Justice Dept. Names ZeuS Trojan Author, Seizes Control of P2P "Gameover" Botnet

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Justice Dept. Names ZeuS Trojan Author, Seizes Control of P2P "Gameover" Botnet

Posted by samzenpus on Monday June 2, 2014 @04:50AM from the shutting-it-down dept.

tsu doh nimh (609154) writes "The U.S. Justice Department announced today an international law enforcement operation to seize control over the Gameover ZeuS botnet, a sprawling network of hacked Microsoft Windows computers that currently infects an estimated 500,000 to 1 million compromised systems globally. Experts say PCs infected with Gameover are being harvested for sensitive financial and personal data, and that the botnet is responsible for more than $100 million in losses from online banking account takeovers. The government alleges that Gameover also was rented out to an elite cadre of hackers for use in online extortion attacks, spam and other illicit moneymaking schemes. In a complaint unsealed today, the DOJ further alleges that ZeuS and Gameover are the brainchild of a Russian man named Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev, a.k.a. 'Slavik.'"

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Cutting a head off the Hydra by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · 2014-06-02 04:57 · Score: 3, Funny

And where one compromised Windows machine falls, two more will arise to take its place.
1. Re:Cutting a head off the Hydra by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:26 · Score: 0
  
  I have to give them credit, though--this is the first time I remember TFS actually pointing out the malware-vulnerable OS.
  It's always been left unnamed before.
2. Re:Cutting a head off the Hydra by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · 2014-06-02 05:37 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah. "OS effortlessly compromised, yet again", gosh, I wonder which one it could be???
3. Re:Cutting a head off the Hydra by Alphadecay27 · 2014-06-02 05:43 · Score: 2
  
  That sounds poetic and I understand it is a general (likely warranted) shot at windows but it's not really applicable. Cleaning an infected machine results in one less infected machine. The act of cleaning does not generate 2 more infected machines and in fact shrinks the botnet by some, albeit small degree. There is never a situation where cleaning a Windows machine is a bad option - which keeps a significant number of us employed/harassed by friends/relatives.
  If you can secure a machine (e.g. by beating the user until they swear they won't click on unknown links) you further reduce the likely-hood of reinfection. I can't remember where I've seen it but I have heard there is some sort of method using a host file but I will not mention it to avoid being down-modded :)
4. Re:Cutting a head off the Hydra by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 06:05 · Score: 0
  
  did you fix your heartbleed yet?
5. Re:Cutting a head off the Hydra by Ravaldy · 2014-06-02 07:11 · Score: 1
  
  Why would they target anybody else than Windows users? It accounts for 80% of the PC OS.
  The last 20% is shared between Unix, Linux and Apple. Apple actually 11% of that last 20%.
And what will *they* do with it? by gstoddart · 2014-06-02 04:59 · Score: 4, Interesting

Because, you know, the NSA et al are doing just as much hacking as the black hats are.
At which point, one must assume they'll continue to use this botnet for their own purposes, and not simply dismantle it.
Why give up an established spy network?

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Re:ZEUS & it's variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:03 · Score: 1

Ah, the old "security through schizophrenia" argument.
Re:ZEUS & it's variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:06 · Score: 0

FTFY: More of a valid "what you can't touch can't harm you" argument as hosts cut the ability to talk to botnet servers or their slaves (or them talking back to "mama/queenbee/queenant for orders also).
Government Control by grahamsz · 2014-06-02 05:07 · Score: 1

Since the government have control of all those computers now, would it be ethical for them to go in and actually install the patches to stop them being easily becoming victims next time around?
1. Re:Government Control by synapse7 · 2014-06-02 05:16 · Score: 2
  
  Pretty sure it is their duty to use these computers to gather information for national security.
2. Re:Government Control by DigiShaman · 2014-06-02 05:19 · Score: 1
  
  Does the executable run by itself when a user clicks on the hyperlink from a phishing attempt in e-mail, or does it require the user to run it? If it's the later, you can't fix stupid.
  
