Organization Reads Alarm About Malware Videos On YouTube

The American organization Digital Citizens Alliance has sounded the alarm about Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and the fact that to find many tutorials on the use of this type of malware on YouTube. Something that both the makers and Google eventually benefit.

Remote Access Trojans existence for many years and give an attacker complete control of the computer of the victim. To install the RAT to a victim is often used social engineering, in which the victim is enticed to open a file and thus infect their computer. It involves, for example the e-mail attachments or files that are exchanged via Skype or social media. Once the victim opens the file, the attacker can for example watch the webcam or to save keystrokes.

Trading

On the internet there are several forums in which computers are traded infected with a RAT, or where images are seen from victims who were filmed secretly through their own webcam. A practice in which in 2008 was warned before. Software for making a RAT is easy to locate over the internet. In addition there are numerous instructional videos on YouTube, according to the Digital Citizens Alliance . Videos which both creators and Google make money because Google shows ads in the videos. "No company, especially one as big as Google, would earn a penny to videos that show the faces of victims and their IP addresses," said the organization. If it is to be YouTube videos now also controlled manually with the Digital Citizens Alliance.

Human Nature

To turn the call force was a lengthy report ( pdf ) published on Remote Access Trojans (the report at the time of writing not available, but still in the cache to find Google). In it is mainly create the impression that consumers nothing against this type of malware can do, rather than focusing on the prevention of an infection caused by a RAT, namely, by no unsolicited attachments, to open files or links.

There will be a security expert to speak which is precisely that people can do anything if they become infected. "Links are meant to be opened. Many people clicking hundreds of links per week," said Megan Horner Blackfin Security. "It goes in. Against human nature it is difficult to do, even if you see something that you should wait." In the conclusion of the report, however, called in short to awareness campaigns. In addition, the Digital Citizens Alliances which investigative agencies have more resources to deal with such crimes and would "hackers" that should be punished violate the privacy of their victims.