Bogus Facebook And Google Joint Award Scheme Produces Zbot

As per SoftPedia, which published its news report on December 7, 2010, security researchers have cautioned that users must be wary of one fresh spam outbreak that attempts at enticing them to load malicious software.

State the reports that the spam arrives in the guise of collaboration whose players are giants of social networking and search engines presenting the features of a soon to be launched Google Chrome OS, as also it displays the subject line "From the Google and Facebook team."

Moreover, the spam mail addressing the subscriber states that for the forthcoming holidays, Facebook and Google members have decided to join up to start one contest for end-users that will carry numerous prizes consisting of, though not being merely, the latest Google Chrome OS due for release during January 2011, Google Maps GPS that can be used in cell-phones, Nexus One SmartPhone along with many others. Thereafter, the message thanks subscribers (the e-mail recipients) for the constant encouragement they have been showering in connection with whatever endeavors Google and Facebook have been undertaking. Finally, there is an attachment embedded on the e-mail, which apparently provides instructions for becoming a winner. SoftPedia published this in news on December 7, 2010.

The attachment, which contains an HTML file, however, when opened, diverts users onto a disguised JavaScript-loaded .exe file.

State security investigators at BitDefender, this executable in reality is a .NET written Trojan downloader, implying that the .NET Framework loaded onto the host computer is needed for it to get activated.

The investigators also caution that with only a few days for Christmas to start, online criminals have already begun sending spam mails seemingly advertising "best wishes" but in reality disseminating malicious programs.

Moreover, according to the investigators, the specialty for December 2010 appears to be Zbot packed with the Zapchast backdoor that's just the thing required for infecting people's computers during the Internet-based marketing craze for Christmas.

Hence, it is advisable that users avoid downloading files, which come despite not being asked for and further maintain caution with e-mail attachments delivered into their mailboxes even if their sources appear trustworthy.

Related article: Bugs Swell In Browsers in 2006

» SPAMfighter News - 12/20/2010