  --
  Life is not for the lazy.
3. Re:Government Control by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:34 · Score: 0
  
  If it's the later, you can't fix stupid.
  And people lament that people in tech are smug douchebags.
  Sorry, but the stupid was built into the operating system by Microsoft in most cases -- in trying to make everything seamless and easy, they've made it pathetic and insecure.
  Plus, they made it pathetic and insecure. IE is so insecure as to need a therapist. And Outlook was what gave us the ability to get malware without even clicking on the links.
  I place the blame at the feet of the companies who make our computers and operating systems, not the poor schmucks who use them.
  And, it's "latter", moron.
4. Re:Government Control by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 10:46 · Score: 0
  
  not the poor schmucks who use them.
  The "poor schmucks" who couldn't be bothered to learn how to use a computer properly, pay attention to safety tips, or generally inform themselves about anything. If people were as ignorant about driving cars as they were about using computers, there would be many times more accidents than there are now.
5. Re:Government Control by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-03 04:08 · Score: 0
  
  Pretty sure the 4th amendment prohibits them from searching or seizing my papers, effects, or personal property without a publicly-reviewable search warrant, issued upon probable cause, describing the particular items to be seized and the particular places to be searched. If their duty conflicts with this, then it's not their duty.
Re:ZEUS & it's variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:10 · Score: 0

Where to get help with APK hosts file
Government Control by TMYates · 2014-06-02 05:20 · Score: 1

Just have to put this out there, but now that the government has taken control, how much do you want to bet the NSA will use this opportunity to spy? Even if they do not use Zeus long term, they could use it to install their own software on millions of PCs that are already infected.
Re:MalwareBytes' hpHosts is where by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:21 · Score: 0

Who are "they"? The voices in your head?

Meanwhile "praying the rosary" is proven 2X more effective at preventing malware than anything you ever came up with.

Go away, Kowalski, you're fucking crazy.
"Rinse, Lather, & Repeat" by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:25 · Score: 0

Learn to read (get on topic too) http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
1. Re:"Rinse, Lather, & Repeat" by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:35 · Score: 0
  
  You're as nuts as squirrel poo.
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:26 · Score: 0

No, the entire Botnet will be controlled by the NSA now. After all, they will need more BlackOps money if the White House cuts their "legit" funding...
Re:ZEUS & it's variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:27 · Score: 1

You ought to get yourself on of those "Hackers hate this guy. <insert your nearest city name> mom foils Zeus trojan wit this ONE SIMPLE TRICK!"
Only Control For Short While by mrspoonsi · 2014-06-02 05:29 · Score: 3, Informative

According to this article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/tech... the C&C servers will be replaced by new ones, so there is only a 2 week window until the network is back up and running.
1. Re:Only Control For Short While by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 06:22 · Score: 1
  
  Here's what I don't get about that. The way the article shows the structure of the Gameover botnet, it looks like the C&C servers are hard-coded in. The person who coded the botnet control program would have no reason to give away his source code. If they've already seized the C&C servers, and the only person who can change the code has been arrested, how could new C&C servers pop up so quickly, unless Gameover Zeus has already been forked?
2. Re:Only Control For Short While by Yebyen · 2014-06-02 07:09 · Score: 2
  
  Presumably there's some concept of a CA / revocation list where infected nodes can find messages in a public channel or forum of some kind that tell where to reach the new C&C servers. I'm struggling with this as well, but it seems reasonable to assume from the quoted text that those machines are checking in regularly with the C&C servers, which the authorities now control, and they are checking in less frequently (every 2 weeks) with some other channel that is not controlled by the authorities, where The Highest Bidder with The Official Keys (not a part of the regular everyday C&C architecture) gets to put out new instructions that supersede the old.
  I have just made all of this up from my imagination without any research, I'm just thinking, "if I was the one who did it, that's how I'd do it".
  
  --
  Restating the obvious since nineteen aught five.
Re:ZEUS & it's variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:31 · Score: 0

They obviously do having downmodded his post for no valid technical reason + troll offtopic afterward http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
Phew! by flightmaker · 2014-06-02 05:31 · Score: 1

Maybe that's why I've had no more notices to appear in court the last couple of days.
The magistrate was getting pissed off telling me to go away!
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by jythie · 2014-06-02 05:34 · Score: 1

Well, he was making money and was pro-freedom so he would probably be held up as a hero in the US too.
Learn to read (subject lines) by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:43 · Score: 0

Additionally, quit projecting & learn to read (the subject line here) http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by Krojack · 2014-06-02 05:44 · Score: 1

I was under the impression the NSA hired these people to make the botnets to harvest data. Once the NSA is done using it or are near exposure they dump everything on the person they hired and place the blame there.
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by PRMan · 2014-06-02 05:47 · Score: 2

Yeah, cause he helped the American people by... oh, wait, he's just a straight-up villain...

