Hackers misuse Obama’s victory with malware
President-elect Barack Obama is already targeted as the subject of a malicious malware campaign designed to steal information from infected computers. Following Obama’s presidential victory Tuesday, malware authors were quick to create a Trojan exploiting the high volumes of Web traffic surrounding Obama, security experts said. And so far, researchers say that spam capitalizing on Obama’s victory has experienced a sharp upward spike, comprising about 60 percent of all spam messages in what has become a globalized attack. “The hackers are taking advantage of Obama-mania,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for SophosLabs. “So many people have been excited or interested in (the election), that they might be susceptible to it.”
Specifically, malware authors are exploiting users’ post-election curiosity with an e-mail purporting to offer news of Obama’s victory. The legitimate-looking message then offers the viewer a link, allegedly of a video featuring Obama’s acceptance speech. However, in order to view the clip, users are advised to click on a link that will allegedly download the latest version of Adobe Flash player. Once users open the link, a Web site actually links to a file called adobe_flash_exe, a malicious Trojan downloader designed to distribute information-stealing software on unsuspecting victims’ computers. Upon execution, the compromised machine receives a RootKit that sends the user’s personal data to numerous command and control centers. Researchers at Web security company Websense said in a blog that they have seen at least 25,000 e-mails through the systems using that particular technique, which, in addition to distributing data-stealing malware, also incorporates the victim’s computer into a botnet, a network of computers programmed to perpetuate spam campaigns.
Source: CRN
@5
According to the screenshot shown, the filename is: adobe_flash9.exe
which looks legit enough to me. Although I would know that I already had flash installed, I’m sure my grandmother and 90% of the rest of the people I know would not.
I hate spammers.
This must be the attack Biden is talkin about….
Brilliant idea on the hackers part.
Here’s how to get rid of this virus:
http://www.imageflux.net/uploads/8302241160683044065a.jpg
@4 John McCain, gtfo of here you racist.
someone ban this ignorant moron.
Is obama the anti christ?
your mom is
You stupid white racist asshats need to die
To think that this would’nt happen !
I knew something like this would defo. take place
I today received a spam-mail:
“Breaking news: OBAMA is a woman”
Virus and spyware are created in secret by ANTI A/V Companies, to keep them in profitable business.
That’s what you obamabots get.
here is another good reason to surf the net using linux so you can avoid all the crap like this
dont clicklinks in emails unless you asked for the email (activation etc) or you know the sender personally and that you where supposed to get the email.
ALL other emails or links should be considered suspiscous.
And use antivirus! AVG is free and works very well.
@ 4 please don’t breed…. your kind needs to die off quickly.
Download F-Secure’s ‘BlackLight’ – Rootkit Detection and Elimination Tool (freeware)
http://www.f-secure.com/security_center/
It’s at the bottom of the page. Nice tool.
Hey, I see gnome running. Linux FTW
is that really better then halo 3?