NetRaptor - Lawful Network Intelligence Tool

Abstract

\"NetRaptor\" is a lawful network intelligence tool designed to help law enforcement and cybersecurity teams combat scam and ransomware operations. The tool focuses on proactive threat detection by monitoring network activity and system behaviour to identify threats before significant damage occurs. NetRaptor stealthily collects digital evidence, such as keystrokes, files, and network data, while ensuring all actions are legally authorized and the evidence\'s integrity is preserved for court use. It securely transmits this data to a real-time dashboard for analysis, mapping the attacker\'s infrastructure to help dismantle their networks. The project\'s goal is to provide an effective, legally compliant solution for investigating and stopping cybercrime.

Introduction

NetRaptor is a legal, stealth-oriented network intelligence tool designed to assist law enforcement and cybersecurity teams in detecting, tracking, and investigating scams and ransomware. It collects digital evidence (files, screenshots, network data) securely and presents it via a real-time dashboard. It also maps attackers’ networks, including IPs, domains, and control servers, enabling effective dismantling of malicious operations.

Key Features:

1. Lawful and Stealth Operation: Operates only with authorization, includes a kill-switch and audit logging.

2. Early Threat Detection: Behavioral and pre-encryption detection of ransomware.

3. Network Mapping & Monitoring: Identifies suspicious IPs/domains and maps attacker networks.

4. Secure Evidence Collection: Preserves legal evidence with hashing and chain-of-custody protocols.

5. Real-Time Analysis Dashboard: Provides authorized analysts with live access to alerts and collected data.

Literature Survey:

• Research emphasizes early detection of malicious patterns via network traffic, file changes, and system behavior.

• Threat intelligence, IP/domain tracking, and forensic analysis are crucial for mapping attacker infrastructure.

• Legal compliance is key; invasive monitoring requires proper authorization.

• Tools like Zeek and Velociraptor are examples of lawful monitoring systems.

Proposed Methodology:

• Combines pre-encryption detection, network mapping, forensic readiness, legal-first operation, secure data exfiltration, and real-time analysis.

• Focuses on early threat capture and lawful intelligence gathering, improving upon post-attack tools.

• Supports dismantling attacker infrastructure effectively.

Existing Systems vs NetRaptor:

• Traditional forensics: Reactive, post-attack, legally compliant but slow.

• Modern ML-based tools: Proactive but often lack legal framework.

• NetRaptor: Combines early detection, stealth, and legal admissibility of evidence with attacker network mapping.

System Architecture & Modules:

1. Client Module: Covert data acquisition and secure transmission.

2. Server Module: Secure listening, command processing, live monitoring.

3. Detection & Mapping Module: Behavioral detection and attacker network tracing.

4. Evidence & Integrity Module: Forensic readiness, chain-of-custody assurance.

5. Dashboard & Compliance Module: Real-time monitoring, legal governance, encrypted communication.

Results:

• Successfully establishes encrypted connections with targets.

• Captures keystrokes via a secure keylogger executable.

• Accesses target webcams to record video evidence.

• Provides integrated, near real-time surveillance for comprehensive intelligence gathering.

Conclusion

The NetRaptor project successfully addresses critical shortcomings in existing cybersecurity and forensic methods. Its central achievement is creating a Lawful Network Intelligence Tool specifically designed to combat advanced scam and ransomware operations. By integrating Behavioural & Pre-Encryption Detection, NetRaptor significantly improves upon post-attack forensic tools by allowing threats to be intercepted before encryption and data loss occur. The implementation of the Client and Server Modules and secure RSA/Fernet key exchange demonstrates the foundation for covert and secure data acquisition. Crucially, the tool\'s emphasis on Evidence Integrity (using hashing) ensures that all collected proof, such as files, screenshots, and keystrokes, remains viable for use in court. Furthermore, its ability to map the full attacker network infrastructure (IPs, domains, C2 servers) provides invaluable intelligence for dismantling criminal operations effectively. Ultimately, NetRaptor provides authorized teams with a potent, legal-first solution to efficiently detect, investigate, and stop modern cyber threats while adhering to strict compliance rules.

References

[1] Mr. P.V.S.N. Murthy, Praneeth Kumar Neelamsetty, Pragya Gayatri Sreedharala, Madhu Babu Kondru, Likhith Kudara, “Network Forensics and Incident Response Tool with AI-Assisted Threat Analysis”, 13 March 2025, DOI – 10.22214/ijraset.2025.67471 [2] Sandoval et al., “Ransomware Detection with Machine Learning: Techniques, Challenges, and Future Directions”, February 2025, https://jisis.org/article/2025.I1.017/71744/ [3] Gurumallu et al., “Exploring Deep Learning Approaches for Ransomware Detection”, 2025, https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/140699 [4] Begovi? et al., “Cryptographic Ransomware Encryption Detection: Survey”, September 2023, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167404823002596

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Radha Pimpale, Aryan Dekate, Aryan Wankhade, Shital Ghagre, Spandan Chavan, Yash Atkari. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.