A deceased gorilla is aiding the global spread to the extent that antivirus firms are upping its threat rating.
The Wurmark-K appears with a picture of Snowflake, an Albino gorilla that until 2003, was the main attraction at Barcelona zoo. Using social engineering tactics and subjects including "Your photo is on a webpage" and "Hehehe LOL!!!"
Opening the attached ZIP file reveals a picture of the gorilla, also known as Copito de Nieve, and simultaneously downloads Wurmark, a trojan virus opening a backdoor allowing further malicious code to be implanted.
Antivirus firm Sophos argued the increasingly sophisticated use of social engineering is further evidence of organised crime's involvement in cybercrime.
"Organised criminals are involved in virus writing at a greater level than ever before. They are becoming more aggressive in their attempts to find new computers to infect and control," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
Last week SC reported spam gangs were using the election frenzy to spread viruses.
