'Darkhotel' Hack Targets Execs Using Hotel Internet Lucian Constantin - Computerworld
go to original November 11, 2014

Read the report (PDF)

For the past four years a group of sophisticated hackers has compromised the networks of luxury hotels to launch malware attacks against corporate executives and entrepreneurs traveling on business in the Asia-Pacific region.

The cyberespionage group, which researchers from Kaspersky Lab dubbed Darkhotel, operates by injecting malicious code into the Web portals used by hotel guests to log in to the local network and access the Internet, typically by inputting their last name and room number.

The infections are typically brief and are meant to target only specific guests by prompting them to download trojanized updates for popular software applications. The rogue software updates deploy malware implants that then download and install digitally-signed information-stealing programs.

"This group of attackers seems to know in advance when these individuals will arrive and depart from their high-end hotels," the Kaspersky Lab researchers said in a report released Monday. The attackers lie in wait until the travelers arrive and connect to the Internet, the researchers said.

After the victims check out of the hotel, the attackers disable the malicious code injected into the hotel's network portal and hide their tracks.

"Those portals are now reviewed, cleaned and undergoing a further review and hardening process," the Kaspersky researchers said.

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