Infections from Adware VideoPlay Jump 400% in 2009

According to security firm PandaLabs, the rate of infection from the adware VideoPlay increased over 400% during January-February 2009. As per the reports, VideoPlay downloads malware that steals e-mail accounts as well as passwords for various Web-based utilities.

The reason for this enormous rise is mainly attributed to the rising usage of widely popular Web 2.0 sites like YouTube or Digg.com for the distribution of the malware.

The adware on both the sites is distributed via videos in YouTube and through current affair comments in Digg.com. These videos and comments allege that users may see pornographic content provided they follow a given link. However, when they click on the link, they are taken to a web-page that prompts them to download a codec necessary to view the video, which leads to the installation of the adware.

When the adware is downloaded, it captures the YouTube and Digg.com passwords while posts additional malicious videos and comments that further raises the infection rate.

Recently, PandaLabs warned about comment spam emerging through hacked user accounts on Digg.com, resulting in the installation of the adware. Using the same technique on YouTube, users are similarly diverted to a URL where VideoPlay is downloaded.

Luis Corrons, Technical Director, PandaLabs, states that this trick of VideoPlay downloads is one more instance reflecting how cyber criminals are exploiting the frequently visited web pages as well as socially engineering to disseminate malware massively, as reported by SecurityProNews on March 2, 2009.

Corrons said it is important for users to understand that no matter they are visiting the trusted websites, but they always remain vigilant. In particular, they must be wary of sensational headlines since crooks typically use these to dupe users and subsequently infect their PCs, as reported by PRNewswire on March 2, 2009.

In the end, security specialists said that criminals seemed to be following what the young generation believed that electronic mail meant for the senior generation. Therefore, they have taken to the social networking sites where large gatherings of people and the trust factor contributes to the success of their attacks.

Related article: Infection in Chinese Security Website

» SPAMfighter News - 3/7/2009