RSS RSS Twitter Twitter
macnn

09/24/2008, 3:45pm, EDT

Wednesday, September 24th

Circulating Trojan file targets iPhone followers

A Trojan attack in circulation is exploiting interest in the iPhone, say researchers with Panda Security. The company identifies the malware as Banker.LKCTrojan, an app which masquerades as a video of the iPhone. The associated file -- named "VideoPhone[1]_exe" -- specifically operates through a technique called pharming, in which DNS information is sabotaged to redirect a person to a malicious website.

Once run, the Banker malware conceals its activities by opening a browser window, and displaying a page selling iPhones. In reality Banker is modifying the host file of a victim's computer, switching the IP addresses associated with bank domain names, so they instead point to a spoof site. Here a person is prompted to share information such as account numbers and passwords, enabling easy identity theft.

The primary defense against Banker is said to be antivirus software, as this may prevent the malware from altering host files. Detecting infection is said to be fairly simple, as spoof sites will often have misspelled URLs, and lack security certificates by companies such as Verisign.


Filed under: iPhone, security, networking

, , 7comments, del.icio.us, slashdot, digg, buzz , Twitter



7 comments
Reader Reactions (Please use <i></i> for italic text)

subscribe to comments
for this article




Expand All
   Global Settings

exe?

4
09/24, 4:02pm, EDT

Although the article is conspicuously silent on the subject, I'm guessing that the "exe" bit means this is a Windows problem? Add this to the list of trojans that I don't have to care about. Am I in the wrong place or is this still MAC-NN?

Forum Regular
Joined Oct 1999
User is offline

um, no....

0
09/24, 4:44pm, EDT

The primary defense against Banker is said to be antivirus software,

Gee, and I would think the primary defense would be not to play a 'video' file posing as an application.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline

Clarification

5
09/24, 5:29pm, EDT

Just to clarify, this article is all about malware that runs under Microsoft Windows, and will be typically downloaded by a Windows user using Internet Explorer, and explicitly executed by the user.

The technology involved here has zero to do with the iPhone, the Macintosh, or Apple computer.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2006
User is offline

Panda site

1
09/24, 5:41pm, EDT

Strangely, the Panda link above doesn't have any searchable reference to the details of this trojan, nor does a google search for banker.lkctrojan.

So, what the heck?!

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2007
User is offline

so was there a MacNN...

1
09/24, 6:58pm, EDT

...article, back in the day, that said: "Circulating 'I Love You' file targets Hopeless Romantics"...?

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline

People would be pretty...

2
09/24, 7:59pm, EDT

hard up to watch that video. There must be hundreds of iPhone videos on youtube. I guess a file like this could catch some naive users. How does it get on a person's computer? Through mail delivery or something?

I can just imagine how SkyMarket and Android Store will be inflicted with this kind of stuff without anyone screening uploaded apps. Sounds scary to me.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2007
User is offline

Ummm....

1
09/24, 10:41pm, EDT

Yeah....Panda Security....nuff said.


On a related note.....

How are all you Windows Users enjoying the latest "AntiVirus 2008" or the "AntiVirus 2009" that has been floating around?

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline
Your Comments

In order to post comments: If you are a registered member, please login with your MacNN Forums username and password otherwise please uncheck the checkbox below.


Registered Member?
macnn forums login:

macnn forums password:

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

RSS Feeds

Have the latest content delivered to your desktop via RSS. Use the links below to get access to a specific blog, news, or reviews feed.



  MacNN -all

  MacNN Reviews

  MacNN Podcasts

  iPodNN

  Electronista

  Left Lane News
Want To Sell Your Laptop? Any Condition - receive Top Cash. Get an instant quote. Free shipping www.CashForLaptops.com

Internet Marketing School - 100% Online: Master SEO, SEM, E Commerce, Media & More with a U of San Francisco Certificate.

Autodesk Inventor For Digital Prototypes: Use Inventor To Virtually Model, Test, and Iterate in 3D & Get To Market Faster!

Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.