Malware


New Mac OS X Trojan Imuler Hides Inside Malicious PDF

Malware that targets Mac OS X isn’t anywhere near catching up to Windows-based malware in terms of volume and variety, but it seems that OS X malware may be adopting some of the more successful tactics that Windows viruses have been using to trick users. Researchers have come across a sample of an OS X-based Trojan that disguises itself as a PDF file, a technique that’s been in favor among Windows malware authors for several years now.

Secure Boot in Windows 8 Worries Researchers

Windows 8, like Windows 7 and Vista before it, is being touted as the most secure version of Windows ever. In past releases, many of the security improvements have come through exploit mitigations such as ASLR and DEP and better software security practices during development. In Windows 8, however, one of the major changes is the addition of UEFI, a BIOS replacement that will include a secure boot sequence to help prevent low-level malware infections. That change, however, is not sitting well with everyone.


The Morto Worm began to make waves just three short weeks ago after working its way through Windows’ Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) but now the worm appears to have an entirely new mode of transport: Jade Dynasty, a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) that is popular in China.

Searching on the Internet is fun. You can find videos of cats making meatloaf, cats playing the hammer dulcimer and cats reading Shakespeare while juggling eggs. Oh, and you can find malware, too. Lots of malware. Researchers at GFI Labs are good at finding that malware, and they’ve come across a number of advertisements in Yahoo and Bing search results that are pointing users who searched for Firefox, Skype or other popular software to malicious sites that instead serve up rootkits and other malware.