The Smoke Loader botnet has been a persistent threat in the cybercrime landscape since its emergence in 2011. In 2025, it has evolved into a highly modular, evasive, and multi-purpose malware loader used to distribute ransomware, infostealers, and banking trojans.
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What is Smoke Loader Smoke Loader Botnet 2025?
Smoke Loader is a malware loader (also called a dropper) primarily used to:
- Deploy secondary payloads
- Establish persistence
- Evade detection
Key Features of Smoke Loader 2025
1. Advanced Anti-Detection Mechanisms
- Polymorphic & Metamorphic Code
- Process Hollowing
- VM/Sandbox Evasion
2. Modular & Customizable Payload Delivery
- Supports multiple payload types (EXE, DLL, PowerShell scripts).
- On-demand module loading (Only fetches necessary components from C2).
- Encrypted C2 Communication (HTTPS, custom protocols).
3. Persistence Techniques
- Registry Run Keys (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run).
- Scheduled Tasks (Mimics system updates).
- Windows Service Installation (Disguised as a legitimate service).
4. Exploit Delivery Methods
- Phishing Emails (Malicious attachments, fake invoices).
- Malvertising (Compromised ads leading to exploit kits).
- Drive-by Downloads (Watering hole attacks).
- Trojanized Software (Fake cracks, game mods).
5. Botnet Functionality
- DDoS Capabilities (Can be rented out for attacks).
- Proxy Network (Infected machines act as SOCKS5 proxies).
- Credential Harvesting (Keylogging, form grabbing).
