# AridViper: threat group profile

> AridViper is an espionage group thought to operate from Palestinian Territories, with suspected backing from Palestine. 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.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/aridviper
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/) > [Threat groups](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors) > AridViper

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Countries and victims named | 5 |
| Thought to operate from | Palestinian Territories |
| Suspected backing | Palestine |
| Motive | Espionage |
| Other names | 5 |
| Public reports | 11 |

## Who is AridViper?

AridViper is an espionage group thought to operate from Palestinian Territories, with suspected backing from Palestine. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Also known as

Desert Falcon, Arid Viper, APT-C-23, Bearded Barbie, Two-tailed Scorpion

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

### What public reporting says

> AridViper is a state-sponsored APT primarily targeting military personnel, journalists, and dissidents in the Middle East, with a focus on Israel and Palestine. The group employs custom-developed mobile malware, including variants like AridSpy, GnatSpy, and Micropsia, often delivered through spear-phishing emails and deceptive applications. Their operations involve sophisticated social engineering tactics, including the use of fake social media profiles and weaponized apps masquerading as legitimate services. AridViper's activities are characterized by a blend of technical sophistication and psychological manipulation, aiming to exfiltrate sensitive data from compromised systems.

## Who does AridViper go after?

**Sectors:** Government, Defense, Energy, Finance, Education, High-Tech, Telecoms, Transportation, Media, NGOs, Civil Society, Legal, Military

**Countries and victims named:** United States, Israel, Palestine, Middle East, Europe

See threats by industry: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries

## Public reports about AridViper

- http://www.trendmicro.com/cloud-content/us/pdfs/security-intelligence/white-papers/wp-operation-arid-viper.pdf
- http://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/33785/cyber-crime/arid-viper-israel-sex-video.html
- https://securelist.com/blog/research/68817/the-desert-falcons-targeted-attacks/
- https://blog.lookout.com/blog/2017/02/16/viperrat-mobile-apt/
- https://securelist.com/blog/incidents/77562/breaking-the-weakest-link-of-the-strongest-chain/
- https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-insight/post/Operation-Arid-Viper-Slithers-Back-Into-View
- http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/06/palestine-delphi.html
- https://www.threatconnect.com/blog/kasperagent-malware-campaign/
- https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cyber-attacks/sexually-explicit-material-used-as-lures-in-cyber-attacks?linkId=12425812
- https://media.kasperskycontenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2018/03/08064309/The-Desert-Falcons-targeted-attacks.pdf
- https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/gaza-cybergang-unified-front-targeting-hamas-opposition/

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is AridViper?

AridViper is an espionage group thought to operate from Palestinian Territories, with suspected backing from Palestine. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Where is AridViper thought to be based?

Public reporting places AridViper as operating from Palestinian Territories, with suspected backing from Palestine. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### Who does AridViper target?

In public reporting, sectors named include government, defense, energy, finance and education, and 5 countries and victims are named, including United States, Israel, Palestine and Middle East.

### How do I know if AridViper 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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