Malware Spread through IM Software and Social Networks

According to security researchers from Trend Micro the security company, cyber criminals are disseminating malware across the Internet by apparently exploiting widely-used IM (instant messaging) software and websites for social networking. An instance of a PC-worm is being cited which is creeping inside users' systems that utilizes the said communication modes.

Also according to the researchers, they have detected the worm as Worm_Steckct.evl that is getting spread through one web-link dispatched through informal e-mails written on the IM or Facebook (social media) platforms.

The web-links included inside posts, are condensed as they connect with a zipped archive labeled May09-Picture18.JPG_www.facebook.com.zip that conceals one more malicious file known as May09-Picture18.JPG_www.facebook.com.

At the time the worm is executed, it begins doing its harmful activities such as stopping every service or process that security software generate thereby making sure that the anti-virus programs do not interrupt with its evildoings.

One other notable task the worm performs is pulling down and running WORM_EBOOM.AC.

According to Trend Micro, this second worm can maintain watch over the browsing operations of an infected end-user like posting of messages, particularly informal ones or deleting them on Internet sites like MySpace, Facebook, Meebo, WordPress or Twitter. Normally, the posted messages carry web-links for the worm that lead onto its replica, reported blog.trendmicro.com in news on May 17, 2012.

It may be mentioned that IM programs and Facebook work as mediums for connecting with people and sharing content online. Besides, these platforms aren't unknown to cyber-criminals who exploit them to victimize Web-surfers with their schemes, it being all the easier, because the victims generally remain unwary of the dangers related to social media.

Thus, the security company urges end-users for being careful while surfing online, especially on social networking websites. Many times earlier, the researchers outlined that Internauts should remain knowledgeable about web-links, which connected with suspicious files or websites, so they could avoid following them.

Trend Micro in addition advises that Internet users must install the most recent as also up-to-date editions of anti-virus programs in order that the worm is prevented from creeping inside their systems and eventually victimizing them.

Related article: Malware Authors Turn More Insidious

» SPAMfighter News - 5/25/2012