Application security, Threat Management, Incident Response, Malware, TDR

Remtasu trojan latest tactic: posing as malicious Facebook app

Remtasu, a Windows-based trojan whose global reach has accelerated over the last year, has switched tactics, disguising itself as a malicious application for accessing people's Facebook account credentials. Basically, the malware is now targeting users who themselves are up to no good, according to a Monday “We Live Security” blog post by IT security company ESET.

The dangerous Win32/Remtasu.Y malware automatically downloads onto machines after victims visit a drive-by download website, then it duplicates and hides itself among other files.

Virus activity is most prevalent in Colombia, but has also been detected in Turkey, Thailand and elsewhere. In previous iterations, the malware was downloaded when victims opened malicious files attached to phishing emails purporting to be from legitimate businesses or government agencies.

Certain variants allow hackers to pull up information stored on a device's clipboard as well as capture keystrokes.


Bradley Barth

As director of multimedia content strategy at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for online conferences, webcasts, podcasts video/multimedia projects — often serving as moderator or host. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

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