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Hawkeye

Posted: December 24, 2023
from Cybersecurity Glossary
Aliases:
HAWKEYE, Predator Pain, Hawkeye Keylogger, iSpy
Aliases:
Platform:
Windows
Variants:
Hawkeye Reborn v9, HawkEye Keylogger, HawkEye Crypter, HawkEye Reborn v8, HawkEye Nuke, HawkEye Net Seal, HawkEye SQLite
Damage:
Stolen Sensitive Information (E.G., Passwords And Usernames), Financial Loss, Privacy Breaches, Unauthorized Access To Systems, Further Malware Distribution, Identity Theft, And Financial Fraud.
Risk Level:
High

Hawkeye stands as an advanced remote access trojan and keylogger specifically tailored for Windows-based systems. Its primary objective is to pilfer crucial information, encompassing bank details and login credentials. Employing diverse evasion techniques, including polymorphic code and operating system manipulation, Hawkeye strives to operate stealthily and avoid detection.

Possible symptoms

  • Unusual network activity, especially increased data transfer to external servers.
  • Unexpected system slowdowns or performance degradation.
  • Presence of unfamiliar processes or services in the task manager.
  • Anomalies in system logs or security event logs.
  • Unexplained modification of files, particularly those related to system or security settings.

Sources of the infection

  • Malicious email attachments or links, often delivered through phishing campaigns.
  • Drive-by downloads from compromised or malicious websites.
  • Exploitation of software vulnerabilities, especially outdated or unpatched software.
  • Infected removable media (USB drives, external hard disks) used on the compromised system.
  • Malicious file downloads from seemingly legitimate sources.
  • Compromised software installers or updates, especially from unofficial or unreliable sources.

Overview

Hawkeye, also known by aliases such as HAWKEYE, Predator Pain, Hawkeye Keylogger, and iSpy, is a highly sophisticated remote access trojan and keylogger designed specifically for Windows-based systems. With the primary goal of surreptitiously acquiring sensitive data, including credit card numbers and passwords, Hawkeye poses a significant threat to user privacy and security.

The trojan employs advanced evasion techniques such as polymorphic code and manipulation of the operating system to operate stealthily and avoid detection. Its variants, including Hawkeye Reborn v9, HawkEye Keylogger, HawkEye Crypter, and others, showcase its adaptability and continuous evolution to counter security measures.

The symptoms of a potential Hawkeye infection include unusual network activity, unexpected system slowdowns, unfamiliar processes in the task manager, anomalies in system logs, and unexplained modifications to critical files related to system or security settings.

Hawkeye typically spreads through malicious email attachments or links delivered via phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads from compromised websites, exploitation of software vulnerabilities, infected removable media, malicious file downloads from seemingly legitimate sources, and compromised software installers or updates.

If you suspect a Hawkeye infection, immediate isolation of the affected system is crucial to prevent further data exfiltration. Conduct a comprehensive scan using Gridinsoft Anti-Malware to detect and remove the trojan, analyze system logs to assess the extent of the compromise, and consider restoring affected systems from a clean backup.

Additionally, change all compromised passwords, monitor financial and sensitive accounts for unauthorized activity, and report the incident to your IT security team or a cybersecurity professional for further analysis and remediation.

To prevent Hawkeye infections, implement a robust cybersecurity strategy, including regular system updates and patch management to address vulnerabilities. Utilize Gridinsoft Anti-Malware with real-time scanning capabilities, educate users about phishing threats and social engineering tactics, employ network segmentation to limit lateral movement in case of a successful breach, and enable firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor and block suspicious network traffic.

Conducting regular security audits and penetration testing is essential to identify and address potential weaknesses in your system. Additionally, encourage the use of strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where possible.

🤔 What to do?

If you suspect a Hawkeye infection, immediately isolate the affected system from the network to prevent further data exfiltration. Perform a comprehensive scan using a Gridinsoft Anti-Malware to detect and remove the Trojan. Analyze system logs to identify the extent of the compromise and assess potential damage.

Consider restoring affected systems from a clean backup, as Hawkeye may have tampered with critical files. Change all compromised passwords and monitor financial and sensitive accounts for unauthorized activity. Report the incident to your IT security team or a cybersecurity professional for further analysis and remediation.

🛡️ Prevention

Implement a robust cybersecurity strategy, including regular system updates and patch management to address vulnerabilities. Use Gridinsoft Anti-Malware with real-time scanning capabilities and keep it up to date. Educate users about phishing threats and social engineering tactics, as Hawkeye often spreads through malicious email attachments or links.

Employ network segmentation to limit lateral movement in case of a successful breach. Enable firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor and block suspicious network traffic. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses in your system.

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