Skynet

Posted: December 13, 2012

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	9/10
Infected PCs:	5

First Seen:	December 13, 2012
Last Seen:	June 13, 2020
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Derived from the infamous Zeus banking Trojan, Skynet is a botnet that includes all of the capabilities of Zeus along with other functions, such as Tor-based C&C server anonymity and a Bitcoin mining component. Although Skynet is a recent PC threat, Skynet already has infected an estimate of over ten thousand PCs, all of which are recruited to its botnet for conducting additional attacks. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend that you use anti-malware products of the highest degree of competency to remove Skynet, which is a sophisticated Trojan that doesn't display symptoms while Skynet conducts attacks against bank accounts and other sensitive targets.

The Foul Weather Under Skynet's Cyber Sky

As a variant of Zeus, Skynet is just as dangerous as that banking/backdoor Trojan and even adds its own extra features into the mix. Skynet, which reportedly may have a botnet consisting of up to fifteen thousand infected computers, attacks Windows PCs and uses code injection attacks to hide itself in the memory process of normal Windows applications.

SpywareRemove.com malware experts also raised their eyebrows at some of Skynet's automated behavior, including its ability to disable its Bitcoin-mining functions whenever the PC is in use. This prevents PC users from noticing system dysfunctions from Skynet's usage of RAM and other resources. Even Skynet's file names use the names of Windows files (related to svchost.exe or the Internet Explorer browser) as part of its disguise.

However, just like Zeus, Skynet's main threat lies in its ability to compromise bank accounts. SpywareRemove.com malware research team noted that Skynet's Zeus component is capable of the same man-in-the-browser attacks as Zeus, including stealing confidential bank account data and even making requests for additional information (by disguising the requests as notifications from your bank's website). After clearing up any Skynet infection, you should strongly consider changing any passwords linked to financial institutions that may have been stolen. Similarly, unusual transactions from your bank account should be monitored closely.

Setting Up an Umbrella that Skynet's Digital Gloom Can't Pierce

Besides the above risks, Skynet also is capable of launching DDoS attacks and exploiting security vulnerabilities to allow criminals to make other attacks against your PC, itself. Although the real Skynet isn't capable of launching robotic apocalypses a la the fictitious Skynet of Terminator movie fame, SpywareRemove.com malware experts suggest that you treat Skynet as a high-level threat to be removed ASAP.

Skynet can be detected and removed by appropriate anti-malware programs, although they may need to be updated to detect all of Skynet's components. As a Trojan that does possess some degree of anti-virus defenses, Skynet also should be disabled via Safe Mode or other tactics before you begin an anti-malware scan to delete Skynet for good.

Skynet

Threat Metric

The Foul Weather Under Skynet's Cyber Sky

Setting Up an Umbrella that Skynet's Digital Gloom Can't Pierce

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