An e-mail claiming to contain a link to "secret songs and
photos" of Michael Jackson is one of the latest malware spam
attacks to exploit the singer's death, says security firm
Sophos.
Just
eight hours after Jackson's death, cybercriminals unleashed the
first wave of related spam, and the security firm has reported
several
spam
attacks,
scams
and
malware
associated with the singer in the past week.
The latest spam e-mail (shown below) appears to come from
sarah@michaeljackson.com with the subject "remembering Michael
Jackson".
However, it contains a link to an attached zip file, which will
infect a user's computer with a mass-mailing worm if opened, warns
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
"Opening the attachment exposes you to infection - and if your
computer is hit you will be spreading the worm onto other internet
users," said Cluley.
The Mal/ZipMal-B and Mal/VB-AD malware is also capable of
spreading as an Autorun component on USB memory sticks, he
warned.
Interest in Jackson has long been exploited by cybercriminals,
said Cluley.
In 2004, a Trojan horse was spammed out claiming to contain
photographic evidence of Jackson abusing a young boy.
The following year a malware campaign was spammed out claiming
to contain breaking news that the music superstar had committed
suicide.
Earlier this year, scammers managed to advertise their offers on
Jackson's official website promoting his planned concerts at the O2
in London later this year.
