http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Infected-Mac-Computers-Worth-43-Cents-in-Cyber-Underworld-653035/ By Brian Prince eWEEK.com 2009-09-25 In a talk about the threats posed by Russian malware affiliate networks, a Sophos security researcher reveals an operation offering people 43 cents per Apple Mac they infected. Affiliate networks can generate serious profits pushing scareware online. New research from Sophos underscores a growing interest in the Mac among cyber-criminals. In a presentation at Virus Bulletin's VB Conference, in Geneva, Sophos Labs researcher Dmitry Samosseiko revealed a malware affiliate network offering 43 cents per infected Mac computer. The offer was the work of a larger network of Russian spammers, malware authors and businesspeople pushing everything from phony watches to medications --lan liance he called the "Partnerka." This goes to show that Apple Macs, which are targeted far less than Microsoft Windows PCs, are not without security threats. "Mac users are not immune to the scareware threat," Samosseiko wrote in a paper released at the conference. "In fact, there are 'codec-partnerka' dedicated to the sale and promotion of fake Mac software. One of the recent examples is Mac-codec.com... he site is no longer available, but just a few months ago it was offering $0.43 for each install and offered various promo materials in the form of MacOS 'video players.'" [...] ________________________________________ Did a friend send you this? From now on, be the first to find out! Subscribe to InfoSec News http://www.infosecnews.orgReceived on Sun Sep 27 2009 - 22:11:20 PDT
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