Stratfor subscribers sent malware

By

Malware alert email delivers Zbot trojan.

The devastating breach of global affairs firm Stratfor last last year continues to reap rewards for its purveyors.

Stratfor subscribers sent malware

As members of Anonymous sort through the 5.2 million plundered emails to find evidence of secret correspondences among the intelligence, military and government sectors, more financially motivated hackers are again on the attack.

The Microsoft Malware Protection Center reported malware was sent via email to 860,000 addresses contained in the stolen subscriber list.

Security researcher Rodel Finones said the emails arrive with an attachment, titled "stratfor.pdf." Clicking on the attachment opens a letter directed to "Stratfor readers" that, ironically, claims to warn them of the possibility that phishers may send them emails containing viruses. 

To remedy themselves, recipients are encouraged to click on a dubious link contained in the letter, one which leads to a compromised site hosted overseas, possibly in Turkey or Poland, which attempts to distribute a variant of the Zbot, or Zeus, trojan.

Zbot is known for its ability to siphon information from a compromised user's machine.

Kyle Rhodes, a Stratfor spokesman, could not be immediately reached for comment.

This article originally appeared at scmagazineus.com

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © SC Magazine, US edition
Tags:

Most Read Articles

SA Water plans 'once-in-a-generation' core technology uplift

SA Water plans 'once-in-a-generation' core technology uplift

Ex-student charged over Western Sydney University cyberattacks

Ex-student charged over Western Sydney University cyberattacks

WhatsApp banned on US House of Representatives devices

WhatsApp banned on US House of Representatives devices

Victoria's first government tech chief steps down

Victoria's first government tech chief steps down

Log In

  |  Forgot your password?