McAfee Avert Labs reports of more than 600,000 VirusScan Online users detecting an executable trojan in what it calls the most significant malware outbreak since 2005.Every file-sharer is hopefully well aware of the dangers of unknown executable files. The importance of this knowledge was proved again recently following a report on the McAfee Avert Labs blog that more than 600,000 McAfee VirusScan Online users detected a Trojan horse masquerading as a media file on a number of P2P and file-sharing networks. Called the most significant malware outbreak since 2005, some 28% of the 2 million plus PCs scanned in the past 7 days are reported to be infected with the Trojan referred to as Downloader-UA.h. Apparently what happens is that when a user attempts to play one of the bogus .MP3 or .MPEG files, they’re instead directed to download a file named "PLAY_MP3.exe." Once PlayMP3.exe from PlayMP3z.biz is installed, "...you’re left with a fake MP3 file taking up space, a worthless MP3 player, adware that claims not only to not display popups, but also to block them, and more adware that successfully displays popup and popunder ads," the blog post reads.
The following is a list of some of the sample names that have been seen so far:
As usual it's important to NEVER, EVER install(or execute) unknown files. [Via Cnet] |
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Any file that has .exe after it is dangerous if uninvited, so don't EVER click on it. I scan ALL files with my virus program, even those that I purposely want to install.
Hate to say it, but anyone who falls for this is REALLY computer illiterate.
I hear you man, but with 600,000 people reportedly downloading the thing it's definitely worth mentioning....