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Daily news podcastIT security experts have intercepted a previously undocumented Trojan virus with a novel payload that attempts to send spam SMS messages to mobile phones.
The Delf-HA Trojan horse (Troj/Delf-HA) infects PCs then contacts a Russian website to download instructions on which spam campaign to run. It can then plague mobile phone users by sending them unsolicited junk text messages, warned security firm Sophos.
Analysis of the Trojan's pathology shows that it sends spam SMS by using the 'Send a text message' facility found on the websites of several Russian mobile phone network providers.
"Mobile phone spam can not only be a nuisance, it can cost the phone owner money. In the past we have seen SMS spam campaigns designed to encourage recipients to ring an expensive phone number, or sign up for a costly chat-line service," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.
"Now SMS spammers are taking a leaf out of the book of email spammers, and using unprotected innocent PCs to pass on their unwanted messages."
According to Sophos, only a small number of instances of the Trojan have been sighted so far. Further information about Troj/Delf-HA can be found here.
See also:
Epidemic of junk messages will get worse, finds report 09 Feb 2005
Text your questions to the PM and watch it live on web cam 18 Nov 2004
Global market grows 23 per cent to 164.1 million units in Q3, reports IDC 12 Nov 2004
Dangerous new strain exploits unpatched IE buffer overflow 12 Nov 2004
Multimedia messaging set to become leading revenue generator for operators by 2008 29 Sep 2004All Enterprise Security Technology
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