Webroot Detects Malware in Presidential Campaign VideosAccording to the US-based IT security vendor, Webroot, it (Webroot) has detected the widespread installation of malware concealed within campaign videos for the US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. The company says that the particular malware problem has emerged due to an extensive use of the Gnutella Peer-2-Peer networks for file sharing. These networks are accessed by customers of FrostWire and LimeWire to spread the campaign videos of the presidential candidates. Moreover, according to Webroot, a quick search of the FrostWire network showed that out of the total 34 search results pertaining to "Obama Speech video", 14 had contained active malicious code while 5 out of the total 19 results for "McCain Speech video" contained malware. Furthermore, the malware variant that was most commonly found in the candidates' campaign videos include W32/Zipwire, obtained through a Zip file with names like "Democratic Convention 2008-Barack Obama Acceptance Speech.zip." The file is an executable and loads bogus anti-virus applications on the host system. These hoax anti-viruses detect false security problems and then persuade users to purchase the fake solutions. Meantime, Webroot also uncovered other malware samples such as backdoors and password stealers that cane also be downloaded. These give a hacker access from a distance to the infected system or allow him to obtain the user's sensitive and personal data like username and password. The threats, according to Webroot, pose various kinds of risks. For instance, upon infecting a computer, it can be infiltrated remotely to plant new malicious programs. According to director of threat research Paul Piccard with Webroot, P2P networks are responsible for certain very high online security risks. SecurityProPortal.com published this in news on September 30, 2008. Piccard further said that since P2P networks are devoid of security measures, which are found in reliable Websites or business networks, people using these networks might put themselves, or their organizations at high risk by taking down malware from the Internet or by exposing secret data. He also said that with the nearing of the November 2008 presidential 'votefest', candidate-driven malware infection is likely to increase in number. Related article: Webroot Detected & Eliminated Several Bogus Antiviruses in May 2009 » SPAMfighter News - 06-10-2008
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