New PDF flaw Zeus botnet jumps on it

Posted by admin on Apr 19, 2010 in The Blog, Warnings | 0 comments

Well it seems another PDF flaw that has been exploited yesterday. This format is a very highly used file format. Great file system as well. Used as a widely used business document also. So it's sad to see this happening but of course we will ALWAYS see this type thing going on with something that is highly used. The bad jerks out there target the most popular items searching for holes or flaws. Anything to attack people through widely used file type or even browsers and such. I love pdf's and use them alot. All though i have good safety features, programs and habits so. Luckily they don't get me for the most part. I want to post this and let it be well known. People do not be scared of these type files. Just be prepared at all times with good virus programs and computer habits plus mainly paying attention to what you are doing and what you are opening. Because again i want to state. These type files are not really dangerous. It's the things some bad people put inside some of them. But that goes for all types of files and programs and such. The PDF files are actually one of the safest file formats out there and very private if set to be.  So basically just becare where or who you are getting them from.. If it is a trusted person or place. Then no need to worry as in those cases would actually be one of the safest and most private portable files there is. With a lot of great features to the files. That is why it is one of the most popular. Well here is the bad news post i just seen about it again. It seems (not by just this post below but overall.)  That pdf files have just been majorly targets this last year. All though it seems all the pdf programs are doing good about this and sending updates to patch these flaws fast. So that is good. Just make sure you update your Adobe Reader and any other pdf viewer you use pretty often or at least check to see if there is an update. Adobe recently created and installed with the latest version or two back an auto updater so that is even better. So it will do it for you. Also always keep your computer up to date along with virus programs and everybody should be just fine. After all as said. This is a great file format. This is the basic problem with this new issue. Zeus attempts to steal banking and other information by logging a user's keystrokes. Then It also attempts to make a user's system part of the Zeus botnet and sends malicious code out from it. With the above information i have given that help stop this from happening to you. Not only help but it does stop it. NOTE: Adobe reader if that is what you used has already placed a patch for this and update was sent out. So you should be good to go if that is what you use to read pdf's which most do. If your not sure. Open up your adobe reader and update it. Easily done by opening it up, going to the help menu tab and select check for updates. ;) Ok well here is the post and quoted from cnet.com security news: Zeus botnet jumps on PDF design flaw | Security - CNET News

Attackers have begun exploiting a design flaw in Adobe Systems' PDF format to spread the Zeus botnet, only days after the publication of a proof-of-concept exploit for the flaw, according to security researchers. On Wednesday, researchers at M86 Security said they had discovered e-mails claiming to originate from Royal Mail with PDF attachments exploiting the flaw. The attachment attempts to run an executable file that installs the Zeus Trojan on a user's system. Zeus attempts to steal banking information by logging a user's keystrokes. It also attempts to make a user's system part of the Zeus botnet. Read more of "Zeus botnet jumps on PDF design flaw" at ZDNet UK.

Please be sure to share this to maybe help some of your people. GoodLuck and Thanks