# Tick: threat group profile

> Tick is an espionage group thought to operate from China, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited. This free profile brings together what is known about it, 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/tick
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.edgeprotect.io/) > [Threat groups](https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors) > Tick

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Countries and victims named | 4 |
| Thought to operate from | China |
| Suspected backing | China |
| Motive | Espionage |
| Other names | 7 |
| Public reports | 13 |

## Who is Tick?

Tick is an espionage group thought to operate from China, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Also known as

Nian, BRONZE BUTLER, REDBALDKNIGHT, STALKER PANDA, G0060, Stalker Taurus, PLA Unit 61419

Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.

### What public reporting says

> Tick is a cyber espionage group with likely Chinese origins that has been active since at least 2008. The group appears to have close ties to the Chinese National University of Defense and Technology, which is possibly linked to the PLA. This threat actor targets organizations in the critical infrastructure, heavy industry, manufacturing, and international relations sectors for espionage purposes.  The attacks appear to be centered on political, media, and engineering sectors. STALKER PANDA has been observed conducting targeted attacks against Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States.

## Who does Tick go after?

**Sectors:** Private sector

**Countries and victims named:** Japan, China, Korea (Republic of), Russian Federation

See threats by industry: https://www.edgeprotect.io/industries

## Public reports about Tick

- https://wikileaks.org/vault7/document/2015-08-20150814-256-CSIR-15005-Stalker-Panda/2015-08-20150814-256-CSIR-15005-Stalker-Panda.pdf
- https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/tick-cyberespionage-group-zeros-japan
- https://www.secureworks.jp/resources/rp-bronze-butler
- https://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2017/07/unit42-tick-group-continues-attacks/
- http://blog.jpcert.or.jp/2017/08/detecting-datper-malware-from-proxy-logs.html
- https://www.cfr.org/interactive/cyber-operations/bronze-butler
- https://www.secureworks.com/research/bronze-butler-targets-japanese-businesses
- https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/redbaldknight-bronze-butler-daserf-backdoor-now-using-steganography/
- https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0060/
- https://www.secureworks.com/research/threat-profiles/bronze-butler
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/atoms/stalkertaurus/
- https://twitter.com/iiyonite/status/1384431491485155331
- https://www.welivesecurity.com/2021/03/10/exchange-servers-under-siege-10-apt-groups/

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is Tick?

Tick is an espionage group thought to operate from China, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Where is Tick thought to be based?

Public reporting places Tick as operating from China, with suspected state backing. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### Who does Tick target?

In public reporting, sectors named include private sector, and 4 countries and victims are named, including Japan, China, Korea (Republic of) and Russian Federation.

### How do I know if Tick 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

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