Department of Computer Science & Engineering

ZeroAccess is a large sophisticated botnet whose modular design allows new "modules" to be downloaded on demand. Typically each module corresponds to a particular scam used to monetize the platform. However, while the structure and behavior of the ZeroAccess platform is increasingly well-understood, the same cannot be said about the operation of these modules. In this report, we fill in some of these gaps by analyzing the "auto-clicking" and "search-hijacking" modules that drive most of ZeroAccess's revenue creation. Using a combination of code analysis and empirical measurement, we document the distinct command and control protocols used by each module, the infrastructure they use, and how they operate to defraud online advertisers

Pre-2018 CSE ID: CS2013-1003