Swine Flu Malware Infects Your PC, Not You

Swine Flu Malware Infects Your PC, Not You

12.02.09

by Reuters


BOSTON (Reuters) - Hackers are spreading a vicious computer virus through spam email messages that urge recipients to visit a bogus website offering vaccinations to protect them against another virus—the one that causes swine flu.

The email purports to be from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, directing them to what looks like an official government website to fill out a vaccination form, said researchers from security firms Symantec Corp and AppRiver.

Security researchers said they began seeing millions of spam messages on Tuesday as part of a scheme to infect computers with malicious software that lets hackers take control of computers.

More at: Swine Flu Malware Infects Your PC, Not You - Reviews by PC Magazine

This is what the spammed email looks like. If recipients click on the link, it takes them to a bogus website where they're asked to register their details for a vaccination. Clicking through takes them to a "Download Archive" link, which triggers the malicious executable.

I just ran into another reference with a different title on the article pointing where the servers are according to McAfee.

According to rival security company McAfee, the fake CDC site is being hosted on servers located in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, India and Malaysia.

Messages arrive bearing subject lines such as "State Vaccination H1N1 Program, "Governmental registration program on the H1N1 vaccination" and "Create your personal Vaccination Profile," McAfee added.

The full page report is seen at Botnet continues massive H1N1 malware campaign