Strider

Strider, also known as ProjectSauron, is a threat actor that has been active since at least October 2011. This group represents one of the most advanced cyberespionage actors in the cybersecurity landscape, comparable to other high-profile groups like Equation, Regin, Duqu, and Careto. Strider demonstrates technical competency by creating custom malware tools, such as the modular Remsec malware, which allows them to operate under the radar, making their activities harder to detect. Their use of Lua modules, a technique previously used by another threat group, Flamer, suggests possible links between these entities. The group's activities came into sharper focus following a report from Strider Technologies, which exposed how Chinese scientists managed to obtain valuable R&D data from Los Alamos, home to the U.S. government’s state-of-the-art laboratories. Strider has shown a highly selective approach in choosing its targets, with evidence of infections found in only 36 computers across seven organizations. The group primarily targets regions including China, Russia, and Europe, demonstrating a broad geographical scope for its operations. Symantec, a leading cybersecurity company, has been actively analyzing Strider's activities and continues to search for more Remsec modules and targets to enhance their understanding of the group and improve customer protection. One notable discovery is that one of Strider's targets had previously been infected by Regin, another sophisticated threat actor. This ongoing research and analysis are crucial in combating Strider's stealthy and technically proficient cyberespionage activities.