What is NanoCore Malware?
NanoCore is an example of a RAT, which is a type of malware designed to provide an attacker with access to and control over an infected machine. Like most RATs, NanoCore provides a wide range of capabilities, including:
- Screen capture
- Remote access
- Keylogging
- Password stealing
- Screen locking
- Data exfiltration
- Run backdoor commands
- Webcam session theft
- Cryptocurrency mining
NanoCore is one of the leading malware variants currently in operation. In fact, it was number ten in Check Point Research’s list of the top malware families.
How Does NanoCore Work?
Like many malware variants, spam and phishing emails is the primary way that the NanoCore RAT is spread. These emails will contain fake invoices, bank payment receipts, and similar malicious attachments.
Instead of a document or PDF, these files may be .img or .iso disk image files or specially formatted malicious ZIP files. All of these file types have the ability to store files. Once installed on a device, NanoCore establishes a connection with its command and control server and begins collecting and exfiltrating sensitive information from the infected computer. For example, the malware will steal and send login credentials cached by the user’s browser, email client, and similar software.
The malware also can deploy a range of other functions. For example, its keylogger can be used to collect additional passwords and other sensitive information entered into the computer. Alternatively, the cryptojacking malware can use the infected system’s processing power to mine cryptocurrency for the attacker’s benefit. NanoCore also enables the attacker to remotely control the infected computer, enabling them to perform a range of other functions manually and to deploy additional malware on the infected system.
Target Industries
The NanoCore RAT has been used in attacks targeting a wide range of industries. However, certain attack campaigns may be focused primarily on a particular industry. For example, past NanoCore campaigns have been mainly targeted toward healthcare, manufacturing, or other industry verticals. Since NanoCore is malware primarily delivered via phishing and spam emails, the pretext used may be focused on a particular industry. For example, fake invoices or requests for quotes may allegedly originate from a vendor within the target’s field.
How to Protect Against NanoCore Malware
NanoCore is a RAT that can cause significant harm to an organization and its users if their devices are infected. Some of the ways that an organization can protect itself against the NanoCore RAT include the following:
- Email Security: NanoCore is a malware variant primarily spread via malicious emails. Email security solutions that can identify suspicious email content or malicious attachments can prevent the malware from reaching an organization’s systems.
- Endpoint Security: NanoCore is a well-established malware variant that should be detectable and preventable by most cybersecurity solutions. Installing an endpoint security solution should enable an organization to block NanoCore before it is installed on corporate systems or begins stealing and exfiltrating sensitive data from them.
- Employee Education: NanoCore is a malware variant that spreads itself via social engineering in phishing emails. Employee cybersecurity awareness training can help users to identify these malicious emails and properly report them to the IT department so that it can take action regarding the potential infection.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): One of the main areas of focus for the NanoCore malware is stealing users’ login credentials for various services. Enforcing the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all corporate accounts can help to mitigate the impact of compromised credentials by making it necessary for the attacker to have access to the second factor to use the stolen credentials.
NanoCore Malware Detection and Protection with Check Point
NanoCore is a leading malware variant, often appearing as one of the top ten most common malware variants each month. Protecting against this and similar malware variants is an essential component of a corporate cybersecurity strategy.
However, NanoCore is also only one of many different cybersecurity challenges that companies face on a regular basis. To learn more about the current state of the cybersecurity threat landscape and the threats that an organization should be protecting itself against, check out Check Point’s 2023 Cyber Security Report.
Check Point Harmony Endpoint provides companies with the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to malware infections — such as NanoCore — on an enterprise scale. To learn more about how Check Point can help your organization eliminate the threat that NanoCore poses, sign up for a free demo of Harmony Endpoint today.
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