How Worms & Keyloggers Are Spread By Downloading Brand Name Software
- By Grey McKenzie
- Published 06/30/2008
Grey McKenzie
National Cyber Security Founder
Cyber security watchdog & one of the nation's leading cyber security experts, Grey McKenzie is also the Founder of SpyCop Security Software & Soft Media Publishing Incorporated.
His clients include members of the US Department of Homeland Security, US State Department, US Department of Defense, US Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Central Intelligence Agency, State & Local Law Enforcement not to mention over 50,000 companies & individuals worldwide.
He is regularly consulted by industry leaders regarding cyber security issues.
To schedule a procedural, technical and non-technical network security audit of your company call 902-532-2262
A friend tells you where to get software you should have to purchase FREE.
Your dark side takes over and you visit the "secret" website and get the latest hottest copy of Halo or Adobe Photoshop.
You can't believe your good fortune !
You download & install your precious find and everything works just like you knew it would...
What you didn't know is along with your free game or software was bundled a keylogger, spy program, worm or bot and everything you do on your computer is being captured & recorded.
Credit card info, emails, chats, passwords & banking information is now the property of a cyber thief.
Here's a case in point taken from the Star Tribune
...He initially spread the virus by creating a bogus Web site that offered free installation of Limewire, which is similar to Napster music-sharing software.
When people tried to download the software, they also downloaded the Nugache Worm, which embedded itself within the Windows operation system.
Later, as he developed his system, Milmont was able to spread the worm using instant messaging spam, which directed the recipients to a Web site infected with the virus.
Eventually, Milmont gained control of a massive system of zombie computers known as a"botnet," or computer robot network.
"On average, (the) defendant controlled 5,000 to 15,000 computers at any given time," according to the court record.
The moral of this story is only download from manufacturers websites or you could end up the victim of identity theft or worse.
I highly recommend you get a copy of SpyCop Cloak, just in case you're already infected.
Your dark side takes over and you visit the "secret" website and get the latest hottest copy of Halo or Adobe Photoshop.
You can't believe your good fortune !
You download & install your precious find and everything works just like you knew it would...
What you didn't know is along with your free game or software was bundled a keylogger, spy program, worm or bot and everything you do on your computer is being captured & recorded.
Credit card info, emails, chats, passwords & banking information is now the property of a cyber thief.
Here's a case in point taken from the Star Tribune
...He initially spread the virus by creating a bogus Web site that offered free installation of Limewire, which is similar to Napster music-sharing software.
When people tried to download the software, they also downloaded the Nugache Worm, which embedded itself within the Windows operation system.
Later, as he developed his system, Milmont was able to spread the worm using instant messaging spam, which directed the recipients to a Web site infected with the virus.
Eventually, Milmont gained control of a massive system of zombie computers known as a"botnet," or computer robot network.
"On average, (the) defendant controlled 5,000 to 15,000 computers at any given time," according to the court record.
The moral of this story is only download from manufacturers websites or you could end up the victim of identity theft or worse.
I highly recommend you get a copy of SpyCop Cloak, just in case you're already infected.
