Industry News Home More stories like this... RSS Feed

ESPN presenter strip video used to spread malware

The latest attempt to spread malware by cybercriminals is using a supposed video of US sports presenter Erin Andrews naked.

News spread across the world earlier this week when a video of the ESPN presenter undressing in her hotel room was posted on the internet.

Malware writers have joined on the bandwagon and are disguising their viruses as copies of the video clip.

A number of attacks have been found trying to infect both Macs and PCs, in which users are promised video files but instead the virus attempts to install malware disguised as a video player.

Carole Theriault, senior security analyst at Sophos, said: "The bad guys set up legitimate-looking webpages and fire their links around via online ads, pop-ups, comment boards, Facebook, Twitter, etc, to lure us into their sophisticated traps, turning our systems into slaves.

"Whatever internet trend bubbles up, they jump on it, duping us into infecting our own computers, be they PCs or, wait for it, Macs."

The Q2 2009 Internet Threat Trends Report by Commtouch found that malware distributors were using the death of Michael Jackson to spread their malicious programs.

PC Tools, Experts in malware and trusted by millions worldwide! Visit www.pctools.com to upgrade your protection.