Gauss is a computer worm that infects computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system versions XP , 7 , Vista .
Content
History
It was discovered by Kaspersky Lab during an operation to identify cyber threats to state security initiated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), due to a number of common features with Stuxnet and Flame (virus) . The virus is named by the creators in honor of the famous mathematician Johann Karl Friedrich Gauss . According to the Kaspersky Lab cloud service KSN, about 2,500 computers were infected, according to the estimates of antivirus experts, the companies were infected much more - several tens of thousands [1] .
Functionality
The virus aims to steal financial information: passwords, bank account information, cookies, as well as system configuration data. In addition, it can track the email of the infected computer, as well as user activity on social networks, steal passwords from Internet browsers. It has been operating since at least September 2011 [2] . It was possible to detect it only in June 2012.
The most affected countries are Israel , Lebanon and Egypt .
See also
- Timeline of computer viruses and worms
- Duqu
Notes
- ↑ Kaspersky Lab Research Center (GReAT). "Gauss: State cyber espionage plus a banking Trojan" . Securelist.com (August 13, 2012). Date of treatment October 12, 2012. Archived October 28, 2012.
- ↑ Russian experts discovered a banking Trojan (Russian) in the Middle East , Vzglyad.ru (August 9, 2012). Date of appeal October 12, 2012.