Unnoticed For Years, Malware Turned Linux Servers Into Spamming Machines

An anonymous reader writes: For over 5 years, and perhaps even longer, servers around the world running Linux and FreeBSD operating systems have been targeted by an individual or group that compromised them via a backdoor Trojan, then made them send out spam, ESET researchers have found. What's more, it seems that the spammers are connected with a software company called Yellsoft, which sells DirectMailer, a "system for automated e-mail distribution" that allows users to send out anonymous email in bulk. Here's the white paper in which the researchers explain the exploit.

Comments

Re:Most Linux distros ship with malware by default

[Anonymous Coward]

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

Which OS has yet to be compromised?

[Taco Cowboy]

So Windoze, Linux, BSD have all been compromised ... how about Hurd / Plan-9? Have they been compromized?

Re:Which OS has yet to be compromised?

[Anonymous Coward]

as soon as someone starts using hurd, we'll let you know how it's holding up.

Re:It took 5 years?

[dbIII]

You certainly didn't wait long enough to read the article before posting.

Imo, that is rather funny.

[Anonymous Coward]

this malware is pretty unix-y about the way it does things. its small, does few things and does them efficiently.
The author should be complemented on his adherence to the unix philosophy. Even his social engineering campaign is that way.

Functionality wise, an equal malware executable on windows would be megabytes in size and be installed as a service :D

Re:Most Linux distros ship with malware by default

[killkillkill]

Cheese is a GNOME application and runs natively , no need for a Windows compatibility layer.