Python for Cybersecurity

CHAPTER 10Collecting Intelligence

Data collection is an essential component of many types of cyberattack campaigns. It is the primary goal in data breaches, essential for targeting ransomware attacks, and can help enable spear phishing and account takeover attacks.

The MITRE ATT&CK framework covers the various ways to collect useful intelligence in its Collection tactic. Figure 10.1 shows this tactic's 17 techniques.

Figure 10.1: MITRE ATT&CK: Collection

These techniques cover two aspects of intelligence collection: methods for collecting the data and processes for automating collection or preparing for data exfiltration. This chapter focuses on two techniques from this first category: Clipboard Data and Email Collection.

The code sample archive for this chapter can be found at https://www.wiley.com/go/pythonforcybersecurity and contains the following sample code files:

• ModifyClipboard.py
• MonitorClipboard.py
• LocalEmailFiles.py
• FindEmailArchives.py

Clipboard Data

For many people, the system clipboard is vital to their use of a computer. The ability to copy data from one location and paste it to another increases efficiency and can help to limit the errors caused by typos.

As a result, the system clipboard commonly carries sensitive information. By monitoring the clipboard, an attacker can identify valuable data on a computer without searching through the entire file system. ...