After lying low for several weeks, hackers responsible for spreading the Storm Trojan have returned to the attack with e-mail that leads to an exploit-filled Web site and a laughing cat, said researchers today.
Storm -- also known as Nuwar or Peacomm -- is a Trojan horse designed to compromise Windows-powered computers, then add those machines to a growing botnet. Although the size of the botnet Storm has acquired has been disputed, the most conservative estimates put it in the hundreds of thousands.
The malware has been seeded using several attack vectors, but the most common have been e-mail campaigns that contain attachments, or which link to malicious Web sites. Those sites then infect visiting vulnerable PCs using drive-by downloads or by convincing users to click on additional links that then download an executable.
Attacks typically come in waves, researchers have noted, that rise, crest and then subside, while the hackers behind the botnet have become infamous for crafting persuasive messages and tricking users into infecting themselves.
"After a few weeks of low activity from the Storm gang, they...changed the e-mail messages and also the Web site," said Patrik Runald>, a researcher at Helsinki, Finland-based F-Secure Corp., on the company's blog.
Starting yesterday, Storm's backers began sending messages that bear the text, "Here is the new Psycho cat card," and that contain a link to a URL. Recipients who click on the link reach a site posing as a humorous greeting, with a Shockwave clip of a laughing kitten, complete with soundtrack, said McAfee Inc.'s Dmitry Gryaznov. The page, however, is loaded with multiple drive-by exploits as well as links to the "SuperLaugh.exe" executable. That file is actually a recent variant of Storm.
"Of course, pretty much wherever you click on the page, you get nothing but Nuwar," said Gryaznov on his company's research blog.
Trojan Updates
New Asus Gaming Laptops:G2K, A7K, and F7K
It looks like gamers not wanting to be tied to their desks will soon have a few new options to consider from Asus, which is apparently set to release no less than three new gaming-minded laptops. At the head of the pack is the company's latest G2 model, the G2K, which boasts a 17.1 -inch 1440 x 900 display, along with a 2.0GHz Turion 64 X2 TL60 processor, 2GB RAM, a 200GB 7200 rpm hard drive, and ATI HD2600 graphics with 256MB of dedicated memory, among other fairly top-end features (not to mention the usual matching backpack and mouse). Further on down the line, the company's new A7K model boasts many of the same specs, with the exception of a slightly slower 1.8GHz Turion 64 X2 TL56 processor, while the F7K opts for a 1.9GHz Turion 64 X2 TL58 processor and ATI HD2400 graphics. No word on a price for any of them, but they're apparently all set to officially launch sometime this month.
Motorola RAZR2 V8 Special Edition
Motorola today announced a special edition of the new RAZR2, available in limited quantities, in time to celebrate the holiday season in style. The signature RAZR2 form factor has been re-imagined and reconfigured in the most luxurious materials - bathed in gold and clothed in snake-like skin, and includes a full suite of features and accessories for conscious consumers seeking a glamorous design. Glamorous design – The special edition of RAZR2 is eye-catching and ready for its close up:
* Elegant 18K gold-plated accents showcase a luminous, black slate, vacuum metal finish.
* A soft-touch back, embossed with a sensual snake skin texture. * Ultra-slim design at 12.05 mm. * Luxurious details such as elegant pin stripes on the CLI lens, an engraved diamond-cut pattern on the sideband and a linear etching on the navigation wheel.
Feature-rich – not to be out done by its looks, this Special Edition of RAZR2 has a full suite of in-demand features:
* Motorola’s patented CrystalTalk Technology and quad-band technology make calls clearer, no matter where you are in the world, by automatically adjusting the audio controls to account for background noise. * Large, colour external display that provides touch-sensitive music controls, picture caller ID, album art, self-portrait camera display, and more. * Opera Mobile Browser 8.5 enables easy and intuitive Web surfing. * A 2.0 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom records the moment with high resolution pictures and also provides up to 2 hours of video capture and playback.
