# BlackTech: threat group profile > BlackTech is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques. This free profile shows how it works, stage by stage, so you can judge the risk to you. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it. Canonical page: https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors/blacktech Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.edgeprotect.io/) > [Threat groups](https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors) > BlackTech ## At a glance | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Attack techniques | 10 (plus 10 sub-techniques) | | Thought to operate from | China | | Other names | 9 | | Public reports | 11 | ## Who is BlackTech? BlackTech is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques. ### Also known as CIRCUIT PANDA, Temp.Overboard, HUAPI, Palmerworm, G0098, T-APT-03, Manga Taurus, Red Djinn, Earth Hundun Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many. ### What public reporting says > BlackTech is a cyber espionage group operating against targets in East Asia, particularly Taiwan, and occasionally, Japan and Hong Kong. Based on the mutexes and domain names of some of their C&C servers, BlackTech’s campaigns are likely designed to steal their target’s technology. Following their activities and evolving tactics and techniques helped us uncover the proverbial red string of fate that connected three seemingly disparate campaigns: PLEAD, Shrouded Crossbow, and of late, Waterbear. PLEAD is an information theft campaign with a penchant for confidential documents. Active since 2012, it has so far targeted Taiwanese government agencies and private organizations. PLEAD’s toolset includes the self-named PLEAD backdoor and the DRIGO exfiltration tool. PLEAD uses spear-phishing emails to deliver and install their backdoor, either as an attachment or through links to cloud storage services. Some of the cloud storage accounts used to deliver PLEAD are also used as drop off points for exfiltrated documents stolen by DRIGO. PLEAD actors use a router scanner tool to scan for vulnerable routers, after which the attackers will enable the router’s VPN feature then register a machine as virtual server. This virtual server will be used either as a C&C server or an HTTP server that delivers PLEAD malware to their targets. ## How does BlackTech attack? Stage by stage Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 10 linked to BlackTech. Some techniques belong to more than one stage. Public reporting also lists 10 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques. ### 1. Research (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 2. Preparation (1) - T1588: Obtain Capabilities ### 3. Getting in (2) - T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application - T1566: Phishing ### 4. Running code (4) - T1106: Native API - T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution - T1204: User Execution - T1574: Hijack Execution Flow ### 5. Staying in (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 6. Taking control (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 7. Hiding (2) - T1036: Masquerading - T1574: Hijack Execution Flow ### 8. Disabling defences (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 9. Stealing passwords (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 10. Looking around (1) - T1046: Network Service Discovery ### 11. Spreading (1) - T1021: Remote Services ### 12. Gathering data (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 13. Keeping contact (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 14. Taking data out (0) - None linked in public reporting. ### 15. Causing damage (0) - None linked in public reporting. ## Public reports about BlackTech - https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/following-trail-blacktech-cyber-espionage-campaigns/ - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2018/07/09/certificates-stolen-taiwanese-tech-companies-plead-malware-campaign/ - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/05/14/plead-malware-mitm-asus-webstorage/ - https://go.crowdstrike.com/rs/281-OBQ-266/images/Report2020CrowdStrikeGlobalThreatReport.pdf - https://www.slideshare.net/codeblue_jp/cb19-cyber-threat-landscape-in-japan-revealing-threat-in-the-shadow-by-chi-en-shen-ashley-oleg-bondarenko - https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/palmerworm-blacktech-espionage-apt - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/atoms/mangataurus/ - https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/cybersecurity/cyber-threat-intelligence/cyber-year-in-retrospect/yir-cyber-threats-report-download.pdf - https://www.pwc.co.uk/cyber-security/pdf/pwc-cyber-threats-2020-a-year-in-retrospect.pdf - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/24/d/earth-hundun-waterbear-deuterbear.html - https://blogs.jpcert.or.jp/en/2022/03/jsac2022report1.html ## Frequently asked questions ### Who is BlackTech? BlackTech is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques. ### Where is BlackTech thought to be based? Public reporting places BlackTech as operating from China. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen. ### How does BlackTech attack? Public reporting links BlackTech to 10 attack techniques. Most of them are about running code, getting in and hiding. ### How do I know if BlackTech is a risk to my business? Create an account and tell us the software you run. We match it against known flaws, including those linked to threat groups, rank each one from 0 to 100 and tell you as soon as we spot something that affects you. ## Check whether it matters to your business A free EdgeProtect account (no card needed) matches the software you run against known flaws, including those linked to threat groups, ranks each one from 0 to 100 and tells you as soon as we spot something that affects you. It also shows which threat groups and ransomware gangs are hitting your sector, with profiles of over 900 groups and a PDF dossier for each. - Start free: https://www.edgeprotect.io/register - Book a demo: https://www.edgeprotect.io/contact