ALDI Hard Drives Found to Contain Malware

ALDI the seller of 'Fission External,' which's equipped with four functionalities -hard drive, USB, DVD, and card reader, is doing business across 10-or-more countries. However, recently, the device has been found carrying malicious software through an internally fitted hard drive, reported AusCERT in news on July 28, 2011.

Issuing a statement ALDI told that the malware had affected only a few samples of the product as also that the device had been withdrawn from all shops, while the copies already bought had been recalled from the public.

Evidently the virus that has ALDI is very ancient while a few samples of it have been observed since August 2008. In one respect this is a boon as the majority of computers should spot the virus provided an AV program is run. Incidentally, the malware has components obtained from the infamous Conficker worm that during its peak activity infected RailCorp and ANZ Bank during 2009.

Conficker, which made its debut during November 2008, initiated every kind of disruption and particularly victimized Australian transport operations and banking.

Meanwhile as per a warning by AusCERT (Australia's Computer Emergency Response Team) on July 28, 2011, the calling back of Fission External follows ever-since the Conficker's components were found on the device's copies that were traded in Queensland.

Furthermore as per ALDI, the manufacturer advised for using the same software alternatively one closely similar for scanning every buyer's PC along with USB storage gadgets that had been plugged into the 4-in-1 product for spotting and eliminating the virus. SCMagazine published this on July 29, 2011.

In the meantime, security specialists state that discovering malware within card reader gadgets and hard drives isn't anything new. On July 25, 2011, Charlie Miller a security researcher declared that he discovered a malicious program infiltrating the chips, which regulated Apple MacBook's batteries. Miller, reportedly, managed in bricking batteries alternatively planting stubborn malware, which was resilient to any physical alteration of hard drives.

Eventually, while advising consumers, the specialists stated that if anyone had already bought Fission External, he should ensure that his hard drive is formatted as also his PC scanned for infection.

Related article: Allied Irish Bank Warns Customers against Rising phishing Attacks

» SPAMfighter News - 8/9/2011