IT in Manufacturing


Autorun-based malware tops BitDefender’s November Top Ten Threat Report

December 2009 IT in Manufacturing

Trojan.AutorunInf.Gen moves out of second place to take the lead.

BitDefender’s Top Ten Threat Report for November is topped by Trojan.AutorunInf.Gen. Trojan.AutorunInf.Gen, which came in second place on October’s list, is a generic family of malware abusing the Autorun feature in Microsoft Windows operating systems. By default, every removable storage device features an autorun.ini script that instructs the computer which file to execute when the medium is plugged in. Malware authors frequently tamper with the file to make it launch miscellaneous malicious applications.

Trojan.Clicker.CM moves down a spot, ranking second with nearly 8% of total infections. Trojan.Clicker.CM is found on websites hosting illegal applications such as cracks, keygens and serial numbers for popular commercial software applications. Clicker.CM is used to force advertisements inside a user’s browser in order to boost advertisement revenue.

Coming in third on this month’s threat report is Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen.  Responsible for almost 6% of global infections, Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen relies on the Microsoft Windows Server Service RPC Handling Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (MS08-67) in order to spread onto other computers in the local network. It also restricts users’ access to Windows Update and security vendor websites. Newer variants of the Downadup worm install rogue antivirus applications, among others.

Trojan.Wimad takes fourth place with over 5% of global infections. Trojan.Wimad exploits the capability of ASF files to automatically download the appropriate codec from a remote location in order to deploy infected binary files on the host system.

Exploit.PDF-JS.Gen is a generic detection for specially crafted PDF files which exploit different vulnerabilities found in Adobe PDF Reader's Javascript engine in order to execute malicious code on a user's computer. Upon opening an infected PDF file, a specially crafted Javascript code triggers the download of malicious binaries from remote locations. Exploit.PDF-JS.Gen comes in fifth with 3,23% of the global infections.

Win32.Sality.OG ranks sixth with 2,57% of the infections triggered globally. Win32.Sality.OG is a polymorphic file infector that appends its encrypted code to executable files (.exe and .scr binaries). In order to hide its presence on the infected machine, it deploys a rootkit and attempts to kill antivirus applications installed locally.

The seventh spot BitDefender’s November Top Ten Threat Report goes to Trojan.Autorun.AET, a malicious code spreading via the Windows shared folders, as well as through removable storage devices. Trojan.Autorun.AET exploits the Autorun feature implemented in Windows for automatically launching applications when an infected storage device is plugged in.

Worm.Autorun.VHG is an Internet/network worm that exploits the Windows MS08-067 vulnerability in order to execute itself remotely using a specially crafted RPC (remote procedure call) package. This approach is also used by Win32.Worm.Downadup. Worm.Autorun.VHG ranks eight with 1,59% of global infections.

Trojan.Inject.RA is a password-stealing Trojan that mostly targets Lineage II computer players. This specific variant has a keylogging component that intercepts users’ keystrokes and sends them to a remote attacker via HTTP or SMTP protocols.

Trojan.Downloader.Bredolab.AZ rounds out the list in tenth place with 1,20% of globally infected systems. Disguised as a Microsoft Word document, the Trojan drops a DLL file and registers it as a Browser Helper Object. Trojan.Downloader.Bredolab.AZ monitors users’ keyboard input via a keylogging component and sends the data to a website located in Russia.

BitDefender’s November 2009 Top 10 E-Threat list includes:

1 Trojan.AutorunINF.Gen 8,45

2 Trojan.Clicker.CM 7,87

3 Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen 5,62

4 Trojan.Wimad.Gen.1 5,00

5 Exploit.PDF-JS.Gen 3,23

6 Win32.Sality.OG 2,57

7 Trojan.Autorun.AET 2,05

8 Worm.Autorun.VHG 1,59

9 Trojan.Inject.RA 1,45

10 Trojan.Downloader.Bredolab.AZ 1,20

Others 60,97

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





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Next-generation road-legal race car.
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) will move to the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software and use it to develop the next generation of its single-seater road-legal race car, Mono.

Read more...
Cybersecurity at a crossroads
IT in Manufacturing
here’s a growing unease in boardrooms, data centres and cabinet offices across South Africa. It’s not just about economic headwinds or political uncertainty, it’s about something quieter, more technical and yet just as dangerous - the rising tide of cyber threats.

Read more...
Enabling a sustainable industrial organisation
IT in Manufacturing
This article explains the top sustainability trends and key actions that you can leverage to become a more sustainable organisation.

Read more...
Navigating discrete manufacturing in South Africa through digitalisation
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa’s discrete manufacturing sector faces mounting pressure from global competition, fragmented supply chains and outdated infrastructure. In this complex environment, digitalisation is a critical lever for survival, resilience and growth.

Read more...
Africa’s pragmatic approach to AI and how data centres are enabling it
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
In Africa, the current AI momentum is driven by a fundamental need, building a resilient digital infrastructure that addresses the real-world challenges of the continent’s communities.

Read more...
World first simulation of error-correctable quantum computers
IT in Manufacturing
Quantum computers still face a major hurdle on their pathway to practical use cases, their limited ability to correct the arising computational errors. In a world first, researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have unveiled a method for simulating specific types of error-corrected quantum computations.

Read more...
Platform to accelerate supply chain decarbonisation
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric has launched Zeigo Hub by Schneider Electric, a powerful new digital platform designed to help organisations decarbonise their supply chains at scale.

Read more...
Future-ready data centres
IT in Manufacturing
The white paper ‘Future-Ready Data Centres’ by Black & Veatch outlines how integrating sustainable design principles not only helps meet ESG goals but also ensures reliability, operational efficiency and business continuity in the face of climate change and growing digital demand.

Read more...
Sustainable energy management
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Utilising its innovative ONE approach technology, Siemens provides complete transparency on resource consumption and offers data-driven optimisation recommendations for sustainable energy management.

Read more...
Enhancing operational safety and efficiency through advanced risk-based modelling
IT in Manufacturing
Now, more than ever, capital and operational cost can be reduced while enhancing operational safety and increasing production uptime by applying transformative methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling.

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