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Ransomware attacks don’t just encrypt your primary data—attackers systematically hunt for and destroy backups to maximize leverage. Understanding their tactics and hardening your backup strategy is critical for recovery.
You Should Know:
1. How Attackers Find Backups
- Network Scanning: Tools like `nmap` identify NAS/SAN devices:
nmap -p 445,2049,22 <your_network_range> --open
- Cloud Storage Discovery: Attackers check for mounted cloud drives (AWS S3, Azure Blob):
aws s3 ls For compromised AWS credentials
- Shadow Copy Deletion: Windows Volume Shadow Copy is a prime target:
vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet Attacker command
2. Immutable Backups: The Gold Standard
- Linux (Using
chattr):sudo chattr +i /backup/critical_files.tar.gz Makes file immutable
- AWS S3 Object Lock:
aws s3api put-object-lock-configuration --bucket my-bucket --object-lock-configuration '{"ObjectLockEnabled":"Enabled"}'
3. Air-Gapped Backups
- Manual Disconnect Script (Linux):
sudo ifconfig eth0 down Disconnects NIC
- Physical Tape Drives:
mt -f /dev/st0 rewind Rewind tape for storage
4. Detecting Backup Tampering
- File Integrity Monitoring (FIM):
sudo apt install aide aide --init && mv /var/lib/aide/aide.db.new /var/lib/aide/aide.db aide --check Run periodically
- Windows Event Log Monitoring:
Get-WinEvent -LogName Security | Where-Object {$<em>.ID -eq 4663 -and $</em>.Message -like "backup"}
5. Recovery Drills
- Test Restores (Linux):
tar -xvzf /backup/critical_files.tar.gz -C /tmp/restore_test
- Windows BCDRebuild:
bootrec /rebuildbcd After bare-metal recovery
What Undercode Say
Ransomware evolves to exploit backup weaknesses. Combine immutable storage, offline copies, and rigorous monitoring. Use `rsync` with `–backup-dir` for versioned backups, enforce `iptables` rules to restrict backup server access, and automate alerts on suspicious `vssadmin` or `wbadmin` usage. Remember: If attackers can’t delete your backups, their leverage vanishes.
Expected Output:
Backup protection checklist: 1. Immutable backups configured (Linux/Windows/Cloud) 2. Air-gapped copies tested weekly 3. FIM alerts for backup directory changes 4. Recovery drills performed monthly 5. Backup servers isolated from main network
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References:
Reported By: Claude Marcel – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