--
Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by Opportunist · 2014-06-02 05:50 · Score: 2

If you had told someone 25 years ago that criminals in Russia try to steal your ID for profit while in the USA the state tries to invade your privacy to ferret out dissidents...

--
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Re:ZEUS & it's variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:54 · Score: 0

APK, ALL your posts are ALWAYS offtopic, that is, until we start a "Kowalski is batshit insane" thread. Then they'll be "Exhibit A".
How's apk's off topic? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 05:56 · Score: 0

He pointed out hosts and Zeustracker which works. You're offtopic trolling.
1. Re:How's apk's off topic? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 06:22 · Score: 0
  
  The only "people" who support APK are the other crazy voices in his crazy head. So you're just one of his other schizophrenic partial personalities.
  Hah. Captcha is "convulse". Perfectly fitting for talking to you, Kowalski.
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by gstoddart · 2014-06-02 06:22 · Score: 1

If you had told someone 25 years ago that criminals in Russia try to steal your ID for profit while in the USA the state tries to invade your privacy to ferret out dissidents...
You'd have been right. ;-)

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by Opportunist · 2014-06-02 06:24 · Score: 1

I'd probably have been asked whether I got that the wrong way 'round, rather.

--
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
ANDROID (a Linux variant) by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 06:25 · Score: 0

ANDROID (yes, it's a Linux with Dalvik/JAVA too no less), right? It gets infested + infected almost daily!
Re:We've named the guy, now getting him? by gstoddart · 2014-06-02 06:29 · Score: 1

And yet, you'd still have been right. :-P

--
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Answer a question (in bold) by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 06:30 · Score: 0

Fact supports apk. How's apk offtopic? You are. He points out ZeusTracker + HOSTS that stop ZEUS botnet clientside (stopping you from getting infected or IF you are infected, it won't allow the botnet slave client to talk back to its commanding C&C Servers).
1. Re:Answer a question (in bold) by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:17 · Score: 0
  
  I take it you're new around here, but APK (or some guy pretending to be APK, more likely) has been trolling here for years. Google around a bit and you will find posts where he merges the philosophy of the hosts file with the time cube theory and rambles on about Natalie Portman's hot grits. It's actually kind of funny that his schizoid hosts file ramblings are almost on topic now.
MalwareBytes' hpHosts is where by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:06 · Score: 0

MalwareBytes' hpHosts recommends APK Hosts File Engine as "best of breed" @ TOP of their site
Here is a great idea... by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:10 · Score: 0

Lets strap the perps to heavy chair and allow all the techs that have to fix this shit to take turns beating their hands with hammers.
Let 'em add more by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:28 · Score: 0

THIS stops ZEUS cold (ZeusTracker + HOSTS) http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
Since this stops Zeus easily by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:30 · Score: 0

ZeusTracker + HOSTS http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
RTFA - they don't control shit by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:42 · Score: 0

Botnet is still running and at large.
You're the one offtopic + trolling though by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 07:47 · Score: 0

You also refuse to answer how apk's off topic: Apk validly points out ZeusTracker + hosts which stall Zeus.
Panos Koutsouvelis lawyer's blog has more info by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 08:13 · Score: 0

Panos Koutsouvelis, a lawyer ÃZÃZÃZÂ½ÃZÃ ÃZsÃZÃ...ÃÃfÃZÃ...ÃZÃZÃZÃZÃ, has written a blog spot about this topic.
Waste of time by dhammabum · 2014-06-02 11:21 · Score: 2

Why aren't they going after terrorists? We all need to sacrifice to defeat terrorism, and if it means compromised systems and stripped bank accounts, well, that is the price we all have to pay.

--
I am not a robot. I am a unicorn.
1. Re:Waste of time by Vitriol+Angst · 2014-06-03 03:29 · Score: 1
  
  Honestly, there are some counties in my state where I think we'd be better off with a few more muggers than a few more cops -- they certainly cost less than proving yourself innocent in a court.
  
