AppleInsider Staff
A newly discovered trojan has been found to target OS X Web browsers like Safari, Chrome and Firefox, inserting adware onto an affected computer to net criminals profits from affiliate ad networks.
Russian anti-virus company Dr. Web, the same company that was first to discover the infamous Flashback malware in 2012, confirmed the existence of a new trojan called "Trojan.Yontoo.1," which downloads and installs an adware plugin on unsuspecting Mac user's machines.
As noted by The Next Web, the firm's analysts said Yontoo is being spread through nefarious movie trailer webpages that prompt Mac owners to install a browser plugin, media player, video quality enhancement program or download accelerator.
In one example, the installer asks if a user wants to download a program called "Free Twit Tube." When confirmed, the Yontoo plugin is installed for Safari, Chrome and Firefox, which then transmits browsing data to an off-site server. Information about the loaded pages is processed and the server sends back a file which embeds third-party code into webpages visited by the user.
Criminals gain profits from affiliate ad networks when users view or click through the embedded ads.
Dr. Web points out that a similar trojan method is being used to insert adware on Windows PCs.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Marko Zivkovic
Christine McKee
6 Comments
The source article with additional details is here: http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/03/21/new-os-x-trojan-injects-ads-into-pages-browsed-by-chrome-firefox-and-safari-even-targets-apples-website/?utm_content=New%20OS%20X%20trojan%20injects%20ads%20into%20pages%20browsed%20by%20Chrome,%20Firefox,%20and%20Safari;%20even%20targets%20Apple's%20website&utm_medium=Twitter%20Publisher&utm_campaign=social%20media&utm_source=Twitter&awesm=tnw.to_g0csE Heed the regular advice to never download plug-ins anywhere but from the official site and this one should be easy to avoid.
Yontoo is a proper company. I reckon the authorities need to start looking into their business practises: http://www.yontoo.com They have ad toolbars that install with programs on Windows and they do all sorts of damage like replacing the default browser page: http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-yontoo-toolbar-uninstall-guide/ I suppose it's just another file for Apple to add to the blacklist but it might be an idea for Apple to have a whitelist too. So have an approved list of software and plugins and when Safari loads, if it detects software not on the whitelist, it will prompt the user to either remove it or allow it. That will act as a catch-all for any new malware.
[quote name="Marvin" url="/t/156575/new-adware-trojan-targets-mac-web-browsers-nets-criminals-money#post_2298027"]Yontoo is a proper company. I reckon the authorities need to start looking into their business practises: http://www.yontoo.com They have ad toolbars that install with programs on Windows and they do all sorts of damage like replacing the default browser page: http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-yontoo-toolbar-uninstall-guide/ I suppose it's just another file for Apple to add to the blacklist but it might be an idea for Apple to have a whitelist too. So have an approved list of software and plugins and when Safari loads, if it detects software not on the whitelist, it will prompt the user to either remove it or allow it. That will act as a catch-all for any new malware.[/quote] On that basis Ask.com's toolbar can be tossed in the malware bin too. Oracle has been aggressively pushing that one, attached to Java updates.
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I'm gonna go ahead and just assume that this = malware.
[quote name="Gatorguy" url="/t/156575/new-adware-trojan-targets-mac-web-browsers-nets-criminals-money#post_2298041"]On that basis Ask.com's toolbar can be tossed in the malware bin too. Oracle has been aggressively pushing that one, attached to Java updates.[/quote] Yes, along with Java. All in the bin. If it ultimately harms the user experience, it should be considered malware. They get away with it because it's not clear what's useful to end users but this is where a whitelist method would work. If Apple prompts to remove software not on the whitelist and lots of people opt to remove it, it's malware that either doesn't do what they expected or was installed without their consent.