Skype Spyware Records Conversations to Send to Eavesdroppers
A programmer named Ruben Unteregger has released the source code behind a malware program that he created specifically to record Skype voice conversations on the sly.
Unteregger, who used to work for a company called ERA IT solutions, created MiniPanzer and MegaPanzer. Both of these programs were originally created and sold to Swiss authorities to be used as surveillance tools. The programs were designed to hook into the Window XP’s audio drivers to record victims VoIP calls as MP3s. Afterward, these MP3 records are automatically sent to a remote server for an eavesdropper to collect.
Unteregger stated that he had retained copyright for the programs and has decided to release the source code and two compiled binaries so that signatures to detect the malware could be created. Just days after Unteregger released his code, Symantec and TrendMicro stated that their anti-virus programs had already detected Trojans in the wild similar to that of Unteregger’s.
Fortunately, Untregger has been very forth coming with his software code to make it available to Security software companies, so that people can protect themselves properly. But the reality is that most software coders who would author a program like he did, would not be so transparent. Either way, the lesson to be learned here is to always make sure your anti-virus and security suite are updated with the latest virus definitions.
(Via Wired.com)
Is it some kind of keylogger?