DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Nitro hack steals R&D and defense secrets

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Lee J

Hackers used email scams distributing a notorious malware tool to steal research & development secrets from chemical manufacturers, defense companies and other targets in a huge industrial espionage attack dubbed Nitro, it has been revealed. Poison Ivy, a Windows-based trojan which allows covert remote access to infected PCs, was distributed among firms between April and September this year, according to a new paper [pdf link] from security firm Symantec, with 29 chemical sector companies and a further 19 – primarily in defense – in other sectors targeted. Although a full list of the originally targeted companies has not been revealed – though it is believed to be more than the 48 impacted – the victims include Fortune 100 firms working on chemical research, those involved in the development and production of materials used in military vehicles, and manufacturing infrastructure specialists. In short, it seems the hackers were looking for a shortcut into the latest tiers of chemical compound development.

“This attack campaign focused on the chemical sector with the goal of obtaining sensitive documents such as proprietary designs, formulas, and manufacturing processes” Symantec

Staff at the companies were targeted with emails suggesting they needed to update Flash, their anti-virus software or other services; in fact, they were loading Poison Ivy onto their computers. The malware quietly opens a network port and waits for contact from a command server which, in this case, Symantec says was located in the US but run by a Chinese hacker. It’s possible, the security firm suggests, that the hacker is in fact working with a group or is a decoy to mask the real identity of those behind the attack. Infected companies are spread across the globe, with the majority in the US, Bangladesh and the UK.

No related posts.

Category: Breach Incidents

Post navigation

← Cybrix Group Wages Battle For Security In Neutral Switzerland
dump of steam accounts →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure
  • Kentfield Hospital victim of cyberattack by World Leaks, patient data involved
  • India’s Max Financial says hacker accessed customer data from its insurance unit
  • Brazil’s central bank service provider hacked, $140M stolen
  • Iranian and Pro-Regime Cyberattacks Against Americans (2011-Present)

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations
  • Record-Breaking $1.55M CCPA Settlement Against Health Information Website Publisher
  • Ninth Circuit Reviews Website Tracking Class Actions and the Reach of California’s Privacy Law
  • US healthcare offshoring: Navigating patient data privacy laws and regulations
  • Data breach reveals Catwatchful ‘stalkerware’ is spying on thousands of phones
  • Google Trackers: What You Can Actually Escape And What You Can’t

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.