London: Trusteer Intelligence researchers have discovered a clever new use of the Citadel malware platform (a descendent of the Zeus Trojan) to deliver code ransomware that poses as the US Department of Justice and highjacks victims’ computers. This ransomware, named Reveton, freezes the compromised machine’s operating system and demands a $100 payment to unlock it. Reveton was observed a few weeks ago being used as a standalone attack, but has now been coupled with the Citadel platform. This is another example of financial malware expanding beyond online banking fraud and being used as a launch pad for other types of cyber-attacks. Citadel is able to target employees to steal enterprise credentials, and in this example targets victims directly to steal money from them, instead of their financial institution.
- REGINE HARTMANN
- InfoSecurity
- Posted On