DarkFiber Consulting – IT Managed Services

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of an increase in public reports of phishing scams related to recent bank acquisitions. Due to an increase in this activity, DarkFiber Consulting would like to remind users to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited email that could be a potential phishing scam.

Phishing scams may appear as requests for users to verify personal and bank account information, enroll in additional bank services, or activate new security features. The email messages may contain a link that, when clicked, will take the user to a fraudulent web site that appears to be a legitimate bank web site. The users may be asked to provide personal information or that can further expose them to future compromises. Additionally, these fraudulent web sites may contain malicious code.

Users are encouraged to take the following measures to protect themselves from phishing scams:

• Do not follow unsolicited web links received in email messages..
• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Review the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document.
• Review the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports of improved attack toolkits for exploiting vulnerabilities in PDF reader software.

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users to do the following to help mitigate the risks:

• Do not open untrusted files or files of unknown origin.
• Install antivirus software, and keep its virus signature files up to date.
• Regularly apply software patches and updates as supplied by the vendor.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports indicating an increase in the instances of fake antivirus software circulating. These software applications are malicious code, not legitimate antivirus applications. These instances of malicious code are noted as being distributed through spam email messages containing malicious links, instant messages containing malicious links, private messages on social networking sites, infection from other malware, and from visiting compromised websites.

Quite often, this malware attempts to convince users that there is something wrong with their systems. This leads to an attempt persuade the users into purchasing an illegitimate antivirus application. If the user purchases the bogus software, the attacker may be able to obtain personal and credit card information for use in additional scams and fraudulent activity.

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users to perform the following preventative measures to help mitigate the risks:

• Install legitimate antivirus software from a trusted vendor, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links found in email messages or instant messages.
• Use caution when visiting untrusted websites.
• Do not install untrusted software.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports of malware circulating via spam email messages related to the Russia/Georgia conflict. These messages contain factual information about the conflict. The messages also contain download instructions for the user to watch a video that is attached to the message. If a user opens the attachment, malware may be downloaded and installed onto their system.

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users and administrators to take the following preventative measures to help mitigate the security risks:

• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links received in email messages.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports of malware spreading via spam. It has been reported that malware is spreading in spam messages related to the upcoming Olympics and to fake CNN news reports. If a user clicks the link to one of these fake news reports they are prompted to install a Flash Player update. If users attempt to install the update, malware may be downloaded and installed onto their system.

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users and administrators to take the following preventative measures to help mitigate the security risks:

• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links received in email messages.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

Adobe has issued a Security Bulletin warning of malware spreading via a fraudulent Flash Player installer. Adobe warns that a worm is making fraudulent posts on social networking sites. These posts include links that lead to fake sites that prompt users to update their versions of Flash Player. If users attempt to use the installer to make the update, malware may be downloaded and installed onto their systems.

DarkFiber Consulting urges users and administrators to take the following preventative measures to help mitigate the security risks:

• Do not follow unsolicited web links.
• Configure your web browser as described in the Securing Your Web Browser document.
• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports indicating that a new email attack is circulating. This attack uses email messages that appear to be from legitimate airlines and contain information about a bogus e-ticket. These email messages instruct the user to open the attachment to obtain the e-ticket. If a user opens this attachment, a file may be executed to infect the user’s system with malicious code.

Reports, including a posting by Sophos, indicate that these messages have the following characteristics. Please note that these attributes may change at any time.

• The subject line “E-Ticket#XXXXXXXXXX”
• An attachment named “eTicket#XXXX.zip”

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users and administrators to take the following preventative measures to help mitigate the security risks:

• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature file up to date.
• Do not open attachments in unsolicited email messages.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports of a new Storm Worm Campaign. The latest campaign is centered around messages related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Facebook. This Trojan horse virus is spread via an unsolicited email message that contains a link to a malicious website. This website contains a link, that when clicked, may run the executable file “fbi_facebook.exe” to infect the user’s system with malicious code.

Reports, including a posting by Sophos, indicate the following email subject lines are being used. Please note that subject lines can change at any time.

• F.B.I. may strike Facebook
• F.B.I. watching us
• The FBI’s plan to “profile” Facebook
• The FBI has a new way of tracking Facebook
• F.B.I. are spying on your Facebook profiles
• F.B.I. busts alleged Facebook
• Get Facebook’s F.B.I. Files
• Facebook’s F.B.I. ties
• F.B.I. watching you

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users and administrators to take the following preventative measures to help mitigate the security risks:

• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links received in email messages.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

DarkFiber Consulting is aware of public reports of an attack circulating via bogus email messages that claim to be from “US Customs Service.” The messages may contain the subject line “Parcel requires declaration” and indicate that a parcel has been received addressed to the recipient of the email. These messages may also encourage users to open an attachment to the message that may contain malicious code.

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users to do the following to help mitigate the risks:

• Review the alert posted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding this issue.
• Do not open attachments contained in unsolicited email messages.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.
• Install anti-virus software and keep virus signature files up to date.

DarkFiber Consulting will provide additional information as it becomes available.

DarkFiber Consulting has received reports of new Storm Worm activity. The latest activity uses messages that refer to the conflict in the Middle East. This Trojan is spread via unsolicited email messages that contain a link to a malicious website. The website is noted as having the following malicious characteristics which may be used to infect the user’s system with malicious code.

• A video that, when opened, may run the executable file “iran_occupation.exe.”
• A banner add that, when clicked, may run the executable file “form.exe.”
• A hidden iframe linked to “ind.php.”

Reports, including a posting by Sophos, indicate that the following subject lines are being used. Please note that subject lines can change at any time.

• 20000 US soldiers in Iran
• Iran USA conflict developed into war
• More than 10000 Iranians were murdered
• Negotiations between USA and Iran ended in War
• Occupation of Iran
• Plans for Iran attack began
• The Iran’s Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Jihad to USA
• The World War III has already begun
• The begining of The World War III
• The military operation in Iran has begun
• The secret war against Iran
• Third War in Iran
• Third World War has begun
• US Army crossed Iran’s borders
• US Army invaded Iran
• US army is about 20 kilometers from Tegeran
• US soldiers occupied Iran
• USA attacked Iran
• USA declares war on Iran
• USA occupeid Iran
• USA unleashed war on Iran
• War between USA&Iran
• War with Iran is the reality now
• Washington prefers to shoot first

DarkFiber Consulting encourages users and administrators to take the following preventative measures to help mitigate the security risks:

• Install anti-virus software, and keep its virus signature files up-to-date.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links received in email messages.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.