Industry Insights: Evaluating the Ripple Effects of Qakbot Botnet Disruption

Malware & Threats Industry Reactions to Qakbot Botnet Disruption: Feedback Friday

Overview

US authorities recently announced the successful disruption of the Qakbot botnet, a notorious malware that infected at least 700,000 systems worldwide. The operation, called ‘Duck Hunt,’ involved taking over the Qakbot infrastructure and distributing a utility to remove the malware. Industry professionals have provided their feedback on the takedown attempt, discussing its implications and the continuing threat from Qakbot.

The Views of Industry Professionals

Ricardo Villadiego, CEO of Lumu, praises the takedown of Qakbot and emphasizes the importance of law enforcement efforts. However, he also warns that Qakbot may continue to pose a threat, as its code is highly customizable and could have been sold to other threat actors. Villadiego believes that organizations should remain vigilant and not let their guard down despite the FBI’s statement.

John A. Smith, CEO of Conversant Group, highlights the need for organizations to improve their defenses against malware like Qakbot. He suggests that compromised systems likely had weak email, endpoint, and perimeter defenses, indicating a lack of IT controls. Smith argues that there is a shared responsibility between bad actors and IT teams to protect against such threats.

Travis Smith, Vice President of the Threat Research Unit at Qualys, applauds the takedown of Qakbot as a major victory for the industry. However, he also warns that threat actors’ skills are still in demand and they may move to new infrastructure or integrate with other malware ecosystems. Smith urges organizations to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to reduce their risk.

John Fokker, Head of Threat Intelligence at Trellix, celebrates the successful disruption of Qakbot and highlights the dedication and collaboration required to combat cybercrime. Fokker mentions the increase in takedowns and arrests as evidence that cybercriminals are being targeted, and he predicts that additional takedowns are imminent.

Dave Ratner, CEO of HYAS, commends the FBI for taking control of the Qakbot command-and-control infrastructure. However, he expresses concern that without any arrests, the criminals may set up new infrastructure in the near future. Ratner emphasizes the importance of organizations having immediate visibility into anomalous network traffic to detect and mitigate threats before they impact operational resiliency.

Austin Berglas, Global Head of Professional Services at BlueVoyant and former FBI Cyber Division Special Agent, praises the complete dismantlement of the Qakbot operation’s infrastructure and the coordination of a global operation with international partners. He mentions previous successful remote operations conducted by the FBI against international criminal groups and emphasizes the role of law enforcement in protecting victims.

Ken Westin, Field CISO at Panther Labs, finds it interesting that the FBI deployed measures that resemble what is often referred to as “hacking back.” He acknowledges the potential risks of executing commands on remote systems but argues that in this case, the risk was likely minimal due to the threat posed by Qakbot. Westin discusses the legal considerations of such activities and the potential future implications for privacy and system health.

Max Gannon, Senior Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst at Cofense, believes that while the takedown protected a significant number of victims, the lack of arrests may not lead to the complete end of the threat. Gannon suggests that the threat actors behind Qakbot may either take a long time to return or pivot to other existing botnet projects.

Editorial and Advice

The takedown of the Qakbot botnet is undoubtedly a significant achievement in the ongoing fight against cybercrime. It highlights the success of law enforcement agencies in disrupting major threats and protecting victims. However, industry professionals emphasize that the battle against malware and threat actors is an ongoing and complex one.

It is crucial for organizations to have robust cybersecurity measures in place to protect against threats like Qakbot. This includes implementing strong email, endpoint, and perimeter defenses and regularly updating and patching systems. Organizations should also prioritize proactive threat detection and response strategies to identify and mitigate any potential breaches or infections.

The Qakbot takedown serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility between law enforcement, industry professionals, and individuals in combating cybercrime. Collaboration and information sharing are key to stay one step ahead of threat actors.

At the same time, the actions taken by law enforcement, such as remotely deploying scripts to uninstall malware, raise ethical and legal questions. While there are clear benefits in disrupting cyber threats, these actions must be carefully considered and should have strict oversight to prevent potential abuses and unintended consequences.

Ultimately, the fight against malware and cyber threats requires a multifaceted approach that combines technological advancements, industry collaboration, governmental support, and individual cyber hygiene. It is essential to remain vigilant and adaptive as threat actors continually evolve their tactics and create new challenges.