More attachment trouble!

September 2009 Information Security

Here is another way that virus writers get people to open attachments!

Subject: "Coca Cola is proud to accounce our new Christmas Promotion." 

Sender: "[email protected]"

Attachment: promotion.zip

Entices users to download the Coca Cola Promotion attachment. Obviously some people fall for the trap otherwise the virus would never be downloaded and hence be spread by curious and unsuspecting users

Attachments are compressed files, containing the worm itself.

The worm will also spread by copying itself into any removable media connected to the system, creating an 'autorun.inf' file to execute the worm when the device is connected to another system.

Infected computers are subjected to:-

1. It will add itself to the firewall's authorised applications list and not warn you of any of it partners in crime coming onto your computer.

2. One of these partners in crime is another component detected as Backdoor.Bot.67413 that is loaded. This one has backdoor capability, and will also log everything you type (think about passwords, pin numbers, credit card details etc), and save in a file (drm.ocx). Then will send this file to a server.

3. This worm is also a mass-mailer using its own SMTP engine, like many others. It sends itself to the harvested e-mail addresses it has collected from infected computers.

So by opening attachments like this you not only endanger yourself, but also endanger all  the e-mail addresses that it collects from your computer.

This also explains how you receive this mail from an unknown source and how they could have received your e-mail address.





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
Open source code can also be open risk
Information Security Infrastructure
Software development has changed significantly over the years, and today, open-source code increasingly forms the foundation of modern applications, with surveys indicating that 60 – 90% of the average application's code base consists of open-source components.

Read more...
DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...
SA’s strained, loadshedding-prone grid faces cyberthreats
Power Management Information Security
South Africa’s energy sector, already battered by decades of underinvestment and loadshedding, faces another escalating crisis; a wave of cyberthreats that could turn disruptions into catastrophic failures. Attacks are already happening internationally.

Read more...
Almost 50% of companies choose to pay the ransom
News & Events Information Security
This year’s Sophos State of Ransomware 2025 report found that nearly 50% of companies paid the ransom to get their data back, the second-highest rate of ransom payment for ransom demands in six years.

Read more...
Survey highlights cost of cyberdamage to industrial companies
Kaspersky Information Security News & Events
The majority of industrial organisations estimate their financial losses caused by cyberattacks to be over $1 million, while almost one in four report losses exceeding $5 million, and for some, it surpasses $10 million.

Read more...
Digital economy needs an agile approach to cybersecurity
Information Security News & Events
South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyberattacks

Read more...
SIEM rule threat coverage validation
Information Security News & Events
New AI-detection engineering assistant from Cymulate automates SIEM rule validation for SecOps and blue teams by streamlining threat detection engineering with automated testing, control integrations and enhanced detections.

Read more...
Cybersecurity a challenge in digitalising OT
Kaspersky Information Security Industrial (Industry)
According to a study by Kaspersky and VDC Research on securing operational technology environments, the primary risks are inadequate security measures, insufficient resources allocated to OT cybersecurity, challenges surrounding regulatory compliance, and the complexities of IT/OT integration.

Read more...
Cybersecurity in South Africa
Information Security
According to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2025, cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks, data breaches and IT outages, are now the top global business risk, marking their fourth year at the top.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.