BitDefender Products Detect JS.Blackworm.A Yahoo Email Worm
Proof of Concept Worm Harmless Now but Shows Potential for Real Danger
BitDefender®, an award-winning provider of antivirus software and data security solutions, today announced that its customers can detect the new JS.Blackworm.A worm that has been able to spread through an unpatched vulnerability in Yahoo Mail.
The worm spreads via Javascript through a vulnerability in Yahoo and Yahoo Groups emails, potentially infecting more than 100 million worldwide Yahoo users. Users of the new beta version of Yahoo Mail are not affected by this worm. Once infected email has been opened, the worm automatically executes and attempts to gather and contact all email addresses containing either a @yahoo.com or @yahoogroups.com address. Currently designed only as a proof of concept malware and not containing a damaging payload, the worm was designed to only test how well it could be spread through this vulnerability.
BitDefender provided its customers with the ability to detect the worm as soon as it was found in the wild. Following detection, simple deletion of infected emails is all that is required.
“This is a very well written worm that although harmless right now, opens a Pandora’s Box for potential future Yahoo Mail-focused malware. The designer obviously has a great deal of understanding of web programming and this particular vulnerability, and is another example of criminal malware organizations using better trained designers,” said Bogdan Dumitru, BitDefender’s CTO. “Again, BitDefender has shown that we are smarter than even the most gifted virus writer and our customers were safe from this vulnerability within minutes of it hitting the wild.”
For more information about the JS.Blackworm.A worm, visit: http://www.bitdefender.com/VIRUS-246957-en--JS.Blackworm.A.html
About BitDefender®
BitDefender is the creator of one of the industry's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified security software. Since its inception in 2001, BitDefender has continued to raise the bar and set new standards in proactive threat prevention. Every day, BitDefender protects tens of millions of home and corporate users across the globe - giving them the peace of mind of knowing that their digital experiences will be secure. BitDefender solutions are distributed by a global network of value-added distribution and reseller partners in more than 100 countries worldwide. More information about BitDefender and its products are available at the company’s security solutions press room. Additionally, BitDefender’s www.malwarecity.com provides background and the latest updates on security threats helping users stay informed in the everyday battle against malware.