to China.


XinXin is a Chinese-speaking threat actor known for its phishing-as-a-service platform, Lucid, which targets global organizations to steal credit card details and personally identifiable information through smishing campaigns. The group employs advanced techniques such as exploiting Rich Communication Services and Apple's iMessage protocol to bypass traditional SMS filters. XinXin also develops and utilizes other phishing kits like Lighthouse and Darcula, facilitating large-scale phishing operations with automated tools and evasion techniques. The group operates a structured hierarchy and monetizes stolen data while actively supporting the development of similar PhaaS services.


RiskIQ characterizes the Yanbian Gang as a group that targeted South Korean Android mobile banking customers since 2013 with malicious Android apps purporting to be from major banks, namely Shinhan Savings Bank, Saemaul Geumgo, Shinhan Finance, KB Kookmin Bank, and NH Savings Bank.


YoroTrooper’s main targets are government or energy organizations in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and other Commonwealth of Independent States, based on Cisco Talos analysis. YoroTrooper was also observed compromising accounts from at least two international organizations: a critical European Union health care agency and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Successful compromises also included Embassies of European countries including Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.


Z-Pentest Alliance is a pro-Russian hacktivist group known for targeting industrial control systems and operational technology systems, particularly in Italy and Israel. The group has claimed responsibility for various attacks, including gaining control of a water supply management system and disrupting aviation authorities' websites. Z-Pentest Alliance operates within a larger alliance of hacktivist groups, often collaborating on politically motivated operations, including DDoS campaigns. The group has been linked to the GRU and is associated with the NoName057 group, sharing tools and intelligence.


Zarya is a pro-Russian hacktivist group that emerged in March 2022. Initially operating as a special forces unit under the command of Killnet, Zarya has since become an independent entity. The group is primarily known for engaging in Denial-of-Service attacks, website defacement campaigns, and data leaks. Zarya targets government agencies, service providers, critical infrastructure, and civil service employees, both domestically and internationally.


ZeroSevenGroup is a threat actor that claims to have breached a U.S. branch of Toyota, stealing 240GB of sensitive data, including employee and customer information, contracts, and financial details. They have also allegedly gained full network access to critical Israeli infrastructure, with access to 80TB of sensitive data across various sectors. The group has threatened to use the stolen data for malicious activities, including ransomware attacks. Their operations involve exploiting vulnerabilities, as indicated by their reference to manipulating memory through buffer overflow techniques.


On April 7, 2017, Pytor Levashov — who predominantly used the alias Severa or Peter Severa and whom Falcon Intelligence tracks as ZOMBIE SPIDER — was arrested in an international law enforcement operation led by the FBI. ZOMBIE SPIDER’s specialty was large-scale spam distribution, a fundamental component of cybercrime operations. Levashov was the primary threat actor behind a botnet known as Kelihos and its predecessors, Waledac and Storm. In addition to Levashov’s arrest, there was a technical operation conducted by Falcon Intelligence to seize control of the Kelihos botnet.


ZooPark is a cyberespionage operation that has been focusing on Middle Eastern targets since at least June 2015. The threat actors behind ZooPark infect Android devices using several generations of malware we label from v1-v4, with v4 being the most recent version deployed in 2017.


Over the last few weeks, several significant leaks regarding a number of Iranian APTs took place. After analyzing and investigating the documents we conclude that they are authentic. Consequently, this causes considerable harm to the groups and their operation. The identity of the actor behind the leak is currently unknown, however based on the scope and the quality of the exposed documents and information, it appears that they are professional and highly capable. This leak will likely hamstring the groups' operation in the near future. Accordingly, in our assessment this will minimize the risk of potential attacks in the next few months and possibly even year. Note -most of the leaks are posted on Telegram channels that were created specifically for this purpose.
 Below are the three main Telegram groups on which the leaks were posted:
Lab Dookhtegam pseudonym ("The people whose lips are stitched and sealed" –translation from Persian) –In this channel attack tools attributed to the group 'OilRig' were leaked; including a webshell that was inserted into the Technion, various tools that were used for DNS attacks, and more.
Green Leakers–In this channel attack tools attributed to the group 'MuddyWatter' were leaked. The group's name and its symbol are identified with the "green movement", which led the protests in Iran after the Presidential elections in 2009. These protests were heavily repressed by the revolutionary guards (IRGC)
Black Box–Unlike the previous two channels this has been around for a long time. On Friday May 5th, dozens of confidential documents labeled as "secret" (a high confidentiality level in Iran, one before the highest -top secret) were posted on this channel. The documents were related to Iranian attack groups' activity.


An unnamed source leaked almost 10,000 documents describing a large number of 0-day vulnerabilities, methodologies and tools that had been collected by the CIA. This leaking was done through WikiLeaks, since March 2017. In weekly publications, the dumps were said to come from Vault 7 and later Vault 8, until his arrest in 2018.
Most of the published vulnerabilities have since been fixed by the respective vendors, by many have been used by other threat actors. This actor turned out to be a former CIA software engineer.
(WikiLeaks) Today, Tuesday 7 March 2017, WikiLeaks begins its new series of leaks on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Code-named "Vault 7" by WikiLeaks, it is the largest ever publication of confidential documents on the agency.
The first full part of the series, "Year Zero", comprises 8,761 documents and files from an isolated, high-security network situated inside the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence in Langley, Virgina. It follows an introductory disclosure last month of CIA targeting French political parties and candidates in the lead up to the 2012 presidential election.
Recently, the CIA lost control of the majority of its hacking arsenal including malware, viruses, trojans, weaponized "zero day" exploits, malware remote control systems and associated documentation. This extraordinary collection, which amounts to more than several hundred million lines of code, gives its possessor the entire hacking capacity of the CIA. The archive appears to have been circulated among former U.S. government hackers and contractors in an unauthorized manner, one of whom has provided WikiLeaks with portions of the archive.
"Year Zero" introduces the scope and direction of the CIA's global covert hacking program, its malware arsenal and dozens of "zero day" weaponized exploits against a wide range of U.S. and European company products, include Apple's iPhone, Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows and even Samsung TVs, which are turned into covert microphones.