IP-based geolocation in cyberattacks is often misleading, as attackers routinely spoof, relay, or obfuscate their true origins. Here’s why:
- VPNs/Proxies: Attackers route traffic through VPNs (e.g., Russian/Swiss VPNs from a Lyon café) or Chinese proxies for French attacks.
- Compromised Servers: Botnets pivot through infected devices across 12+ countries.
- IoT Devices: Zombified smart gadgets (e.g., aquariums) mask the attacker’s location.
- IP Leasing: IPs can point to a Naples pizzeria while the hacker operates from Brest.
You Should Know: Practical Cyber Forensics
1. Tracing Suspicious IPs (Linux/Windows)
Check IP geolocation (Linux) curl ipinfo.io/<IP_ADDRESS> | jq JSON-formatted output whois <IP_ADDRESS> Registrar details Windows (PowerShell): Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "http://ipinfo.io/<IP_ADDRESS>/json" | ConvertTo-Json
2. Detect Proxy/VPN Traffic
Analyze traffic with tshark (Wireshark CLI): tshark -r capture.pcap -Y "http.request or tls.handshake" -T fields -e ip.src -e http.host
3. Simulate Attack Relays (ProxyChains)
Configure /etc/proxychains.conf: socks5 127.0.0.1 9050 Tor socks4 <COMPROMISED_IP> 4145 Attacker’s pivot Execute relayed commands: proxychains nmap -sT -Pn <TARGET_IP>
4. Investigate Malware C2 Servers
Extract IOC feeds (Linux): python3 -m threat_intel -i <MALWARE_HASH> --output json Windows (YARA scan): yara64 -r rules.yar C:\Malware\Sample.exe
5. Defensive Measures
Block VPN/proxy IP ranges (iptables):
iptables -A INPUT -s 1.1.1.1/24 -j DROP Example Cloudflare IP
Log suspicious SSH attempts:
grep "Failed password" /var/log/auth.log | awk '{print $11}' | sort | uniq -c
What Undercode Say
IP-based attribution is a flawed starting point. Combine:
- TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, Procedures): Match attack patterns (e.g., APT28’s use of Zebrocy malware).
- IOC Cross-Referencing: Correlate malware hashes, domain registrars, and C2 server timestamps.
- Network Forensics: Analyze packet capture (PCAP) for anomalies like TOR exit nodes or unusual DNS tunneling.
Expected Output:
A holistic threat report integrating:
– `IP + ASN` (Autonomous System Number)
– `Malware sandbox analysis` (VirusTotal, Hybrid-Analysis)
– `Historical threat actor TTPs` (MITRE ATT&CK Framework)
Prediction: As privacy tools (e.g., decentralized VPNs, Snowflake proxies) proliferate, IP-based attribution will become even less reliable, shifting focus to behavioral analysis and hardware fingerprinting.
(No Telegram/WhatsApp links or unrelated comments included.)
References:
Reported By: UgcPost 7323379365382189056 – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
