Malware and Self-Replicating Code

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of a trapdoor in software?

To replicate itself across networks

To monitor for destructive acts

To provide a secret entry point to bypass security (correct)

To modify existing code

Which type of virus changes its form with each infection to evade detection?

Cluster viruses

Polymorphic viruses (correct)

Companion viruses

Macro viruses

What distinguishes a Trojan horse from other types of malware?

It requires a specific trigger event to execute

It spreads without user consent

It appears to have one function while performing another (correct)

It inserts itself into a host's operating system

What method do system sector viruses utilize to spread?

Infecting control sectors on a disk Signup and view all the answers

Which technique uses a cryptographic computation method to ensure file integrity?

Integrity checking Signup and view all the answers

What type of virus is known for being destructive and designed to inflict harm?

Chernobyl Signup and view all the answers

Which virus was created by two Pakistani brothers to protect their copyright?

Pakistani Brain Virus Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of worms in cybersecurity?

Replicate without triggering events Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'passive worms' refer to?

Worms that wait for information about other targets Signup and view all the answers

Which virus is known for its rapid spread, infecting 360,000 servers in 14 hours?

Code Red Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is associated with SCADA systems?

Stuxnet Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with the first documented work involving viruses?

Fred Cohen Signup and view all the answers

What cybersecurity threat involves using QR codes to redirect victims?

Quishing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of a quishing attack?

To steal sensitive information for malicious purposes Signup and view all the answers

Which type of attack is characterized by an explicit attempt to prevent legitimate users from accessing a service?

Denial of Service attack Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary technique behind a Smurf attack?

Launching distributed denial of service attacks Signup and view all the answers

Which type of attack is responsible for the majority of DDoS incidents involving DNS?

DNS Query attacks Signup and view all the answers

What does 'increasing rate' refer to in attack rate dynamics?

Gradually increasing the rate of attack packets to exhaust resources Signup and view all the answers

Which attack method takes advantage of the three-way handshake to create half-open connections?

Syn Flooding attack Signup and view all the answers

What is the most targeted industry for cyberattacks in 2023?

Software and Computer Services Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of fluctuating attack rates?

Occasionally relieving the effect of the attack Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a point-to-point communication model?

One sender and one receiver Signup and view all the answers

Which type of connection ensures that data is exchanged in order without message boundaries?

Reliable byte stream Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of a network intrusion detection system (NIDS)?

Passive monitoring of traffic Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a self-modifying code?

Code that modifies its own execution path Signup and view all the answers

Which phase of a virus includes the point when it is activated to carry out its malicious intent?

Triggering phase Signup and view all the answers

What does anomaly detection in intrusion detection refer to?

Identifying deviations from normal behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of a virus?

Rootkit Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'Passive RST' in TCP refer to?

Sending a reset for connection not accepting data Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Quines

Self-replicating code that can modify itself
Used to hide malicious code from detection software
Obscure code and prevent reverse engineering

Self-Modifying Codes

Used in programs that want to remain undetected
Edit source code in interpreted languages
Edit compiled code in compiled languages

Mobile Malcode

Malicious code that spreads to other machines without user consent
Uses network connections to spread

Trapdoors (Back Doors)

Secret entry points into a program
Allow unauthorized access bypassing security measures

Logic Bomb

One of the oldest types of malware
Designed to trigger a destructive act after a certain condition is met

Trojan Horse

Programs disguised as legitimate applications
Perform malicious actions on a system

Zombie

Program controlled by a remote attacker
Takes over a networked computer without the user's knowledge

Virus

Inserts malicious code into a host program or system
Can replicate itself and spread to other systems

Virus Phases

Dormant - Waits for a triggering event
Propagation - Replicates itself
Triggering - Event that activates the virus
Execution - Carries out its malicious payload
Exploiting - Takes advantage of system vulnerabilities

Two Main Virus Components

Propagation Mechanism - Replicating code that spreads the virus
Payload - The malicious code that the virus carries

Virus Detection

Scanning - Uses known virus signatures to identify malicious code
Integrity Checking - Compares current system state to a known good state
Interception - Monitors system activity for suspicious behavior

Major Worms

Morris - First major autonomous worm
Code Red - Rapidly spreading worm - Infected 360,000 servers in 14 hours
CRClean - Malware designed to combat Code Red
Nimda - Exploited local subnet scanning
Scalper - Distributed 10 days after vulnerability was revealed
Slammer - Spread worldwide in 10 minutes
Stuxnet - Sophisticated worm targeting industrial control systems

Passive Worms

CRClean
Anti-Code Red II Worms - Designed to combat Code Red

Denial of Service Attacks

Aim to prevent users from accessing a service
Smurf - Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack

Quishing Attack

Uses QR codes to redirect victims to malicious websites or prompt them to download malicious content
Goal is to steal sensitive information: passwords, financial data, personal information

DoS Attack Categories

Point-to-Point: Single sender, single receiver
Distributed: Hierarchical structures
Corruption Attacks: Applications/service-specific

Attack Strategies

Trin00: Scan for vulnerabilities, attack with UDP traffic
Spoofed Source Address: Send packets from forged addresses
Subnet Spoofed Source Address: Forged address from the same subnet
En Route Spoofed Source Address: Forged address on the path to the victim
Valid Source Address: A valid source to fool the victim

Attack Rate Dynamics

Constant Rate: Sends attack packets at a fixed rate
Variable Rate: Vary the attack rate to avoid detection
Increasing Rate: Gradually increases the attack rate to exhaust resources
Fluctuating Rate: Regularly changes the attack rate to avoid detection

TCP SyN Flooding Attack

Exploits the three-way handshake of TCP
Server builds up half-open connections
Server resources become overwhelmed, blocking new requests

TCP Connection Characteristics

Point-to-point
Reliable, in-order byte stream
Pipelined
Full duplex data flow
Connection-oriented
Flow controlled

Intrusion Detection and Prevention

Intrusion: Actions intended to compromise security
Intrusion Detection: Identifying and responding to intrusion activities
Intrusion Prevention: Extends intrusion detection with access control to prevent exploitation

Intrusion Detection Features

Capture Intrusion Evidence: Collect evidence of intrusion attempts
Models: Combine evidence to identify intrusions

Intrusion Detection Models

Misuse Detection (Signature-based): Looks for known attack patterns
Anomaly Detection (Statistical-based): Detects deviations from normal behavior

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

Host-Based IDSs: Monitor operating system audit logs
Network IDSs: Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity

Firewall vs. Network IDS

Firewall: Actively blocks traffic based on rules
Network IDS: Passively monitors traffic and alerts on suspicious activity

Advanced IDS Features

Adaptive: Detects new intrusions
Scenario-Based: Correlates audit data and attack information
Cost-Sensitive: Considers costs associated with intrusion detection

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Description

Explore the fascinating yet dangerous world of malware and self-replicating code. This quiz covers various types of malicious software, including Trojans, viruses, and logic bombs, along with techniques like quines and trapdoors. Test your knowledge on how these threats operate and spread in digital environments.