MERS-Themed Malware Laced E-mails and Texts Circulating in Korea - Symantec

Internet scammers are attempting at cashing in on Koreans who're gripped with fear about MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) via distributing fake e-mails and phony text messages supposedly from health organizations, however, laced with malware, published koreajoongangdaily.joins.com dated June 14, 2015.

It maybe noted that MERS is one kind of disease which disturbs human respiratory system while nearly 40% die of the illness.

As per WHO (World Health Organization), the number of confirmed MERS-afflicted people till June 12, 2015 was 126, with 125 cases within Republic of Korea. There have been 11 deaths so far, with 2,000 more people reportedly being quarantined in South Korea.

When Symantec became aware of the MERS-themed scam, it studied one malware sample that was contained in a file attachment on the malevolent electronic mail. The malware impersonated a Word file apparently giving details regarding patients as well as hospitals inflicted with the pathogen.

Perusing that file, Symantec's researchers found that it really was one .exe file in disguise but actually installed 'Swort,' a malevolent component pushing in more malicious software from banking Trojans to ransomware.

As Korean language was used for naming the file, all non-Korean speakers getting the perilous messages must understand the potential danger these posed.

According to Symantec, during its examination of the malware, the company found that it wasn't any refined threat rather an uncomplicated downloader. Softpedia.com reported this, June 12, 2015.

In 2014, the Ebola human life threatening virus was used like a lure in malicious e-mails for spreading malware. Traditionally cyber crooks have been leveraging prominent news stories for subjects in their scams while trying to so dupe Internauts that they would view malicious web-links/attachments. Sometimes local news stories are also used as lures for disseminating attack in the particular region.

But, taking into consideration how MERS is getting wide-spread in other Asian nations, the illness is fast getting to be a worldwide problem. Symantec says there'll be increasing online assaults taking advantage of the incident via spear-phishing/phishing/spam assaults.

Computer along with smart-phone users must exercise caution while opening unfamiliar web-links dispatched through e-mail/text messages, suggested KISA (Korea Internet Security Agency). Koreajoongangdaily.joins.com reported this.

» SPAMfighter News - 6/22/2015