February 10, 2010
Blended Threat Sighting: Prominent Security Expert Spoofed in Malware Distribution Spam
An interesting and novel (but not unexpected) blended threat has been sighted by spam fighter Scott Panzer over in the Proofpoint Attack Response Center.
Scott tells me that there's a spam message making the rounds that includes a malicious software (malware) link that is spoofed to appear like it comes from prominent security researcher Jeffrey Carr, author of the book Cyber Warfare and CEO of GreyLogic. The spam spoofs his email address and quotes an excert from one of his recent blog postings, titled "Russian spear phishing attack against .mil and .gov employees." You can read that post by Jeffrey Carr here:
The spam message goes on to offer a protective patch "from Microsoft" to download and install. Needless to say, that supposed patch is actually malware.
Scott notes that Proofpoint Spam Detection has been updated to block this malicious email and known variants.
Yet another good example of why I encourage email users never to click on links contained in email messages! Also, because of the risks associated with malicious links like this, it's important to always have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on any net-connected machine.
Of course, just as it's unlikely that a Nigerian general would contact you via email to request your help in moving a large sum of money to an offshore bank account, it is extremely unlikely that a security expert would spam you to suggest an "urgent security patch."
Stay safe, friends! I figure it's a good time to recap my "Seven Simple Rules for Staying Safe Online":
1. Be aware: View with suspicion any email with requests for personal IDs, financial information, user names or passwords. Your bank, online services, government agencies or legitimate online stores are unlikely to ask you for this type of information via email. Consumers should also be suspicious of similar emails that appear to come from an employer or friend. Never send personal financial information such as credit card numbers and Social Security numbers via email.
Today’s malicious emails and phishing attacks are disguised as communications from all sorts of organizations, including government agencies, software vendors and money transfer services, as these examples from the Proofpoint Email Security Blog show.
2. Don’t click: If you receive a suspicious email, don’t click the links in the email or open file attachments from anything but 100 percent trusted sources. Links embedded in emails may take you to fraudulent sites that look similar or identical to the legitimate “spoofed” site. Instead of clicking, open a browser and type the actual Web address for the site into the address bar. Alternatively, call the company using a phone number you already know.
3. Be secure: When you are shopping online, entering important information such as credit card numbers, or updating personal information, make sure you’re using a secure Web site. If you are on a secure Web server, the Web address will begin with “https://” instead of the usual “http://”. Most Web browsers also show an icon (such as Internet Explorer’s “padlock” icon) to indicate that the page you are viewing is secure.
4. Don’t fill out email forms: Never fill out forms within an email, especially those asking for personal information. Instead, visit the company’s actual Web site and ensure that the page you are using is secure before entering sensitive information.
5. Keep an eye on your accounts: Check the accuracy of your credit card and bank statements on a regular basis, especially during this time of continued economic unease. If you see anything suspicious, contact the financial institution immediately.
6. Get social media savvy: Email isn’t the only attack vector used by spammers and scammers. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are increasingly used to deliver the same kinds of scams and malicious links to unsuspecting users. Spammers and malware writers are riding the social media wave, commonly using malicious, but convincing, emails that masquerade as notifications such as friend requests or message notifications. Keep all of the preceding tips in mind when using the latest communication tools.
7. Make security your first stop: Always make sure that your net-connected computers are protected by a good desktop anti-virus or Internet security solution—and that you keep your subscription up to date! Reputable vendors include F-Secure, McAfee and Symantec. Be extremely wary of Web pop-ups that offer “free security scans” or that inform you that your machine is infected with a virus. Such offers commonly lead to fraudulent anti-virus solutions that are actually malicious software.
