Video Screencast Help
Search Video Help Close Back
to help
New in the Rewards Catalog: Vouchers for "Symantec Technical Specialist" and "Symantec Certified Specialist" exams.

We All Knew It Was Coming: A Michael Jackson Mass Mailing Worm

Updated: 07 Nov 2010
Symantec Security Response's picture
0 0 Votes
Login to vote

Symantec Security Response has discovered a mass-mailing worm using Michael Jackson's death as a bait. The worm sends out spam emails with the subject “Remembering Michael Jackson” and an attachment named “Michael songs and pictures.zip.” The .zip file contains another file called “MichaelJacksonsongsandpictures.doc.exe,” which is a copy of the worm that is executed on the user’s machine when the file is opened.
 
Symantec has detection for this worm as W32.Ackantta.F@mm. It is important to keep in mind that W32.Ackantta.F@mm spreads not only through email, but also via removable drives using autorun.inf.
 
Below is a snapshot of the email that W32.Ackantta.F@mm sends out:

imagebrowser image