Tags: Apple

Virus writers using iTunes popularity as a weapon

Virus writers are now using the popularity of the iTunes to drop in adware programs on user’s machines. This latest instant messaging worm pretends to be the Apple Computer’s iTunes application and lure user into downloading software through their AIM Instant Messenger. This worm is a new variant of the Opanki worm and uses the popular messaging application to spread around.

The worm was first discovered on July 14 and is for now limited in its infection rate. Antivirus firm Trend Micro has labeled this variant Opanki.Y. It comes as a message on AIM with the message: “This picture never gets old”. It lures users to download a file named iTunes.exe pretending to be the popular software application from the Macintosh maker.

If the user gets tempted into downloading and running the fie, it opens a back door on the infected PC and downloads and installs four adware applications. Bruce Hughes, a senior antivirus researcher at Trend Micro said in a statement on this worm: “We are seeing more worms and viruses that are dropping spyware and adware. The virus writers get money for every install.”

Opanki.Y is not the only worm going around these days. A worm called IM.Dynu hit users of AIM and MSN Messenger on Wednesday. The security agencies have warned the users again to keep their antivirus and anti-Spyware applications updated with the latest definition files and take care on download and running files from unknown sources.