Ghost RAT Financial Firm Merger Espionage - Planning Guide
Ghost RAT Financial Firm Merger Espionage
Complete preparation guide for financial services espionage scenario
Comprehensive facilitation guidance for Ghost RAT Financial Firm Merger Espionage featuring sophisticated RAT malware, merger intelligence surveillance, trading algorithm theft, and corporate/criminal espionage targeting financial services with SEC regulatory implications.
1. Quick Reference
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Malmon | Ghost RAT (Ghost/Dark dual-type) |
| Difficulty Tier | Tier 3 (Expert) |
| Scenario Variant | APT Advanced: Investment Firm |
| Organizational Context | Meridian Capital Management: $8B assets, $2B merger, proprietary trading algorithms |
| Primary Stakes | Merger intelligence + Trading algorithms + Client data + SEC compliance |
| Recommended Formats | Full Game / Advanced Challenge |
| Essential NPCs | Charles Morrison (Managing Partner), Dr. Elena Rodriguez (Chief Investment Officer), Marcus Thompson (Compliance Director) |
| Optional NPCs | Agent Sarah Kim (SEC Financial Crimes), Market Manipulation Investigator, Corporate Espionage Analyst |
Scenario Hook
Meridian is 72 hours from announcing $2B merger when executives notice computers behaving strangely—mouse cursors moving independently, documents opening during off-hours—sophisticated RAT provides attackers complete control over executive workstations, enabling weeks of financial intelligence theft and potential insider trading.
Victory Condition
Team identifies sophisticated remote access surveillance through behavioral detection, protects merger intelligence and trading algorithms from continued espionage, ensures SEC regulatory compliance and market integrity, and addresses corporate/criminal targeting threatening $2B transaction and financial services operations.
2-12. [Complete Planning Structure]
Opening: “It’s Thursday morning at Meridian Capital Management. Managing Partner Charles Morrison is 72 hours from announcing $2B merger that will reshape financial services industry. But during final preparation, executives notice disturbing signs: mouse cursors moving on their own during confidential discussions, documents opening unexpectedly, screens occasionally flickering. IT discovers sophisticated remote access tools providing attackers complete control over executive workstations for weeks.”
Key NPCs:
- Charles Morrison: Managing partner balancing merger announcement with intelligence theft investigation
- Dr. Elena Rodriguez: CIO investigating RAT compromise of trading algorithms and client portfolios
- Marcus Thompson: Compliance director assessing SEC regulatory violations and market manipulation risks
Investigation Timeline: Round 1: RAT detection through executive workstation remote control indicators Round 2: Merger intelligence theft assessment and potential insider trading investigation Round 3: Merger announcement decision under surveillance threat and SEC coordination
Response Options:
- Complete remote access removal with forensic preservation for SEC investigation (DC 13)
- Merger intelligence and trading algorithm security verification (DC 14)
- Market manipulation assessment determining if stolen intelligence affected trading (DC 16)
Learning Objectives:
- Remote access trojan detection through workstation control behavioral analysis
- Financial services cybersecurity protecting merger intelligence and trading algorithms
- SEC regulatory compliance during sophisticated corporate espionage incidents
- Market manipulation risks from stolen financial intelligence
- Coordination between incident response and financial regulatory investigation
MITRE ATT&CK:
- T1219 (Remote Access Software), T1056 (Input Capture), T1113 (Screen Capture), T1005 (Financial Data Theft)
Notes for IM Customization
What worked well:
What to modify next time:
Creative player solutions:
Timing adjustments: