VPNFilter Malware Analysis on Cyber Threat in Smart Home Network

• Main Authors: Jose Costa Sapalo Sicato, Pradip Kumar Sharma, Vincenzo Loia, Jong Hyuk Park
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: smart home; cyber-physical system; malware; VPNfilter; security
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/13/2763

Recently, the development of smart home technologies has played a crucial role in enhancing several real-life smart applications. They help improve the quality of life through systems designed to enhance convenience, comfort, entertainment, health of the householders, and security. Note, however, that malware attacks on smart home devices are increasing in frequency and volume. As people seek to improve and optimize comfort in their home and minimize their daily home responsibilities at the same time, this makes them attractive targets for a malware attack. Thus, attacks on smart home-based devices have emerged. The goals of this paper are to analyze the different aspects of cyber-physical threats on the smart home from a security perspective, discuss the types of attacks including advanced cyber-attacks and cyber-physical system attacks, and evaluate the impact on a smart home system in daily life. We have come up with a taxonomy focusing on cyber threat attacks that can also have potential impact on a smart home system and identify some key issues about VPNFilter malware that constitutes large-scale Internet of Things (IoT)-based botnet malware infection. We also discuss the defense mechanism against this threat and mention the most infected routers. The specific objective of this paper is to provide efficient task management and knowledge related to VPNFilter malware attack.