![[Image: Smoke-Loader-botnet-2025.png]](https://blackhattool.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Smoke-Loader-botnet-2025.png)
Since its initial emergence in 2011, the Smoke Loader botnet has established itself as a persistent and highly adaptable threat within the ever-changing cybercrime landscape. Over more than a decade of continuous evolution, Smoke Loader has transformed from a relatively simple malware loader into one of the most sophisticated and modular frameworks available to threat actors today. In 2025, it remains a dominant force in the malware delivery ecosystem, functioning as a multi-purpose loader capable of deploying a wide variety of malicious payloads, including ransomware, information stealers (infostealers), banking trojans, and other types of malware tailored for financial fraud and espionage. This modularity enables operators to customize attack campaigns with precision, selecting payloads based on specific target profiles and operational objectives, making Smoke Loader an incredibly versatile tool in the hands of cybercriminals.