The Danger Posed by Russia’s Highly Advanced Cyber Espionage Tool, ‘SNAKE’

By Vaskar Chakraborty Last updated May 14, 2023

Snake Cyber Espionage Tool | The Hackers Tool

The discovery of Snake, a highly advanced and sophisticated cyber espionage tool deployed by Russia’s Federal Security Service, has raised serious concerns among cybersecurity experts and government agencies around the world. The tool, which has been in operation for almost two decades, has been linked to various cyber attacks targeting government organizations, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure.

The American Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert about Snake, stating that it had infected a network of computers and was being used to steal sensitive data and spy on targets. The malware is known for its ability to evade detection by traditional anti-virus software and remains undetected in infected systems for long periods of time, making it difficult to detect and remove.

Snake is highly sophisticated and operates in stealth mode, making it one of the most dangerous cyber espionage tools currently in use. It has the ability to perform various malicious activities, such as stealing passwords, capturing screenshots, and recording keystrokes, enabling attackers to gain access to sensitive information and compromise target systems.

The discovery of Snake highlights the increasing sophistication and complexity of cyber threats facing individuals and organizations today. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, cybersecurity experts and government agencies must remain vigilant and adopt proactive measures to mitigate the risk of cyber attacks. This includes investing in advanced cybersecurity tools, implementing robust security protocols, and educating individuals and organizations about best practices to protect against cyber threats.

Today we released a joint advisory with our international partners on a sophisticated cyber espionage tool used by Russia to collect intelligence on sensitive targets. Read more in the Hunting Russian Intelligence “Snake” Malware advisory👉 https://t.co/B3ooXMQMVx https://t.co/a1dOmn4dHX

— Australian Cyber Security Centre (@CyberGovAU) May 9, 2023

According to CISA, the Snake implant is the “most sophisticated cyber espionage tool designed and used by Center 16 of Russia’s Federal Security Service for long-term intelligence collection on sensitive targets”.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) used an advanced malware strain known as Snake to penetrate a global network, which was disrupted by the U.S. government on Tuesday. The creation of Snake labeled the “most sophisticated cyber espionage tool,” is attributed by the United States government to a unit under Centre 16 of the FSB. Turla, also known as Iron Hunter, Secret Blizzard, SUMMIT, Uroburos, Venomous Bear, and Waterbug, is a Russian state-sponsored organization.

The threat actor has a history of concentrating heavily on organizations in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and nations that are members of NATO. Recent activity has seen the threat actor’s footprint expand to include Middle Eastern countries that are seen as a threat to countries that Russia supports in the region.