What are InfoStealers

As the name implies, InfoStealer malware is a kind of malicious software created especially to collect private data from compromised systems. Passwords, credit card numbers, surfing histories, and other important data are among the personal, financial, and business data that this type of virus targets. InfoStealers’ ultimate objective is to send the stolen information to cybercriminals so they can utilise it for identity theft, money laundering, and other nefarious purposes.

How do InfoStealer malware enters to the system?

InfoStealers frequently use hacked websites, malware attachments, or phishing emails to get into systems. They can function covertly once installed, which makes them especially difficult to spot. They may also use a variety of strategies to evade detection, stay persistent, locate other useful targets on a network, and enable remote command-giving by attackers. The most advanced InfoStealers are modular; after searching the surroundings for possible sources of useful information, they can import certain payloads.

How they work?

There are several ways through which InfoStealers accomplish their goals. Every technique covered below focusses on particular kinds of data or input-output peripherals. Additionally, each technique takes use of particular weaknesses related to the use, storage, and transmission of that data. The variety of these methods emphasises the need for all-encompassing security measures that guard against a wide range of infiltration tactics rather than just one kind of threat. Many of them are discussed below:-

1. Keylogging:- Keylogging, one of the most used strategies, includes logging user keystrokes. Attackers can later filter out passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive personal data by recording everything input.
2. Form Grabbing:- This method is used to intercept the information of the online form before the browser encrypts it. It is mainly used for login credentials, payment information entered into website.
3. Clipboard Hijacking:- An infected device’s clipboard content can be monitored and altered by InfoStealers. Malware either replaces or steals information when a user copies passwords or account numbers. Because a password manager fills them in automatically, this attack method can even harvest usernames and passwords.
4. Screen Capturing:- This technique can get over the restrictions of text-based data extraction by taking screenshots of the user’s screen at key points, as when reading personal information or inputting credentials, and capturing any type of data that is presented on the screen.
5. Browser History Hijacking:-By using this technique, fraudsters can mimic a victim’s online session and obtain unauthorised access to online accounts without requiring a username and password by stealing cookies and session tokens from a browser’s cached memory.
6. Credential Dumping:- Using web browsers or other client software, this method retrieves login credentials from user accounts that are stored on the system. Attackers will use specialised hardware and software tools to try to crack them offline if they are stored in an encrypted manner.
7. Man-in-the-browser attack:- Malicious code is injected into the web browser itself in these more complex attacks. This gives the attacker the ability to intercept and change data as it is entered on secure websites in real time.
8. E-mail harvesting:- In order to gather email addresses and other contact details that can be utilised for spamming or additional phishing assaults, the malware looks through files and emails that are saved on the computer.
9. Crypto wallet harvesting:- Certain InfoStealer malware can look for popular crypto-wallet software’s known installation paths and try to grab private keys. These keys can be used to move the victim’s bitcoin to accounts under the attacker’s control once they are in their possession.

Some of the most effective InfoStealers are:-

1. Zeus:- Zeus, the most notorious infostealer, mostly targets financial data. Since its discovery in 2007, it has been implicated in a number of cybercrimes, such as financial fraud and botnet construction. Zeus is renowned for its capacity to multiply and disseminate itself as well as its ability to avoid detection by employing stealth tactics.
2. Ursnif:- Another banking Trojan that has been in operation for more than ten years is Ursnif. Ursnif is well-known for its complex evasion strategies, modular architecture, and capacity to steal a broad range of data types, such as personal identifiable information (PII) and banking credentials. Usually, phishing emails and exploit kits are used to propagate Ursnif.
3. Agent Tesla:- Agent Tesla is an advanced spyware program that mostly acts as a remote access trojan (RAT) and keylogger. It was first discovered in or around 2014 and has the ability to take screenshots, monitor and record the victim’s keyboard and system clipboard, and exfiltrate login credentials from a range of installed software. Malicious email attachments that pose as trustworthy files or links and launch the malware when clicked are frequently used to spread Agent Tesla.
4. LokiBot :- First discovered in 2015, LokiBot is an information theft tool that targets many platforms to steal a range of credentials, including cryptocurrency wallets, passwords, and other data. Additionally, it contains modular features that allow the attacker to remotely access and download and run other malicious payloads. Usually, phishing emails, malicious software installers, and compromised websites are used to spread LokiBot.
5. TrickBot:- TrickBot, which was first discovered in 2016 as a banking trojan, has developed into a highly advanced multi-purpose malware that can initiate ransomware attacks and grant attackers remote access to compromised systems. TrickBot propagates by taking advantage of network infrastructure flaws and running malicious spam operations. TrickBot is frequently regarded as one of the most advanced malware strains, possessing a wide range of capabilities.
6. Raccoon-Stealer:- The information-stealing malware Raccoon Stealer first surfaced in 2019 and is well-known for being simple enough for novice attackers to employ and for being able to retrieve a large amount of personal information. In order to extract private keys, this virus looks for cryptocurrency wallets and grabs login credentials, online session cookies, and credit card information from browser caches. Through malicious email campaigns and exploit kits, Raccoon Stealer spreads, appealing to a broad spectrum of cybercriminals, including those with little technical knowledge, thanks to its ease of use and efficiency.
7. Redline Stealer:- Redline Stealer is a relatively new but quickly spreading virus that was first discovered in 2020 and is intended to steal credit card numbers, passwords, and other private information that is saved in web browsers. In order to support secondary attacks like privilege escalation and persistence maintenance, it can also gather information about the environment of the compromised machine. Redline Stealer emphasises the dangers of downloading unconfirmed software from the internet by being spread mostly through phishing efforts, fraudulent ads, and software bundles.