Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Spyware and Trojan Horses

Computer Security Seminar Series

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Your computer could be watching your every move!

Image Source - http://www.clubpmi.it/upload/servizi_marketing/images/spyware.jpg

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Introduction

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Seminar Overview
Introduction to Spyware / Trojan Horses Spyware Examples, Mechanics, Effects, Solutions Tracking Cookies Mechanics, Effects, Solutions Trojan Horses Mechanics, Effects, More Examples Solutions to the problems posed Human Factors Human interaction with Spyware System X Having suitable avoidance mechanisms Conclusions Including our proposals for solutions

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Definitions
A general term for a program that surreptitiously monitors your actions. While they are sometimes sinister, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use Spyware to gather data about customers. The practice is generally frowned upon.

R WA Y SP

Definition from: BlackICE Internet Security Systems - http://blackice.iss.net/glossary.php

An apparently useful and innocent program containing additional hidden code which allows the unauthorized collection, exploitation, falsification, or destruction of data.

Definition from: Texas State Library and Archives Commission - http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/compsecurity/glossary.html

N O JA E TR R S HO

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Symptoms
Targeted Pop-ups Slow Connection Targeted E-Mail (Spam) Unauthorized Access Spam Relaying Browser Hijack Program Customization

SPYWARE SPYWARE / TROJAN SPYWARE TROJAN HORSE TROJAN HORSE SPYWARE / TROJAN SPYWARE

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Summary of Effects
Collection of data from your computer without consent Execution of code without consent Assignment of a unique code to identify you Collection of data pertaining to your habitual use Installation on your computer without your consent Inability to remove the software Performing other undesirable tasks without consent

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Similarities / Differences
Spyware
Commercially Motivated Internet connection required Initiates remote connection Purpose: To monitor activity Collects data and displays pop-ups Legal Not Detectable with Virus Checker Age: Relatively New (< 5 Years)

Trojan Horses
Malicious Any network connection required Receives incoming connection Purpose: To control activity Unauthorized access and control Illegal Detectable with Virus Checker Age: Relatively Old ( > 20 Years)

Memory Resident Processes Surreptitiously installed without users consent or understanding Creates a security vulnerability

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Spyware

Image Source The Gator Corporation http://www.gator.com

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Software Examples
GAIN / Gator Gator E-Wallet Kazzaa BonziBuddy MySearch Toolbar DownloadWare BrowserAid Dogpile Toolbar
Image Sources GAIN Logo The Gator Corporation http://www.gator.com BonziBuddy Logo Bonzi.com - http://images.bonzi.com/images/gorillatalk.gif DownloadWare Logo DownloadWare - http://www.downloadware.net

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Advantages
Precision Marketing
Relevant pop-ups are better than all of them! You may get some useful adverts!

Useful Software
DivX Pro, IMesh, KaZaA, Winamp Pro (Experienced) people understand what they are installing.

Enhanced Website Interaction

Targeted banner adverts Website customisation User Perspective - I

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Disadvantages
Browsing profiles created for users without consent
Used for target marketing and statistical analysis

Unable to remove Spyware programs or disable them Increased number of misleading / inappropriate pop-ups Invasion of user privacy (hidden from user) Often badly written programs corrupt user system Automatically provides unwanted helpful tools 20 million+ people have Spyware on their machines.
Source - Dec 02 GartnerG2 Report

User Perspective - II

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Example Pop-up
Misleading Pop-up

User Perspective - III

Image Source Browser Cleanser Directed pop-up from http://www.browsercleanser.com/

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Network Overview
Push Advertising Pull Tracking Personal data

Technical Analysis - I
Image Source Image derived and produced by; Andrew Brown, Tim Cocks and Kumutha Swampillai, February 2004.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Client-Side Operation

Technical Analysis - II

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Server-Side Operation
Server-side operation is relatively unknown. However, if I were to develop such a system, it would contain

Technical Analysis - III

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Spyware Defence
User Initiatives
Issue Awareness Use Legitimate S/W Sources Improved Technical Ability Choice of Browser Choice of OS Legal action taken against breaches of privacy Oct 02 Doubleclick

Technical Initiatives...
Spyware Removal Programs Pop-up Blockers Firewall Technology Disable ActiveX Controls Not Sandboxed E-Mail Filters Download Patches

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

GAIN Case Study

Installed IMesh, which includes Gator Installation We accessed multiple internet sites We simultaneously analyzed network traffic (using IRIS) We found the packets of data being sent to GAIN Packets were encrypted and we could not decrypt them

See Example ->

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Image Source Screenshot of IRIS v3.7 Network Analyser Professional Networks Ltd. See http://www.pnltools.com.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Spyware Removers
Ad-aware (by Lavasoft) http://www.lavasoft.de *Freeware* Reverse Engineer Spyware Scans Memory, Registry and Hard Drive for
Data Mining components Aggressive advertising components Tracking components

Free Updates from Lavasoft Plug-ins available

Extra file information Disable Windows Messenger Service

Image Source Screenshot of Ad-aware 6.0. LavaSoft. See http://www.lavasoft.com

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Spyware Removers
Spybot Search & Destroy http://www.spybot.info *Freeware* Reverse Engineer Spyware Scans Memory, Registry and Hard Drive for
Data Mining components Aggressive advertising components Tracking components

Free Updates from Spybot Use with caution!

