Malware writers collaborating to test new viruses

By Isabelle Chaize

Malware writers are developing new ways to test their viruses before they are distributed.

The malware detection and analysis laboratory at PandaLabs found that cyber-criminals are joining forces in internet forums to discuss the creation of new tools which will enable them to replicate the scanning processes of leading providers of security software.

Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs, warned that ‘even if their creations were detected by one or two companies, they could still launch them as they would affect all users with different security technologies.’

He noted that the new tools are very similar to Hispasec’s Virus Total, a legitimate program that analyses suspicious files in order to detect all kinds of malware, adding that ‘the increasing interest in these new tools coincides with the removal of the ‘do not distribute the sample’ option in Virus Total which allowed files to be scanned without sending the sample to security companies.’

The tools are part of the new trend of hackers no longer looking to make the headlines by causing large scale panic, but instead opting for causing damage unnoticed.