Watch out BitTorrent users, you may be at risk of being financially scammed
by: Bradley Wint on April 13th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
There is a new scam on the net affecting BitTorrent users, in an effort to try and extort cash from unsuspecting users. A hacking entity has formed a fake organization called ICPP Foundation which claims to be an online intellectual copyright organization partnering with real copyright from such as the RIAA, MPAA, Copyright Alliance and a few other well-known organizations. With all the hub-bub about illegal downloading, they are capitalizing on the fear BitTorrent users endure when they download illegal content.
The malware program comes attached to programs and plants itself into the PC user’s administration Application Data folder (C:Documents and Settings{USERNAME}Application DataIQManageriqmanager.exe). When the virus activates, it scans the entire system specifically for .torrent files (legit or not) and then launches a fake application. The app listed all the “illegal” torrents and tells users why the files are illegal, with a full spread HTML evidence list.
The program gives you the option of either suffering legal consequences or pay a small fee close to $400 to waive the lawsuit (common sense alone tells you that can’t be right). If users choose to ignore the message, the system will display it every time the system reboots. Users who are afraid and want to pay are directed to a payment screen which asks for personal information such as your name, credit card info and other sensitive details. The system does not carry out the $400 credit card transaction, but still sends the data to the scammers, allowing them to carry out fraudulent activities with the newfound info.
They even set up a website at http://www.icpp-online.com (currently down at the moment). Various antivirus agencies have added the profile to their database. F-Secure has dubbed it as Rogue:W32/DotTorrent.A. Users are advised to update their antivirus program and run a scan to delete the malware. They are also advised not to send any information via the program.
Have something to say? 9 others did.
me you – April 13th, 2010 – 2:50 PM
and know you know why i dont download illegal movies, songs, ect. its not the gov. you have to worry about…its the hackers
me you – April 13th, 2010 – 2:54 PM
and let me tell you this is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to viruses in BitTorrent downloads!!!
McPirate Ninja – April 13th, 2010 – 3:13 PM
THIS IS THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT! THIEVES STEALING FROM PIRATES?
Bradley Wint – April 13th, 2010 – 3:17 PM
As sarcastic as that may be, I thought the same thing. I remember when pirates were for one cause…to help each other out… guess that’s not the case anymore.
oo – April 13th, 2010 – 3:37 PM
is it only PC or also mac?
Speakthetruth – April 13th, 2010 – 5:30 PM
torrents are so old-school & that’s why you don’t use public torrent sites.
xino – April 13th, 2010 – 6:54 PM
I’ll suffer the little children instead….oh wait.
This isn’t spiderman 1:/
hurtik – April 14th, 2010 – 4:23 AM
Of course this is the badest thing ever happened to BitTorrent…
Seriously: Downloading from a public Torrent-Site and yet you are wondering about malware? -,-
captain_dl – April 14th, 2010 – 12:30 PM
This just goes to show how mainstream pirating with BitTorrent has become. If it weren’t for the idiot general public, we would still be safe on the torrents.