CEOs targeted in spam spear attack
18/04/2008 18:35:45
Spam emails are increasingly targeting company chief executives, according to an antivirus firm.
Norman Data Defence Systems has issued a warning after chief executives worldwide received a series of false subpoenas encouraging them to install a fake plug-in carrying a Trojan.
The IT security provider said that victims receive an email telling them they have been sued and need to install the plug-in in order to see the relevant legal documents.
Once this is done, criminals have access to the entire computer and company data. An attack directed at a specific group of people in this fashion is known as a spear phishing attack.
Trygve Aasland, chief executive at the company issuing the warning, said: "It is likely that a large number of people are tricked and infected, given that these emails look very real."
The news follows reports carried by Public Technology.net earlier this week indicating that 2008 Information Security Breaches Survey findings showed malware was evolving as criminal organisations increasingly employ writers to put together viruses to open security pathways, which can then be further exploited to lucrative effect.
