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Michael Jackson 'Suicide' virus spreads

Daylene   on 10 June 2005 - 17:17 · 44 comments & 4003 views

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The British anti-virus firm Sophos said that hackers are infecting computers around the world with a Trojan virus by sending e-mails which claim that pop-star Michael Jackson has attempted suicide. The e-mail message links to a site that contains a Trojan horse program known as Troj/Borobt-Gen. It quickly installs malware onto the user's computer via a flaw in Internet Explorer that can be patched, according to Sophos.

"If you click on the link, the Web site displays a message saying it is too busy, which may not surprise people who think it might contain genuine breaking news about Michael Jackson," Carole Theriault, a security consultant at Sophos, said. "However, this is a diversionary tactic, because behind the scenes, the Web site is downloading malware onto the user's computer without their knowledge."

The massive attack preys on people's curiosity with the famous "King of Pop" and the huge interest that his on-going child abuse trial has generated. This was not the first time that a virus was spread using bait from Michael's trial. According to Sophos, computers infected with the Trojan become part of a network that can be used to generate spam e-mails or take part in Denial-of-Service attacks.

View: Troj/Borobtgen at Sophos


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Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 44 additional comments
#1 thechitowncubs on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:09
#2 .:YodaGP:. on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:19
Before i put my mouse over this, it said 'Michael Jackson 'Suicide'', i know this sounds weird..but a huge smile went across my face. Sorry to offend anyone, but i think he is an absolute tard.
(2 replies) #3 Mr. Dee on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:22
The trojan moonwalks across your system files.
#3.1 rm20010 on 11 Jun 2005 - 03:12
Ah-heee-heee!
#3.2 Elmo on 11 Jun 2005 - 18:06
rofl
(11 replies) #4 nekrosoft13 on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:26
god damn it

i though he commited suicide

so disapointed
#4.1 Mr. Dee on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:42
Why are you disappointed? Yes, he is weird, but does that give you the right to wish death on him? Would you like someone to do the same to you? Did he molest you?
#4.2 SquareSoft0 on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:55
I don't, but many people think he is a serious danger to the people around him.
#4.3 Mess.be Fanatic on 11 Jun 2005 - 03:45
That is so not needed. Wishing Death apon someones is immature, and is something that is inappropriate to say on such a large site as this. I may also ask that you please refrain from saying God D*** it in the comments section. Some people are religous you know . Thank you.
#4.4 Shining Arcanine on 11 Jun 2005 - 04:01
QUOTE
Wishing Death apon someones is immature


What happens when that someone is Osama Bin Laden?
#4.5 Hanz™ on 11 Jun 2005 - 08:58
There are worse people than Osama, he has done practically nothing since 9/11.
#4.6 ev0| on 11 Jun 2005 - 16:29
George W Bush, responsible for at least as many innocent deaths by now, surely.
#4.7 Mess.be Fanatic on 11 Jun 2005 - 17:26
Osama Bin Laden is another story. Accusing someone of molestation, and flying planes into a building is another thing. Yes, I still think it is immature to wish death apon someone and it is. What if you accidentaly killed someone, would you want everyone saying "OMG I WANT HIM DEAD, PLEASE KILL HIM"? No, you probably wouldnt.

Evo| don't even start on President Bush. What Osama did, those were intended, the war caualties are not inteded. Those are two different things.
#4.8 Adem on 11 Jun 2005 - 19:35
to #1.6

did george bush make people join the military..?
#4.9 Mess.be Fanatic on 11 Jun 2005 - 23:29
Exactly Adem.
#4.10 Philoushka on 12 Jun 2005 - 05:32
Mr Religious Freak better get used to the idea that not all of the monkeys, oops, humans on this planet believe in the fairy tales written in a book. Your god is dead and no one cares.
#4.11 Mess.be Fanatic on 12 Jun 2005 - 17:43
Philoushka, there is no need to flame me. I am entited to my opinion, and if you don't like it then don't read/reply to it. All I simply asked is that someone not say God D*** it because there are people who are religious that read these comments, and not only that it is inappropriate.
(2 replies) #5 Chestah on 10 Jun 2005 - 23:28
Hate to say this but someone else will if i don't .

QUOTE

It quickly installs malware onto the user's computer via a flaw in Internet Explorer that can be patched, according to Sophos.


