New research by Bitdefender analyst Janos Gergo Szeles examines newly documented Windows malware that’s being distributed widely across the web through cracked software and paid search ads. Researchers dubbed the strain “Mosaic” due to the “intricate internal structure that aims to confuse malware analysts and prevent reverse-engineering. An expert offers perspective.

<p>Malware attackers continue to demonstrate that they remain one or more steps ahead of those who are trying to shut down attacks. Attackers are now distributing malware through cracked software and paid search ads, which exploit a Windows vulnerability to capture Facebook account information by hiding their malware in those downloads.</p>
<p>Individual users are most at risk, in that they can lose control over their Facebook accounts along with other accounts. But enterprises are also at risk, as this type of malware can obtain any type of credentials. Enterprises can best protest themselves by examining network traffic on an ongoing basis and searching for anomalies to investigate further.</p>