Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Kaspersky Lab’s Own Network Hit by Cyber-Attack

    Written by

    Sean Michael Kerner
    Published June 10, 2015
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Euguene Kaspersky, founder of Kaspersky Lab, is used to talking about security exploits his security firm has discovered lurking in corporate networks. Today Kaspersky had the rare opportunity to talk about an exploit that hit his own network and remained undetected for months.

      Kaspersky (pictured) dubbed the advanced persistent attack (APT) malware Duqu 2.0 as it is related to the Duqu state-sponsored malware first discovered in 2011. During a live Webcast press conference from London, Kaspersky detailed the Duqu 2.0 exploit, being cautious not to attribute the attack to any particular nation-state. In addition to hitting Kaspersky Lab, Duqu 2.0 took aim at the recent P5+1 Iranian nuclear arms negotiations, which has led some to speculate that the State of Israel is somehow connected to Duqu 2.0.

      The Duqu 2.0 attack made use of three different zero-day exploits in Microsoft, all of which have been patched since June 9.

      “The attack is extremely sophisticated, and this is a new generation of what is most likely state-sponsored malware,” Kaspersky said during the press conference. “It’s a kind of a mix of Alien, Terminator and Predator, in terms of Hollywood.” Alien, Terminator and Predator are three famous movies with a relentless evil character bent on destruction.

      Kaspersky noted that Duqu 2.0 is very evasive and doesn’t create any on-disk files or registry key entries. Rather, he said that Duqu 2.0 is a memory-based application that behaves in a way that makes it very effective.

      “It spreads through the network pretending to be the system administrator which upgrades the software in the network,” Kaspersky said.

      Kaspersky admitted that Duqu 2.0 was in his company’s network for several months before it was detected. However, his company has done a deep audit, he said, and he is confident that no Kaspersky customer or partner information was compromised. The Duqu 2.0 attackers were only looking to find information on Kaspersky Lab’s virus research and how the company finds and processes malware, he said.

      As to how Kaspersky Lab was able to find the Duqu 2.0 malware, Kaspersky didn’t mince any words. “Come on, it’s stupid to attack a cyber-security company. Sooner or later we’ll find it,” he said. “We have new technologies we test on ourselves, we have an anti-APT tool to detect unusual behavior in our network, and also we use some magic to find new malware on the Internet and this time in our own company.”

      As to why Kaspersky decided to disclose the attack against his own company, it’s about sharing information to protect the Internet as a whole.

      “Typically, enterprises don’t want to disclose such incidents because of the possible reputation damage, but we decided to behave in a different way,” he said. “We want to show the right behavior because in order to fight cyber-attacks, enterprises must be transparent and if enterprises keep silent they will be killed one by one.”

      As a result of the Duqu 2.0 attack, Kaspersky Lab is now smarter and will be able to detect threats and protect customers even better than before, he said.

      Kaspersky added that he is concerned that the new Duqu 2.0 attack will eventually find its way from the nation-state-backed attackers into criminal hands and provide more tools to exploit organizations.

      “I’m afraid this attack is the next step to the age of cyber-terrorism,” Kaspersky said.

      Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at eWEEK and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.

      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner is an Internet consultant, strategist, and writer for several leading IT business web sites.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×