Batch of Dutch MP3 players ships with malware

Worm included as unwanted extra for music lovers.

A shipment of MP3 players sold in recent months by Dutch firm

Victory

has been found to be infected with the Fujacks worm, which exploits autorun settings in

Windows

to be activated when a device is connected to a computer.

The incident follows a series of similar occurrences in recent months, with a variety of infected devices put on sale, and highlights the need for makers and vendors of digital equipment to exercise rigorous security protocols to ensure their production facilities and goods are kept clean and safe.

It should also serve to remind users of the potential dangers of autorun functionality, activated by default in the ubiquitous

Windows XP

. The system is designed to allow media and devices to be launched automatically, but provides an easy vector for malware. The autorun feature has also been used by phishers targeting specific firms – infected thumb drives are left in company car parks in the hopes that an employee will find the drives and insert them into a company system, thus breaching network security.

The company involved has been made aware of the problem. More details are in a blog entry from

Kaspersky

,

here

.

Posted on 08 January 2008 by

Virus Bulletin