"APT33 Has Used Botnets to Infect Targets in the U.S. and Middle East, Researchers Say"
According to security researchers at Trend Micro, an Iranian government-linked hacking group, dubbed APT33, has been using botnets to infect organizations in the Middle East, the U.S. and Asia. The targets of APT33 include oil exploration companies, military hospitals, universities, and a U.S. national security firm. Each botnet used by APT33 to distribute malware and maintain ongoing access on a targeted network only consists of a dozen computers. APT33 has also been discovered to be using their own virtual private network to access sites belonging to penetration-testing firms and sites in relation to cryptocurrency. Further research has revealed that the group is also interested in websites that help recruit employees in the oil and gas industry. This article continues to discuss findings surrounding APT33 in relation to the group's operations, targets, and motives.