Information Security News: Storm Trojan worst outbreak since 2005

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=7827

By Robert McMillan
IDG News Service 
23 January 2007

The "Storm Worm" Trojan is the worst malware outbreak since 2005, 
Symantec has said.

Malicious software sent out in millions of spam messages over the 
weekend has now infected about 300,000 computers, the security company 
estimated.

The emails first started appearing on Wednesday, advertising attached 
news reports on topics like "230 Dead as storm batters Europe," or "US 
Secretary of Sate Condoleeza Rice has kicked German Chancellor."

The attachments comes with names such as "Full Story.exe" or "Full 
Video.exe." Once launched, they install malicious software that then 
waits to receive further instructions over the Internet.

The malware is not actually a worm, however, and infected PCs do not 
immediately start spreading the software to other computers. Instead, 
Storm has been spreading more rapidly over the past few days as its 
creators have pumped out more and more malicious emails.

"Over the weekend it really kicked into high gear," said Patrick Martin, 
senior product manager with Symantec Security Response. The last time 
malicious software spread this quickly was in May 2005, when the Sober.O 
mass-mailling worm affected a similar number of systems, Martin said.

The latest versions of the worm include similarly provocative news 
headlines and malicious attachments, but the criminals have added a 
twist over the past few days: the text now contains glowing reviews of 
penny stocks, apparently designed to fuel "pump and dump" stock scams.

Some of the e-mail messages have also been changed to prey on the 
romantic, security vendor F-Secure warned. Recent versions have subject 
lines that include "A Bouguet of Love," "A Day in Bed Coupon," or "A 
Monkey Rose for You". It remains unconfirmed what a "monkey rose" 
actually is.


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