Beware How You Google

[Tami]

Beware How You Google
By Ryan Naraine

Updated: Security researchers warn that a one-letter typo in Google's domain name could lead to a massive virus- and spyware-infection attack.

A simple misspelling of Google's domain name could lead to a Web surfer's worst nightmare.

In a new twist to the old practice of "typosquatting," virus writers have registered a slight variation of Google Inc.'s popular search-engine site to take advantage of any users who botch the spelling of the google.com URL.

The malicious site, googkle.com, is infested with Trojan droppers, downloaders, backdoors and spyware, and an unsuspecting user only has to visit the page to be at risk of computer hijack attacks, according to a [url=\"http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/googkle.shtml\"][u]warning[/u][/url] from Finnish anti-virus vendor F-Secure Corp.

When googkle.com is opened in a browser, two pop-up windows are immediately launched with redirects to third-party sites loaded with scripts. One of the sites, ntsearch.com, downloads and runs a "pop.chm" file, and the other, toolbarpartner.com, downloads and runs a "ddfs.chm" file, F-Secure said.

"Both files are downloaded using exploits and they contain exploits themselves to run embedded executable files. One of the Web pages of the 'toolbarpartner.com' website downloads a file named 'pic10.jpg' using an exploit. This JPG file is actually an executable that replaces [the] Windows Media Player application," the warning reads.

The typosquatters also launch a steady stream of pop-up Web pages with different .exe files.

One batch of exploits loads a malware package that includes two backdoors, two Trojan droppers, a proxy Trojan, a spying Trojan and a Trojan downloader.

The exploits appear to be targeting users of Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer browser. A spokeswoman for Microsoft told Ziff Davis Internet News that the rogue site was attempting to exploit some vulnerabilities that were fixed in past security updates.

"[Users running] Windows XP SP2 are protected from this. Also, users who are up to date on supported platforms are protected," the spokeswoman said.

According to F-Secure's alert, the attack scenario also includes a separate Trojan dropper that copies itself to the Windows System folder with a random name and drops a DLL that modifies the HOSTS file to block connection to several anti-virus Web sites.

Another executable also drops a DLL file into the Windows System folder and prompts a fake virus alert on a desktop. The fake alert warns the user about a computer infection and prompts the user to yet another malicious site promising virus protection.

The Web site offers links to several different sites offering anti-virus and spyware cleaners for download. Those downloads all turn out to be a "toolbar.exe" file that is actually an adware installer, which installs a spyware toolbar known as "Perez," F-Secure said.

The practice of typosquatting was first spotted in the late 1990s and was a common tactic for pornography sites, used to generate traffic from misspelled Internet addresses.

Editor's Note: This story was updated to include comments from Microsoft.

[url=\"http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1790348,00.asp?kc=ewnws042805dtx1k0000599\"]source: eWeek[/url]

[radar]

Thanks for the warning.

[Vercz]

[color=\"green\"]yet another reason to use a mozilla produced browser??

all mozilla browsers come built in with a google search feature, so you dont have to chance typing 'google' <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... iggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' /> <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/good.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(Y)\' /> [/color]

[Scott]

[quote name=\'Vercz\' date=\'Apr 29 2005, 02:04 PM\'][color="green"]yet another reason to use a mozilla produced browser??[/color]
[align=right][post="23437"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/align][/quote]

Definatly another proof that IE doesn't deserve to keep its top spot. Problem is that IE is standard on every Windows system produced and therefore I can't see Mozzila (or Firefox), Opera or the others ever taking IE's crown. Unless, of course, Windows suddenly stops selling. Regardless of how much I dislike Windows, can't deny that it makes things easier for newbs.
We can all hope for the day that Firefox becomes the default browser on Windows discs... <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... lleyes.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':rolleyes:\' />

[Josh]

[quote name=\'Vulture\' date=\'Apr 29 2005, 10:37 AM\']We can all hope for the day that Firefox becomes the default browser on Windows discs...  <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... lleyes.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':rolleyes:\' />
[align=right][post="23446"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/align][/quote]

<img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /LSHIC.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':lol:\' /> <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... ghing1.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(lol1)\' /> <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... ntlaf2.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(laf)\' />

[Scott]

You never know what could happen, someone could get Gates and pressure him until he accepted to remove IE <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... >/nunu.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(sp3c)\' />