This may be the best at removal but your system can suffer afterwards.
Image Source Screenshot of Spybot. See http://www.spybot.info

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Vulnerable Systems
Any with an internet connection! BROADBAND! Microsoft Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP Affects Open Source/Mac OSs less Non - fire-walled systems Internet Explorer, executes ActiveX plug-ins Other browsers affected less

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Tracking Cookies

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Cookies
A Cookie is a small text file sent to the user from a website.
Contains Website visited Provides client-side personalisation Supports easy Login

Cookies are controlled by

Websites Application Server Client-side Java Script

The website is effectively able to remember the user and their activity on previous visits. Spyware companies working with websites are able to use this relatively innocent technology to deliver targeted REAL TIME marketing, based on cookies and profiles.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Case Study - DoubleClick

Most regular web users will have a doubleclick.net cookie. Affiliated sites request the DoubleClick cookie on the users computer. The site then sends
Who you are All other information in your cookie file

In return for
All available marketing information on you - collected from other affiliated sites which the you have hit.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Case Study DoubleClick

Site targets banner adverts, e-mails and pop-ups to the user.

If the user visits an affiliated site without a DoubleClick cookie, then one is sent to the user. The whole process is opaque to the user and occurs without their consent.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Tracking Cookie Implementation

Protocol designed to only allow the domain who created a cookie to access it. IE has a number of security holes Up to IE 5, domain names specified incorrectly. Up to IE 6, able to fool IE into believing it is in another domain. Patches and IE 6 solved a number of problems Since then, tracking cookies are still proving a large problem, there are still a number of holes still open.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Tracking Cookie Implementation

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Tracking Cookie Defence

Replace tracking cookies with write protected zero length files of the same name. DoubleClick offer an opt-out cookie, which can be obtained from their website. Disable cookies
Makes many websites unusable

Delete cookies after session Spyware remover (Ad-aware) FireFox browser

Image Source Screenshot of DoubleClick OptOut Cookie displayed in Microsoft Notepad.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4tn November 2004

Trojan Horses

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Installation
Secretly installed when an infected executable is run
Much like a virus Executables typically come from P2P networks or unscrupulous websites

ActiveX controls on websites

ActiveX allows automatic installation of software from websites User probably does not know what they are running Misleading descriptions often given Not sandboxed! Digital signatures used, signing not necessary

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Installation
Certificate Authority Misleading Certificate Description Who is trusted?

Image Source Screenshot of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 security warning, prior to the installation of an ActiveX Control from Roings.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Effects
Allows remote access
To spy To disrupt To relay a malicious connection, so as to disguise the attackers location (spam, hacking) To access resources (i.e. bandwidth, files) To launch a DDoS attack

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Operation
Listen for connections Memory resident Start at boot-up Disguise presence Rootkits integrate with kernel Password Protected

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Example: Back Orifice

Back Orifice Produced by the Cult of the Dead Cow Win95/98 is vulnerable Toast of DefCon 6 Similar operation to NetBus Name similar to MS Product of the time

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

BO: Protocol
Modular authentication Modular encryption
AES and CAST-256 modules available

UDP or TCP Variable port

Avoids most firewalls

IP Notification via. ICQ

Dynamic IP addressing not a problem

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

BO: Protocol Example (1)

TROJAN

INFECTION OCCURS

Attacker
IP ADDRESS AND PORT ICQ SERVER IP ADDRESS AND PORT

Victim

CONNECTION

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

BO: Protocol Example (2)

COMMAND

COMMAND EXECUTED

Attacker
CONNECTION

Victim

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION INFORMATION

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

BO: Protocol Example (3)

CLEANUP COMMAND

EVIDENCE DESTROYED

Attacker

Victim

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Trojan Horse Examples

M$ Rootkit Integrates with the NT kernel Very dangerous Virtually undetectable once installed Hides from administrator as well as user Private TCP/IP stack (LAN only)

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Trojan Horse Examples

iSpyNOW Commercial Web-based client Assassin Trojan Custom builds may be purchased These are not found by virus scanners Firewall circumvention technology

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Trojan Horse Examples

Real World Dangers Keystroke loggers Circumvents banking and retail websites security because your username and password are transmitted in the clear.

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Trojan Horse Examples

Real World Dangers Remote Access Criminals are able to access your PC as if they were sitting at it.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Trojan Horse Examples

Real World Dangers Zombie Networks Hackers are selling access to zombie networks of 10,000+ PCs for about .10 each. They are often used to send Spam.

