Categories: cyber securityMalware

Microsoft has Takedown the world’s Largest Necurs Botnet that Infected Nine Million Computers Globally

Microsoft has taken down the infamous Necurs botnet that impacted more than nine million computers worldwide. The Necurs botnet is the largest spam and malware botnet.

The botnet is known for distributing several malware particularly the Locky ransomware malware, the botnet believed to be operated from Russia.

The Necurs botnet was first detected in 2012, it primarily acts as a dropper for other malware, between the years 2016 to 2019 the botnet emerges as largets one and responsible for 90% of the malware spread by email worldwide.

Necurs Botnet TakeDown

The world’s largest botnet was taken down as a coordinated operation between Microsoft and partners across 35 countries.

Microsoft said that within a “58-day period in our investigation, for example, we observed that one Necurs-infected computer sent a total of 3.8 million spam emails to over 40.6 million potential victims.”

The botnet is known for conducting various spam attacks such as stock scams, fake pharmaceutical spam email and “Russian dating” scams. Necurs also used for launching DDoS attacks.

The botnet continues to utilize advanced functions to evade security mechanisms placed in the organization.

To take down the botnet operation Microsoft broken down the domain generation algorithm (DGA) technology implemented by Necurs for registering new domains to execute attacks.

In the last 25 months more than six million unique domains registered by the botnet to launch various attacks.

Microsoft reported the domain name’s to the registries around the world so that those domains are blocked from becoming a part of Necurs infrastructure.

BitSight who worked with Microsoft for Necurs malware takedown provides an Infection Telemetry map that shows how a week of Necurs infection telemetry is dispersed geographically.

The authors of the Necurs botnet system implemented a layered approach using a mixture of a centralized and peer-to-peer (P2P) communication channels, here is the Necurs C2 flow.

“By taking control of existing websites and inhibiting the ability to register new ones, we have significantly disrupted the botnet, Microsoft added.

Gurubaran

Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.

Recent Posts

Beware Of SpyLoan Apps Exploits Social Engineering To Steal User Data

SpyLoan apps, a type of PUP, are rapidly increasing, exploiting social engineering to deceive users…

2 hours ago

Researchers Detailed Tools Used By Hacktivists Fueling Ransomware Attacks

CyberVolk, a politically motivated hacktivist group, has leveraged readily available ransomware builders like AzzaSec, Diamond,…

2 hours ago

Blue Yonder Ransomware Attack Impacts Starbucks & Multiple Supermarkets

A ransomware attack on Blue Yonder, a leading supply chain management software provider, has created…

4 hours ago

Dell Wyse Management Suite Vulnerabilities Let Attackers Exploit Affected Systems Remotely

Dell Technologies has released a security update for its Wyse Management Suite (WMS) to address…

4 hours ago

CISA Details Red Team Assessment Including TTPs & Network Defense

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently detailed findings from a Red Team Assessment…

4 hours ago

IBM Workload Scheduler Vulnerability Stores User Credentials in Plain Text

IBM has issued a security bulletin warning customers about a vulnerability in its Workload Scheduler…

5 hours ago