Maximizes the music experience – Fashion and music go hand in hand, and the same is true for the special edition of RAZR2 V8 with:
* Up to 2GB of on-board storage for up to 1,000 songs. * A powerhouse processor for fast over-the-air downloads. * Windows Media Player 11 delivers simple music management and playback and enables access to over 200 online music stores. * Consumers can take advantage of the large external screen to manage their music and read and respond to texts2 – without opening the flip.
This special edition of RAZR2 comes complete with a black slate Motorola H680 Bluetooth headset with 18k gold-plated accents, included in-box. With up to approximately 8 hours of crisp, clear talk time and 8 days of standby time, the petite and stylish H680 is the perfect companion to the special edition of RAZR2. A wired stereo headset for music enjoyment, a matching patent leather carrying case with mini strap, and a polishing cloth are also included in box, adding even more style to a device that delivers the complete mobile experience.
Motorola U9
12 October 2007 – Motorola is showing off the stylish side of music with the introduction of MOTO U9. Through unique advancements in mobile entertainment technology, U9 makes music a multi-sensory experience and lets consumers rock out and look good – with an elegant form factor, Stereo Bluetooth, CrystalTalk Technology, external touch sensitive music controls and floating, animated screensavers that appear on the external display.
U9 delivers cutting edge mobile music capabilities:
# Easy transition from phone to music and back again, MOTO U9 allows one-touch access to your library and pauses music as calls come through.
# Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 makes the U9 ready to rock as soon as it’s out of the box, with simple synching and automatic recognition of the device.
# Integrated music player supports multiple audio files: Windows WMAv10 plus Janus DRM, MP3, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ enhanced.
# Ability to download the latest music hits from more than 200 music stores onto the device from a PC using USB 2.0 for speedy transfers and data access.
Additional in-demand features round out a complete mobile experience:
* Up to 25MB of on-board user memory and an optional microSD memory card enables storage of 4GB of music, pictures and other media.
* Innovative CrystalTalk technology for better call clarity
* Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology enables users to enjoy a wireless mobile stereo experience.
* Advanced “speaker independent” voice recognition dialling and talking phone features take “hands free” to the next level.
* A 2.0 megapixel with 8x zoom camera, multi-shot feature, video capture and playback, and light and landscape viewfinder delivers quality, printable and sharable images.
* Impressive messaging capabilities via MMS, SMS, WVIM, Push Email.
“MOTO U9 combines the surprising with the familiar, the latest in premium design and inventive controls with the next popular spin on Motorola’s classic clamshell design to deliver the most stylish and dynamic mobile music experience,” said Rob Shaddock, senior vice president of Feature and Mass Market Phones, Mobile Devices, Motorola. “MOTO U9 embodies the stylish side of Motorola’s music-enabled devices, further building on our strong portfolio of products for a diverse global audience.”
Seamless, small and light weight, the curvaceous U9 has been designed to fit perfectly in the pocket or hand. Its metallic gloss finish comes to life with animated screen savers that appear to “float” across the borderless external display. The external display is not just for show, however, as touch sensitive, digital keys let users control their music player from the outside.
Additional Capabilities
Delivering on its commitment to provide the world’s most compelling mobile music experience, Motorola has also created an ecosystem of additional products, accessories and services that make it easy to access, download and enjoy a wide array of digital music.
Through an exclusive arrangement with recording artist Fergie, in select markets Motorola will provide exclusive content on the phone, promotional activities, and TV and print campaigns.
“Fergie is a GRAMMY Award-winning, multi-platinum superstar artist as well as a woman on the cutting edge of modern style. She is the perfect icon to help us communicate to consumers that style and music are integral to people as a way to express themselves – and that MOTO U9 embodies those qualities,” said Joni Christensen, director of Global Music Marketing, Mobile Devices, Motorola. More information about these promotions will be available soon.