  --
  >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
No Zeus or variants possible with this by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 12:19 · Score: 0

Custom hosts files + ZeusTracker http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
Re:Zeus & its variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 13:45 · Score: 0

What the fuck is wrong with you? You didn't put a P.S. on your post.
GNAA has compromised APK. FIND THE LITHIUM PILLS!
Zeus + its variants can't get to me by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 14:42 · Score: 0

OR anyone that uses a custom hosts file, if they use this source for that https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/m...
* They're a VERY IMPORTANT SOURCE FOR DATA IN THE SECURITY COMMUNITY IN THIS CAPACITY vs. Zeus!
(They track the variants of this botnet (ZEUS, Citadel, IceIX, KINS, etc.- et al))
APK
P.S.=> Of course, ZeusTracker's NOT the only source for data for custom hosts files under the sun - & ('shamless plus') of course, THIS program (by "yours truly") gets you all the rest:
APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ 32/64-bit:
http://start64.com/index.php?o...
(Details of hosts' benefits enumerated in link)
Summary:
---
A. ) Hosts do more than AdBlock ("souled-out" 2 Google/Crippled by default) + Ghostery (Advertiser owned) - "Fox guards henhouse", or Request Policy -> http://yro.slashdot.org/commen...
B. ) Hosts add reliability vs. downed or redirected DNS + secure vs. known malicious domains too -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... w/ less added "moving parts" complexity + room 4 breakdown,
C. ) Hosts files yield more speed (blocks ads & hardcodes fav sites - faster than remote DNS), security (vs. malicious domains serving mal-content + block spam/phish & trackers), reliability (vs. downed or Kaminsky redirect vulnerable DNS, 99% = unpatched vs. it & worst @ ISP level + weak vs FastFlux + DynDNS botnets), & anonymity (vs. dns request logs + DNSBL's).
---
Hosts do more w/ less (1 file) @ a faster level (ring 0) vs redundant browser addons (slowing up slower ring 3 browsers) via filtering 4 the IP stack (coded in C, loads w/ OS, & 1st net resolver queried w\ 45++ yrs.of optimization).
* Addons are more complex + slowup browsers & in message passing (use a few concurrently - you'll see)
** Addons slowdown SLOWER usermode browsers layering on MORE - bloating memory consumption too + hugely excessive CPU usage (4++gb extra in FireFox https://blog.mozilla.org/nneth... )
... apk
Unbelievable: They blew 18 modpoints by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 14:54 · Score: 0

Trying to suppress your posts on hosts and zeustracker for protecting yourself online against this threat easily. What is wrong with these idiots?
He put a p.s. in there stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-02 15:00 · Score: 0

Better get your "hooked on phonics" remeidial reading lessons out again troll. See subject and learn to read.
It's 1 of 5 types out there doing it by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-03 00:35 · Score: 0

They're 1 of 5 types of people (bank on it):
1.) Advertisers
2.) malware makers
3.) botnet herders
4.) webmasters
5.) An INFERIOR competitor (e.g. - AdBlock, Ghostery, & RequestPolicy)
* Doesn't 'take a brain' to realize THAT much - after all: THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GET "HURT" by it... problem is, per my other post to you? THEY have been hurting others bandwidth/speed, secuirty, & more for DECADES...
Funniest part is that those technically unjustifiable downmods are "the best they got" but they certainly CAN'T get the better of me disproving my points on hosts files' mulitiple nigh ubiquitous value to end users...
APK
P.S.=> Think about what I just said - you'll "get it", fast... apk
GNAA = script kiddie punks... apk by Anonymous Coward · 2014-06-03 06:13 · Score: 0

Especially that obese druggie slob "weev" (ugly bastard, no wonder he's pissed @ life - look @ him, for Pete's sake).
From what I understand, those LOSERS like to fuck around here on /. - I'd love to meet one face to face/mano a mano, IF they tried that shit on me.
ANY IDIOT can be an asshole & destructive... they don't seem to understand that THAT makes them nothing more than losers. It takes a REAL man to create for "the absolute good" if possible.
(Simply since I absolutely TRULY hate little fucks like them (like you have NO idea) - they're not men: They're punks... almost as bad as malware makers in general).
APK
P.S.=> IF anyone needs "lithium pills", it's that grotesque obese drug addicted characature of a human being, "weev" the wussbag... apk