Sunbelt Software, an important provider of Windows security software, today released the top ten most prevalent spyware threats for the month of December 2006. The results are based on monthly scans performed by Sunbelt's award-winning antispyware product CounterSpy™. The WinAntiVirusPro threat shows up for the first time in the top ten lists and is a rogue antispyware program that purports to scan and detect malware or other problems on the computer.
The top ten most prevalent spyware threats for the month of December are:
Trojan-Downloader.Zlob.Media-Codec Trojan-Downloader.Zlob.Media-Codec is a trojan that installs rogue security software on the infected machine without notice and consent. It purports to be a needed codec or upgrade to Windows Media Player when users attempt to watch certain adult/porn videos to trick the user into downloading it. Once downloaded, it contacts remote servers and initiates the download of rogue security software such as SpywareQuake.
SpySheriff SpySheriff is a purported antispyware application to scan for and remove spyware from users' computers. SpySheriff is known to be distributed through exploits that also download adware or spyware on users' computers without notice or consent. When SpySheriff is downloaded through an exploit, it puts a red icon in the system tray and shows a false warning that the computer is infected with spyware.
Trojan.Smitfraud Trojan.Smitfraud downloads and installs programs that purport to scan for adware and spyware and typically display false reports of spyware in order to frighten the user into paying for the program.
Zango.SearchAssistant Zango.SearchAssistant opens new browser windows showing websites based on the previous websites you visit. The adware will run in the background on a computer and will periodically direct users to other sponsors' websites, allowing users to compare prices between websites.
VirusBurst VirusBurst is software that purports to scan and detect malware or other problems on the computer, but which attempts to dupe or badger users into purchasing the program by presenting the user with intrusive, deceptive warnings and/or false, misleading scan results.
Virtumonde Virtumonde is an adware program that displays pop-up advertisements on the desktop and also downloads other software from various remote servers. There are many variants of Virtumonde, some with trojan-like behaviors including downloading other software without notice and consent, transmitting information to remote servers without notice and consent, and lowering system security on the infected machine.
ClickSpring.PuritySCAN ClickSpring.PuritySCAN is an adware program that scans a user's Internet Explorer files, including browser cache, cookies and history for pornographic/adult related words and allows the user to delete them.
Trojan.Win32.Qhost.hf Trojan.Win32.Qhost.hf is a trojan that is installed under false or deceptive pretenses or is installed without the user's full knowledge and consent.
WinAntiVirus Pro WinAntiVirusPro is a rogue antispyware program that purports to scan and detect malware or other problems on the computer, but which attempts to dupe or badger users into purchasing the program by presenting the user with intrusive, deceptive warnings and/or false, misleading scan results.
Trojan-Downloader.Gen Trojan-Downloader.Gen is a trojan downloader typically installed through an exploit or some other deceptive means and that facilitates the download and installation of other malware and unwanted software onto a victim's PC.
