Internet Search to Get Pirated Content Results in Installation of Adware -Zscaler

Zscaler the security company, which has been monitoring one campaign going on since long, has found that it so tricks users that they would install adware while hunting different pirated material like of TV shows or online games.

Instead of obtaining the hunted material, users pull down certain file, which though looks legitimate, however, contains malware. This is one traditional tactic of malware-operators going on since years, however, is now greatly popular with spyware and adware programs too.

Zscaler's researchers discovered that specifically the MultiPlug and OutBrowse adware families were getting employed for delivering undesirable advertisements to users.

According to Security Researcher Chris Mannon of Zscaler, when either of the adware is installed, unsolicited ads get displayed while the user finds an enormously-heightened activity of browser tracking. The company observed that the said campaigns of cyber-criminals greatly exploited .info TLD domains. Threatpost.com published this, June 29, 2015.

Mannon continues that OutBrowse owners exploit widely-watched TV shows, trending news and software programs for launching tailored payloads which track browsing activity of victims. The business model they utilize aims at leading users onto certain pay website which offers different services.

Zscaler observes when OutBrowse infects any PC, it supplies various advertisers with excessive information frequently including the computer's MAC address, Internet Protocol adds, various editions of browser loaded as also the device GUID. Softpedia.com published this, June 29, 2015.

When MultiPlug was founded, it associated with the same scam while aimed at loading other software programs, perhaps during a partner marketing scheme wherein a fee is paid to the operator for software loading.

Researchers observed that applications such as SeekerFoobar, LightningDownloader, EasyAutoRefresh or WeatherBug got appended to the hijacked device. Whatever got downloaded and planted happened behind screen so users remained unaware.

Simultaneously, ads too got exhibited, a few leading onto technical-support numbers that would help in cleaning malware.

According to Zscaler, majority of these assaults get harbored within USA.

And with users believing they are getting the desired material free-of-cost, a clearly shortsighted judgment gets reflected on their part. Therefore, Zscaler recommends that users should avoid downloading pirated material while just pay to get their desired content.

» SPAMfighter News - 7/8/2015