Malware Infects Yahoo IM; Spreads through fake browser
23 May, 2006, 5:00 pm IST | by
Priyanka Pradhan
| 
| A Yahoo! IM spam message that opens up a fake Internet Explorer on PCs has been detected by anti- malware firm, FaceTime Security Labs. The yhoo32.explr opens a ‘safety browser' which in turn leads the user to a site that installs spyware on the computer. Since the safety browser used by malware closely resembles the Internet Explorer icon, the virus goes undetected by the user. Once the spyware has infected the PC, all Yahoo messenger contacts will receive a spurious website link between IM conversations. This link will then lead the contact to a website which automatically installs the ‘safety browser' onto his/ her PC, spreading the virus further. Tyler Wells, Senior Director of Research at FaceTime Security Labs says, "This is the first instance of a complete web browser hijack without the user's awareness. Similar 'rogue' browsers, such as 'Yapbrowser', have demonstrated the potential for serious damage by directing end-users to potentially illegal or illicit material. 'Rogue' browsers seem to be the hot new thing among hackers." In addition to the menace of unwanted spyware, the safety browser also plays looped music that cant be stoped! Moreover, the safety browser cannot be easily uninstalled so this is something Yahoo! Messenger users had better beware of. |
Tags: Yahoo! Messenger , Malware , FaceTime Security Labs , Safety Browser , Internet Explorer , yhoo32.explr , Virus , Bug , Trojan , Exploit , Windows XP
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