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Trojan Malware Dials It In
David Utter
Staff Writer
2008-01-02
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Getting infected by one particular Trojan will lock up the PC and try to extort the victim into calling in a payment to get it unlocked.
 | | Trojan Malware Dials It In |  |
Alex Eckelberry at Sunbelt Software noted the unwelcome arrival of a blackmailing Trojan that will hold a computer hostage unless payment is made.
The Trojan completely locks up the computer, displaying a message that "Browser Security and Antiadware Software component license exprited! (sic)". To unlock it, the Trojan tells the victim to call a 900-type number that charges a per-minute fee.
Eckelberry displayed screens showing how the Trojan offers numbers for British and French computers. "Apparently, this is a payment processor that's now being used for malware, whether they know it or not," he said of the company providing the phone numbers.
The scheme doesn't involve credit card numbers or other personal information. By forcing the victim to call a 900 number (Eckelberry noted there is a US number in use for US victims), the fee is charged to the caller.
That reduces some of the risk for the criminals behind the Trojan. If they can get their money quickly from the payment processor, they don't have the risks associated with selling credit cards or other stolen information. After all, who wants to get ripped off after going to the trouble of stealing in the first place?
View All Articles by David Utter
About the Author:
David Utter is a business and technology writer for SecurityProNews and WebProNews.
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