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Demonstration

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Vulnerable Systems
Number of trojans in common use

RELATIVELY SAFE

DANGEROUS

MacOS MacOS X

WinNT refers to Windows NT 4, 2000, XP and Server 2003. Win9x refers to Windows 95, 95SE, 98 and ME.
Information Source: McAfee Security - http://us.mcafee.com/

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

Ease of compromise

WinNT refers to Windows NT 4, 2000, XP and Server 2003. Win9x refers to Windows 95, 95SE, 98 and ME.
Information Source: McAfee Security - http://us.mcafee.com/

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

MacOS X Linux/Unix

Vulnerable Systems
RELATIVELY SAFE DANGEROUS

Conclusions

Linux/Unix WinNT

WinNT MacOS

Win 9x
4th November 2004

Win 9x
4th November 2004

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Security Implications
Short Term
Divulge personal data Backdoors into system System corruption Disruption / Irritation Aids identity theft Easy virus distribution Increased spam

Long Term
Mass data collection Consequences unknown Web becomes unusable Web cons outweigh pros Cost of preventions More development work More IP addresses (IPv6)

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Solutions
Short Term
Firewall Virus Checker Spyware Remover Frequent OS updates Frequent back-up Learning problems

Long Term
Add Spyware to Anti-Virus Automatic maintenance Legislation Education on problems Biometric access Semantic web (and search)

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Firewalls
3 Types
Packet Filtering Examines attributes of packet.

Network / Internet

Application Layer Hides the network by impersonating the server (proxy). Stateful Inspection Examines both the state and context of the packets.

Regardless of type; must be configured to work properly. Access rules must be defined and entered into firewall.

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Firewalls
http - tcp 80

Network / Internet

http - tcp 80 telnet - tcp 23 ftp - tcp 21 Web Server Firewall Allow only http - tcp 80

Packet Filtering

192.168.0.10 : 1020

202.52.222.10: 80 202.52.222.10: 80 Firewall

Stateful Inspection

192.168.0.10 : 1020 PC

Only allow reply packets for requests made out Block other unregistered traffic

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Software Firewall
Kerio PersonalFirewall http://www.kerio.com *Freeware* Stateful Packet Inspection Scans applications and data Inbound and Outbound!
Spyware connections outbound would be flagged.

Free Updates from Kerio Easily trained

ZoneAlarm

Image Source Screenshot of Kerio PersonalFirewall. See http://www.kerio.com

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Intrusion Detection Systems

Network

Server

Switch

Firewall

IDS

Server

Intrusion Detection A Commercial Network Solution An Intelligent Firewall monitors accesses for suspicious activity Neural Networks trained by Backpropagation on Usage Data Could detect Trojan Horse attack, but not designed for Spyware

PC

Put the IDS in front of the firewall to get maximum detection In a switched network, put IDS on a mirrored port to get all traffic. Ensure all network traffic passes through the IDS host.

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Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

System X
Composed of

Network / Internet / Standalone

Clean, fully patched Operating System (OS) Firefox / Opera / Lynx (!) Browser (Not IE) Stateful Inspection Firewall http://www.kerio.com Anti-Virus Software such as Norton AV or AVG Careful user scrutiny of pop-ups and email Beware free utilities and especially filesharing apps Regular patches (possibly automatically)

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Questions

Spyware and Trojan Horses Computer Security Seminar

4th November 2004

Bibliography / Links
[1] "Spyware" Definition - BlackICE Internet Security Systems - http://blackice.iss.net/glossary.php [2] "Trojan Horse" Definition Texas State Library and Archives Commission - http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/compsecurity/glossary.html [3] Zeinalipour-Yazti, D. Exploiting the Security Weaknesses of the Gnutella Protocol, University of California. [4] Joshi, R. Network Security Applications, Merchantile Communications, CANIT Conference 2003. [5] CERT Advisory CA-1999-02 http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-1999-02.html [6] Spyware Guide http://www.spyware-guide.com [7] Trojan Horses - http://www.mpsmits.com/highlights/trojan_horses.shtml [8] Trojan Horse - Back Orifice - http://www.nwinternet.com/~pchelp/bo/bo.html [9] NetBus - http://www.nwinternet.com/~pchelp/nb/netbus.htm [10] BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3153229.stm [11] Wired News Judge takes bite out of Gator www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,53875,00.html [12] Tracking Cookies Demonstration at http://www.irt.org/instant/chapter10/tracker/index4.htm [13] BonziBuddy - http://www.bonzi.com/bonzibuddy/bonzibuddyfreehom.asp [14] Unwanted Links (Spyware) http://www.unwantedlinks.com [15] Andersen, R. "Security Engineering", First Edition, J. Wiley and Sons, 2001. [16] Scacchi, W. Privacy and Other Social Issues, Addison-Wesley, 2003. http://www.ics.uci.edu/~wscacchi/Tech-EC/Security+Privacy/Privacy.ppt [17] Kerio Personal Firewall http://www.kerio.com

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