#5.1 ZTrang on 11 Jun 2005 - 00:06
... which simply strengthens the case that most spyware infections are due to user ineptitude, rather than a deficiency on Microsoft's end. Or was that not your point?
#5.2 Chestah on 11 Jun 2005 - 06:48
That was my point precisely
#6 Ficman on 11 Jun 2005 - 00:37
Sad.. Very Sad...
#7 briangw on 11 Jun 2005 - 02:28
This actually disabled Trend Micro OfficeScan at work and wouldn't allow Task Manager to open.
(1 reply) #8 a_witko on 11 Jun 2005 - 04:39
did michael jackson commit suicide?
#8.1 krono6 on 11 Jun 2005 - 13:37
Yes, he did, do us all a favour and open that e-mail you recieve for the full story...
(3 replies) #9 CrisCr0ss on 11 Jun 2005 - 04:41
all those people who say he raped those kids are wrong and you will soon find out that he is innocent. I for one believe that Micheal Jackson is innocent. These are just claims to make money through settlements and the lawyers jumped on the band wagon because they know they have potential to score big. $.

Money is the reason for all this.

He will pull through and prove innocent, i don't know how you guys want him dead, personally I believe the man is a legend, his music revolutized music.
#9.1 SquareSoft0 on 11 Jun 2005 - 04:57
This is a criminal case, no money involved. What makes you so sure he's innocent? I don't see much hard proof either way. (Well, except that suspected illegal leak of documents found on SmokingGun, but I'll turn a blind eye because I doubt its reliability.)
#9.2 CrisCr0ss on 11 Jun 2005 - 05:01
my sureness is based on nothing more than speculation,

1 of the biggest things is wouldn't you learn from your mistakes, i mean hes been charged with "molestation" cases for like 10 years now, and more keep popping out why because he set a precedent with the first one, if he was innocent which i believe he is he should have gone to court, however he possibly feared loseing (for various reasons) and in return it came n bit him in the butt because he was filed withcountless cases afterwords
#9.3 Mr. Dee on 11 Jun 2005 - 18:54
Actually the accuser has until age 18 to file a civil lawsuit against Michael Jackson to gain millions, he is 15 now. So yes, there is a possibility that money is behind this.
(3 replies) #10 conna on 11 Jun 2005 - 05:06
just shows how many people want it to be true.
#10.1 Hanz™ on 11 Jun 2005 - 09:00
Yeah its strange really. I guess lots of people like to think that those children have been molested.
I for one hope he isn't a paedophile.
#10.2 Mess.be Fanatic on 11 Jun 2005 - 17:30
I would be willing to bet it's not true, as for the kids have done lied under oath saying the parents put them up to it, and just the fact tht this has happened before and the party just asked for money then they would hush up.
#10.3 Skyfrog on 11 Jun 2005 - 18:35
I think he has definately done things that are inappropriate and he's no doubt somewhat of a wacko, but I don't know whether he is actually guilty of the accusations or not. Being the way he is and doing things like having sleepovers definately makes him a very easy target, then again he could be totally guilty. I hope it didn't happen but that's for the courts to decide. Let's just hope they make the right decision; either way there will be people who will always believe he did it, or didn't do it. One thing is for sure, if he does get found not guilty this time and he has any sense at all he had better tear down his amusement park and never have any kids within a mile of him again.
#11 macstorm on 11 Jun 2005 - 05:06
don't concerned about trojans as long as I'm protected with Sophos solutions
#12 curme on 11 Jun 2005 - 05:23
Jumpin' Jesus on a pogo stick! That's tricky!
#13 warwagon on 11 Jun 2005 - 05:53
here I thought it would just flash a picture of a boy and if you clicked on his croutch, it would infect you
(2 replies) #14 mr_demilord on 11 Jun 2005 - 07:47
don't concerned about trojans as long as I'm protected with Linux
#14.1 SquareSoft0 on 11 Jun 2005 - 10:08
Very intelligent and worthwhile comment. Please send a refund of the 3 seconds it took me to read it though.
#14.2 MajinDark on 11 Jun 2005 - 16:32
Note to Linux fanboy: Linux is not impenetrable. It's just another OS.
(1 reply) #15 MGS3-SS on 11 Jun 2005 - 12:26
So when is Microsoft patching IE? Next year? 2007 maybe? When?
#15.1 .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. on 11 Jun 2005 - 12:31


-fm
#16 TheSarge on 11 Jun 2005 - 14:56
Gauwd people are stupid.
#17 Mr. Dee on 11 Jun 2005 - 18:51
Mic-rosoft, Mic-hael Jackson - Can it get any better?
#18 Sage_Override on 11 Jun 2005 - 19:23
You know I'm bad! I'm bad! Ya know it!
I guess the virus knows that Billy Jean is not it's lover.
#19 RADicaLMMS on 12 Jun 2005 - 17:40
Calm down people... Its about a virus. Where is this thread going??? mods... Mods please!!!!

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