# SideCopy: threat group profile

> SideCopy is a threat group thought to operate from Pakistan. Public reporting links it to 15 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/sidecopy
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.edgeprotect.io/) > [Threat groups](https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors) > SideCopy

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 15 (plus 10 sub-techniques) |
| Thought to operate from | Pakistan |
| Other names | 0 |
| Public reports | 6 |

## Who is SideCopy?

SideCopy is a threat group thought to operate from Pakistan. Public reporting links it to 15 attack techniques.

### What public reporting says

> The SideCopy APT is a Pakistani threat actor that has been operating since at least 2019, mainly targeting South Asian countries and more specifically India and Afghanistan. Its name comes from its infection chain that tries to mimic that of the SideWinder APT. It has been reported that this actor has similarities with Transparent Tribe (APT36) and possibly is a subdivision of this actor. Cisco Talos and Seqrite have provided comprehensive reports on this actor’s activities.

## How does SideCopy attack? Stage by stage

Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 15 linked to SideCopy. Some techniques belong to more than one stage. Public reporting also lists 10 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques.

### 1. Research (1)

- T1598: Phishing for Information

### 2. Preparation (2)

- T1584: Compromise Infrastructure
- T1608: Stage Capabilities

### 3. Getting in (1)

- T1566: Phishing

### 4. Running code (4)

- T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter
- T1106: Native API
- 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 (3)

- T1036: Masquerading
- T1218: System Binary Proxy Execution
- 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 (4)

- T1016: System Network Configuration Discovery
- T1082: System Information Discovery
- T1518: Software Discovery
- T1614: System Location Discovery

### 11. Spreading (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 12. Gathering data (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 13. Keeping contact (1)

- T1105: Ingress Tool Transfer

### 14. Taking data out (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

### 15. Causing damage (0)

- None linked in public reporting.

## Public reports about SideCopy

- https://www.seqrite.com/blog/operation-sidecopy/
- https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-intelligence/2021/12/sidecopy-apt-connecting-lures-to-victims-payloads-to-infrastructure/
- https://www.telsy.com/sidecopy-apt-from-windows-to-nix/
- https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2021/07/sidecopy.html
- https://about.fb.com/news/2021/11/taking-action-against-hackers-in-pakistan-and-syria/
- https://sebdraven.medium.com/copy-cat-of-apt-sidewinder-1893059ca68d

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is SideCopy?

SideCopy is a threat group thought to operate from Pakistan. Public reporting links it to 15 attack techniques.

### Where is SideCopy thought to be based?

Public reporting places SideCopy as operating from Pakistan. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### How does SideCopy attack?

Public reporting links SideCopy to 15 attack techniques. Most of them are about running code, looking around and hiding.

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