{"id":3557,"date":"2014-05-20T16:53:43","date_gmt":"2014-05-20T16:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-infoblox-blog.pantheonsite.io\/?p=3557"},"modified":"2020-05-06T10:31:34","modified_gmt":"2020-05-06T17:31:34","slug":"protecting-from-creepware-using-dns-firewall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infoblox.com\/blog\/community\/protecting-from-creepware-using-dns-firewall\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting from Creepware using DNS Firewall"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine that you\u2019ve discovered that your computer has been surreptitiously taking pictures of you at times when you thought the camera was off, and forwarding them to some stranger. Sound like your worst nightmare?\u00a0 In fact\u2014as Miss Teen USA\u00a0 recently discovered to her chagrin\u2014she was the victim\u00a0<\/a>of the latest Internet malevolence, officially known as \u201cBlackshades\u201d but informally dubbed \u201cCreepware\u201d by victims and law-enforcers.<\/p>\n

So what exactly is Creepware?\u00a0 Think of it as a remote-access Trojan\u2014a mutated version of a family of software known as remote administration tool (RAT). \u00a0There are many RATs that are used for entirely legitimate purposes (LogmeIn, Microsoft RDP, VNC, etc.) for functions such as remote connectivity on the go or providing technical support.\u00a0 A remote-access trojan is kind of RAT that is installed without your knowledge or permission\u2014one that is designed to hand over control of your computer to a remote entity. And the neighborhood stalker is not the only creep who is friendly with RATs; international criminal gangs like them too, for seizing control of the finances of individuals and companies.<\/p>\n

One such RAT\u2014known as \u201cBlackshades\u201d and said to have affected over half a million people worldwide\u2014was taken down yesterday by law-enforcement authorities.<\/p>\n

Here is a partial list of Blackshades\u2019 RAT capabilities:<\/p>\n