Michael Jacksons' unknown killer

July 2009 Information Security

A few new spam waves (four different strains) hit our inboxes since Michael Jacksons' death and guess who the main character was? Malware writers are fast at adapting news to spread their own evil creations or schemes and this event was no different.

1. Advertising sexual enhancement drugs

The email body of this spam message looks like this:

Michael Jackson dead? NO!!!

http://ad[removed]ous.com/

The subject of the message is: Michael Jackson dead? NO!!!

2. Spreading malware

The body of this spam message looked like this:

Michael Jackson Was Killed...

But Who Killed Michael Jackson?

Visit X-Files to see the answer:

http://MJac[removed]ij.com/x-files

The subject of the message is: Who killed Michael Jackson?

The file presented as 'the file with secret information' about Michael Jacksons' killer is nothing but a recycled ZBot, more specifically Trojan.Spy.Zbot.UI, detected as Trojan.Spy.ZBot.VG this time. ZBot is known to transform the infected machines into spamming relays, sending hundreds of messages without the users knowledge or consent, consuming valuable network and computing resources.

More details about about spam could be find on www.malwarecity.com

For more information contact Alina Anton, senior PR and marketing coordinator, EMEA and APAC Business Unit, Bitdefender, +40 212 063 470, [email protected], www.bitdefender.com

Share this article:

Empower individuals to control their biometric data
Information Security Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management
What if your biometrics, now embedded in devices, workplaces, and airports, promising seamless access and enhanced security, was your greatest vulnerability in a cyberattack? Cybercriminals are focusing on knowing where biometric data is stored.

Read more...

Strategies for combating insider threats
Information Security Security Services & Risk Management
In Africa, insider threats pose an increasingly significant risk to businesses, driven by economic uncertainty, labour disputes, and rapid digital transformation. These threats can arise from various sources, including disgruntled employees and compromised third-party service providers

Read more...

Five tech trends shaping business in 2025
Information Security Infrastructure
From runaway IT costs to the urgent need for comprehensive AI strategies that drive sustainable business impact, executives must be prepared to navigate a complex and evolving technology environment to extract maximum value from their investments.

Read more...

Kaspersky’s predictions for 2025 APT landscape
Information Security
The 2025 advanced persistent threat (APT) includes the rise of hacktivist alliances, increased use of AI-powered tools by state-affiliated actors – often with embedded backdoor – more supply chain attacks on open-source projects.

Read more...

SecurityHQ certified B-BBEE Level 1: Delivering global services from a local entity
SecurityHQ Information Security
SecurityHQ, a global managed security services provider (MSSP) with an office in South Africa, has announced it can now offer local companies a complete managed cybersecurity service from a Level-1 B-BBEE accredited and 51% black-owned service provider.

Read more...

2024, the year of Fraud-as-a-Service
Information Security
A report from AU10TIX outlines how ‘the industry’s dark engine’ offers user-friendly fraud kits that enable amateurs to execute complex attacks against thousands of accounts in minutes.

Read more...

The future of endpoint security
Information Security
Endpoint security is a critical pillar of cybersecurity, especially for South African businesses, which are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals. Endpoint security involves safeguarding devices connected to a network from a range of cyberthreats.

Read more...

Not enough businesses take cybercrime seriously
Information Security
Interpol recently revealed that cybercrime, specifically ransomware incidents, cost the South African economy up to 1% of the country’s GDP, while the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research estimated the loss at R2,2 billion a year.

Read more...

Navigating today’s cloud security challenges
Information Security Infrastructure
While the cloud certainly enables enterprises to quickly adapt to today’s evolving demands, it also introduces unique challenges that security teams must recognise and manage. Vincent Hwang offers insights from the 2025 State of Cloud Security Report.

Read more...

Categories

Michael Jacksons' unknown killer

Further reading:

Published by Technews