Malicious Trojan infects Windows Media Player
Security experts have intercepted two malicious Trojans hidden in video files that download and install spyware, diallers and computer viruses when played in Microsoft Windows Media player.
PandaLabs warned that Trj/WmvDownloader.A and Trj/WmvDownloader.B, are spreading through P2P networks hidden in video files. These Trojans take advantage of technology incorporated in Microsoft Windows Media player called Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM), designed to protect the intellectual property rights of multimedia content.
When a user tries to play a protected Windows media file, this technology demands a valid licence. If the license is not stored on the computer, the application will look for it on the internet, so that the user can acquire it directly or buy it. This technology is incorporated through the Windows XP Service Pack 2 + Windows Media Player 10 update.
The video files infected by these Trojans have a .wmv extension and are protected by licences, supposedly issued by the companies overpeer (for Trj/WmvDownloader.A), or protectedmedia (for Trj/WmvDownloader.B).