Privacy, Security & Virus Information

Operation Shady RAT Explained

So, you may have heard all about the notorious hacking scandal that McAfee has uncovered recently, but if you’re a little confused about what Operation Shady RAT is and want some further information, you’ve come to the right place! This article contains all you need to know about Operation Shady RAT, the latest in a series of high-profile Internet traumas.

RAT, in this sense, stands for Remote Access Tool – a programme or piece of software that allows users to access content on a system, network or computer remotely. As a result, Operation Shady RAT is exactly what it says on the tin – people hacking into databases and taking information via specialist software which allows them to access this privileged information, potentially from thousands of miles away.

Operation Shady RAT is quite a sophisticated example of hacking. A “spear-phishing” technique was used in order to get the culprits into the system in the first place. This means that a specific person inside the organisation was targeted by the hackers’ malware-carrying email, rather than sending the same, dodgy-looking email to everyone in the company (using a “trawling” technique). Spear-phishing is much more subtle than trawling, and hacking as a result of spear-phishing tends to go unnoticed for a lot longer. The use of this strategy suggests that the hackers already know a lot about the company or organisation they are hacking, as they know which person will have the best access to the information they desire, resulting in the right target being contacted.

Who has been targeted by Operation Shady RAT?

According to McAfee sources, over 70 separate bodies, companies and organisations have been affected by this hacking in the UK, US and across mainland Europe and Asia. The White House, one of the largest and most high-profile bodies involved in this scandal, has refused to name which US government agencies have been affected by the hacking in order to protect security and prevent any further loss of information. However, it is known that international organisations such as the UN and the International Olympics Committee have had their data compromised as a result of the hacking.

Who is responsible?

McAfee have not yet named a culprit for this online scandal. However, a great number of sources are pointing to a government because of the types of targets, the hacking techniques used and the information taken from the victims. Some sources are going as far as to place the blame on China, but government officials within the nation claim that this is ludicrous.

 

Article by Connor Sephton, 26th January 2012. Content correct at the date of publication.