Privacy, Security & Virus Information

Sunspot could leave you burned

It seems like every few weeks, a new malware hits the scene, and each one more powerful and difficult to deal with than the one that came before it.

To be honest, the latest one to spring to prominence is a bit of a "sleeper" having been around for a few months. Geared towards attacking computers operating with the Windows, Sunspot has only recently begun to demonstrate its capabilities a malware designed to create financial havoc among the business community as well as private individuals.

Sunspot has been identified as targeting both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows platforms starting from Windows XP and up to and including Windows 7. The malware is recognized as being capable of self-installing in non-administrator and administrator accounts and once installed, sets about targeting both Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers. Industry security experts admit to being taken aback by the power of Sunspot describing it as "a very modern malware platform with sophisticated fraud capabilities" as well as being difficult to detect.

If Sunspot remains undetected for too long on a computer it will freely carry out the following.

• Access bank account balance figures as well as most recent login date.
• Access additional online banking details from the user, including full security PIN/password, and answers to the confidential questions that banks will ask account holders to provide in order to access sensitive identification information.
• Access credit card information such as card number, ATM PIN, CVV number and expiration date.

Figures show that only twenty percent of the anti-virus programs on the market are capable of detecting, tracking and eradicating the Sunspot malware.

Equally concerning, the detection rate for Sunspot by leading anti-virus programs is painfully low. According to a Virus Total analysis, only nine of 42 anti-virus programs tested, or 21%, currently detect Sunspot.

The success of Sunspot in evading detection for so long and disguising it powers once again illustrates how important it is for the computer owners and users to protect their security and not in a half hearted manner. Viruses are becoming more commonplace and sophisticated and the only way to fight fire is with a powerful extinguisher, and that means the best anti-virus programs available, There is nothing surer that once the flames of Sunspot have been put out, there will be another malware knocking on the door.

 

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