July 2010
BitDefender Warns iPhone Jailbreaking: Legal, but Dangerous
After the announcement that iPhone jailbreaking is now legal in the United States, a malware-spreading campaign targeting ⌠iPhone unlocking■ fans confirms that cybercriminals never lack imagination.
Owners of iPhones are one step closer to taking total control of their widgets, after the U.S. Copyright Office announced the practice of "jailbreaking" legal, on Monday, July 26th. Now, anyone can jailbreak or unlock any cell phone without fear of legal repercussions. BitDefender╝, an award-winning provider of innovative internet security solutions, is today advising iPhone unlocking fans to pay particular attention to the software they download for this operation.
BitDefender has identified a malware distribution campaign in which users receive an email where they find out they could receive a new application for iPhone jailbreaking. All the email recipient has to do is click a link that will take them to the webpage where the desired software awaits.
As the email recipient goes further into this labyrinth and clicks the link, an exe file attempts to download to their computer. But once saved and run, the executable opens the way for a Trojan.
Identified by BitDefender as Trojan.Generic.3010833, this piece of malware is a keylogger that transmits everything the user writes on the computer to a specific email address, in this particular case to directory[REMOVED]@hotmail.com.
This allows the malware creators to intercept the victim▓s visited sites, usernames, passwords, and bank accounts information - such as pin number, bank account numbers, passwords, etc.
In order to stay safe, BitDefender recommends that users never open suspicious links or attachments without scanning them first. It▓s also advised to install and update a complete antimalware software solution.
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About Bitdefender®
Bitdefender is the creator of one of the world's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified internet security software. The company is an industry pioneer, introducing and developing award-winning protection since 2001. Today, Bitdefender technology secures the digital experience of around 400 million home and corporate users across the globe.
Recently, Bitdefender won a series of important awards and accolades in the global security industry, including "Product of the Year" by AV-Comparatives, "Best Repair 2012" by AV-Test, "Editor's Choice" and "The Best Antivirus for 2013" by PC Mag, that confirmed the antivirus software’s leadership status among security products.
More information about Bitdefender's products is available from the company's security press room. Additionally, Bitdefender publishes the HOTforSecurity blog, where readers can find stories from the underworld of internet fraud, scams, malicious software - and gossip.