{
  "family": "vbkeylog",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "advanced_threat",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nVBKeylog is a broad classification for a family of keyloggers developed using Microsoft's Visual Basic (VB) programming language. These tools are designed for covert surveillance, capturing user keystrokes to steal sensitive information such as login credentials, personal communications, and financial data.\n\n<h3>Technical Characteristics and Behavior</h3>\nDespite the underlying technology (Visual Basic) being relatively dated, VBKeylog variants remain prevalent due to their ease of development and modification by script kiddies and lower-tier threat actors. They are frequently distributed via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, malicious software cracks, and disguised email attachments.\n\nOnce executed, a VBKeylog variant utilizes the Windows API (specifically `SetWindowsHookEx`) to intercept hardware interrupts generated by the keyboard. This allows the malware to record every keystroke before it reaches the intended application. The recorded data is typically stored in a hidden, encrypted local log file. To exfiltrate the stolen data, the keylogger frequently utilizes hardcoded SMTP credentials to email the log files back to the attacker, or it may upload the files via FTP to a compromised server. VBKeylog variants often lack sophisticated evasion techniques but achieve persistence by adding themselves to the Windows Registry Run keys or the Startup folder.\n\n<h3>Risk Assessment</h3>\nThe primary risk of a VBKeylog infection is the complete compromise of user authentication credentials. Because the keystrokes are captured locally, this threat bypasses network-based encryption (like HTTPS), exposing passwords to everything from corporate VPNs to personal banking portals.\n\n<h3>Remediation and Eradication</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP):</strong> Ensure EPP solutions are configured with heuristic analysis, as many VBKeylog variants are custom-compiled and may evade static signature detection.</li>\n<li><strong>Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):</strong> Mandate MFA for all critical systems and services. While a keylogger captures the password, it cannot replicate the secondary hardware or time-based token required by MFA.</li>\n<li><strong>System Remediation:</strong> Boot the infected machine into Safe Mode, remove unauthorized entries from `HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run`, and delete the offending executable.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Keylogger.VB",
    "TrojanSpy.VBKeylog",
    "VB.Keylogger"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1056.001",
    "T1547.001",
    "T1048.003"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T16:03:45Z",
  "type": "Keylogger",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}