Type of Submission
Poster
Keywords
Computer, security, hacking, malware, virus, Apple, Macintosh, exploit, trudy, alice
Abstract
Technology is a cornerstone of modern society. Unfortunately, it seems that every new piece of technology is accompanied by five computer-security breaches elsewhere. Most people associate hacks with Windows computers. This is a problem because Apple computers, and other non-Windows systems, are also extremely vulnerable to attacks and risk being compromised. Dolos is a piece of malware we developed intended to exploit the macOS Sierra operating system. It provides a framework for running exploits and comes built in with certain control and data exfiltration capabilities. Dolos also helps destroy the misconception of "the impenetrable Macintosh computer" by showing that Apple computers are also subject to cyber-attacks. The creation of malware like Dolos requires an in-depth knowledge of different security mechanisms and protocols to find the points at which they break. Being aware of those weaknesses allows for the creation of stronger and more resilient systems in the future. We created Dolos to evade anti-virus software by encrypting communication between the attacker and the victim as well as encrypting the malicious code on the victim machine. This allows us to understand the strategies malicious criminals might take so that we may counter their strategies. By designing malware, we are better able to provide security and we begin on the path towards a safer and better world through designing more secure computing systems.
Campus Venue
Stevens Student Center Lobby
Location
Cedarville, OH
Start Date
4-11-2018 11:00 AM
End Date
4-11-2018 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Malware for Macintosh
Cedarville, OH
Technology is a cornerstone of modern society. Unfortunately, it seems that every new piece of technology is accompanied by five computer-security breaches elsewhere. Most people associate hacks with Windows computers. This is a problem because Apple computers, and other non-Windows systems, are also extremely vulnerable to attacks and risk being compromised. Dolos is a piece of malware we developed intended to exploit the macOS Sierra operating system. It provides a framework for running exploits and comes built in with certain control and data exfiltration capabilities. Dolos also helps destroy the misconception of "the impenetrable Macintosh computer" by showing that Apple computers are also subject to cyber-attacks. The creation of malware like Dolos requires an in-depth knowledge of different security mechanisms and protocols to find the points at which they break. Being aware of those weaknesses allows for the creation of stronger and more resilient systems in the future. We created Dolos to evade anti-virus software by encrypting communication between the attacker and the victim as well as encrypting the malicious code on the victim machine. This allows us to understand the strategies malicious criminals might take so that we may counter their strategies. By designing malware, we are better able to provide security and we begin on the path towards a safer and better world through designing more secure computing systems.
