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Malware Running On Graphics Cards

An anonymous reader writes "Given the great potential of general-purpose computing on graphics processors, it is only natural to expect that malware authors will attempt to tap the powerful features of modern GPUs to their benefit. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a malware that can utilize the GPU (PDF) to evade virus scanning applications. Moreover, the authors discuss the potential of more sophisticated attacks, like accessing the screen pixels periodically to harvest private data displayed on the user screen, or to trick the the user by displaying false, benign-looking information when visiting rogue web sites (e.g., overwriting suspicious URLs with benign-looking ones in the browser's address bar)."

5 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. imagine by KillaGouge · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Imagine starting to be target for specific porn habits. No amount of private browsing would keep the ads from showing up on your computer.

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    GENERATION 25: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social exper
  2. Re:KISS by jpapon · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Eh, this is way sneakier, and could be far more effective, since you could modify/hide anything from the user.

    It would be pretty difficult to determine which pixels are the URL bar on the GPU though. Unless of course all this GPU acceleration they're putting in browsers now allows you to somehow read the coordinates directly.

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    -- Let us endeavor so to live that when we pass even the undertaker shall be sorry. -- M. Twain
  3. Re:KISS by jpapon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe, but people have so many addons and toolbars it would be a pretty rough guess.

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    -- Let us endeavor so to live that when we pass even the undertaker shall be sorry. -- M. Twain
  4. Re:Government researchers? by blair1q · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Before you can build a wall, you have to imagine someone walking over the imaginary line at the edge of your yard.

    Or you can figure out that a wall would have been useful after they come into your yard, but then it's too late.

    See, most taxpayers understand that we pay taxes to prevent the crime, we don't wait until it happens and then rail that the government isn't doing anything about it.

  5. Re:KISS by h4rr4r · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All the malware has to do is add a CA it already owns.