Botnets and Cybersecurity

  1. Botnet Architecture and Lifecycle
    1. Botnet Lifecycle Overview
      1. Four Primary Stages
        1. Continuous Cycle Nature
          1. Feedback Loops
          2. Stage 1: Initial Infection and Propagation
            1. Primary Infection Vectors
              1. Email-based Attacks
                1. Phishing Campaigns
                  1. Spear Phishing
                    1. Malicious Attachments
                    2. Web-based Attacks
                      1. Exploit Kits
                        1. Drive-by Downloads
                          1. Malvertising
                            1. Watering Hole Attacks
                            2. Software Vulnerabilities
                              1. Operating System Exploits
                                1. Application Vulnerabilities
                                  1. Zero-day Exploits
                                    1. Unpatched Systems
                                    2. Credential-based Attacks
                                      1. Brute Force Attacks
                                        1. Dictionary Attacks
                                          1. Credential Stuffing
                                            1. Password Spraying
                                            2. Physical Media
                                              1. USB Drives
                                                1. Removable Storage
                                                  1. Air-gapped System Infiltration
                                                2. Propagation Mechanisms
                                                  1. Self-replication
                                                    1. Network Scanning
                                                      1. Lateral Movement
                                                        1. Manual Distribution
                                                          1. Supply Chain Attacks
                                                        2. Stage 2: Command and Control Establishment
                                                          1. Initial C2 Connection
                                                            1. Outbound Communication
                                                              1. Firewall Evasion
                                                                1. NAT Traversal
                                                                  1. Proxy Detection
                                                                  2. Bot Registration Process
                                                                    1. Unique Identification
                                                                      1. System Information Gathering
                                                                        1. Capability Assessment
                                                                          1. Geographic Location
                                                                          2. Command Reception Framework
                                                                            1. Polling Mechanisms
                                                                              1. Push Notifications
                                                                                1. Encrypted Communications
                                                                                  1. Protocol Switching
                                                                                2. Stage 3: Malicious Activity Execution
                                                                                  1. Command Processing
                                                                                    1. Command Parsing
                                                                                      1. Validation Mechanisms
                                                                                        1. Error Handling
                                                                                          1. Execution Scheduling
                                                                                          2. Payload Deployment
                                                                                            1. Module Loading
                                                                                              1. Resource Allocation
                                                                                                1. Concurrent Operations
                                                                                                  1. Performance Monitoring
                                                                                                  2. Result Reporting
                                                                                                    1. Status Updates
                                                                                                      1. Data Exfiltration
                                                                                                        1. Error Reporting
                                                                                                          1. Success Metrics
                                                                                                        2. Stage 4: Maintenance and Evolution
                                                                                                          1. Software Updates
                                                                                                            1. Core Module Updates
                                                                                                              1. New Feature Deployment
                                                                                                                1. Security Patches
                                                                                                                  1. Configuration Changes
                                                                                                                  2. Infrastructure Adaptation
                                                                                                                    1. C2 Server Migration
                                                                                                                      1. Domain Rotation
                                                                                                                        1. Protocol Changes
                                                                                                                          1. Backup Activation
                                                                                                                          2. Evasion Enhancement
                                                                                                                            1. Anti-detection Updates
                                                                                                                              1. Behavioral Modifications
                                                                                                                                1. Signature Avoidance
                                                                                                                                  1. Analysis Resistance

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                                                                                                                              1. Fundamentals of Botnets and Cybersecurity

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                                                                                                                              3. Command and Control Architectures