Sefnit and Associated Malwares Hiked Infections in 2013, Says Microsoft
Microsoft the software giant has just published its "Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (MSIR): Volume 16" that states that saboteurs on the Internet while disseminating Sefnit, the malicious program utilized for additional click fraud scams, frequently used two spurious badwares during 2013 for acquiring their objectives, published scmagazine.com dated May 7, 2014.
Issuing a security alert on 7th May, 2014, Microsoft explained the three malware programs as intensively attacking Windows PCs worldwide, particularly during Q4 2013.
Moreover, the total count of PCs affected due to the deceptive methods became over three-fold during Q4 2013.
When Microsoft conducted various investigations, it discovered several programs, which were identified as "Brantall" and "Rotbrow" that were frequently described as innocuous.
For example, Rotbrow comes like one browser add-on to end-users and is known as "Browser Defender" or "Browser Protector" despite it occasionally planting genuine programs in addition to Sefnit. In the same way, Brantall usually loads applications meant for being advertised.
Surprisingly and unfortunately, Brantall helps in installing different legitimate software, sometimes loads itself to apparently perform certain services, as well as loads the advertised genuine software along with more potentially harmful applications.
Notably, Microsoft's research states that both Rotbrow and Brantall install Sefnit.
According to the SIR, Microsoft knew about Browser Protector from 2011; however, the program didn't ever exhibit harmful activity till it came in contact with Sefnit during 2013. Researchers found certain editions of Browser Defender plant an innocuous program installer, while clandestinely loading Sefnit too, the report stated. Threatpost.com published this dated May 7, 2014.
As per the SIR, the period following December 2013, witnessed a significant decline in Rotbrow detections, while Microsoft's Malware Protection Center thinks that the infection rate computed via Computers Cleaned per Mile would regain its standard levels during the following quarters.
Microsoft recommends deploying the latest safe editions of different applications running on a system, while using an anti-virus program to fight the above threats. Further, software programs should be downloaded only from trustworthy websites, while web-links coming through unsolicited or unfamiliar sources avoided, as well as backups maintained of important folders as well as files.
» SPAMfighter News - 5/16/2014
