FBI warning on bin Laden-tied malware

[Turborama]

Source: UPI

Published: May 4, 2011 at 3:00 AM

WASHINGTON -- Unsolicited e-mails purporting to show photos or videos of Osama bin Laden's killing may contain computer-damaging and identity-stealing viruses, the FBI said.

The malicious software, or "malware," can embed itself in computers and spread to users' contact lists and then -- disguised as the user -- infect the systems of associates, friends, and family members, the FBI said.

The viruses are often programmed to steal personally identifiable information, the FBI said in a statement Tuesday.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a United Press International question about who might be responsible for the hostile software, or to a UPI query on whether the malware was related to an Infosecurity report numerous computer-security vendors identified malicious Web sites popping up when people searched bin Laden's name online.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/05/04/FBI-warning-on-bin-Laden-tied-malware/UPI-87571304492400/

[Earth Bound Misfit]

1. From F-Secure Labs...

Yes, Fotos_Osama_Bin_Laden.exe is Malware http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00002152.html

Of course, running this file won't show pictures of dead bin Laden. Instead it executes a banking trojan belonging to the Banload family. It will install itself on the system (as msapps\msinfo\42636.exe) and starts to monitor your online banking sessions (via a BHO), trying to redirect your payments to wrong accounts.

[hlthe2b]

2. Conflicted on this as much as I hate those who would put out trojans

Frankly, if they are going to do it, let it be associated with gruesome fake photos of Dead OBL and preferably all the beheading videos of past years. Perversely appropriate, in some small way though I do hope those propagating malware are caught and imprisoned.

[Turborama]

3. Thanks for verifying the alert

I'm worried about clicking on the link you provided, what does it take you to?

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. I've seen a ton of this stuff on Facebook, too

various variations of spam posts urging you to click some link to see the leaked photo/video of the Sheikh's execution; unfortunately a lot of my friends have been clicking on the junk (have yet to see it land on my wall yet though).