 Campus
shootings used in hacking campaign -
23/04/2007 |
Sophos has warned computer users of a sick attempt by hackers to infect
their computers, by offering camera phone footage of the shootings at
Virginia Tech University where more than 30 people died on Monday. Email
messages, spammed out to internet users, carry a photograph of gunman Cho
Seung-hui and claim to link to a Brazilian movie website carrying movie
footage of the campus shootings.
However, clicking
on the link downloads a malicious screensaver file (TERROR_EM_VIRGINIA.SCR)
that installs a banking spyware Trojan horse.
The Trojan horse
attempts to steal passwords, usernames and other information from online
bankers - opening the possibility for identity theft and allowing bank
accounts to be raided by cybercriminals.
'It's pretty
sick that cybercriminals use tragic events in the headlines like this in
their attempts to make cash but sadly it's not the first time and
unlikely to be the last'.
It is of
paramount importance that everyone treats unsolicited emails with
suspicion, and thinks twice before they run a unsolicited program or
click on a link.
Past malware
and spam campaigns have taken advantage of headline breaking news
stories such as Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, the
Concorde aircrash and terror bombings in London.
We recommend
that computer users ensure their
anti-virus
software is up-to-date, and that companies protect themselves with a
consolidated solution which can defend them from the threats of viruses,
hackers, spyware and spam.
Source:
Sophos
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