Various major online media outlets are currently spreading Bitcoin ransomware and other types of malware to website visitors. Among the culprits are AOL, BBC, and The New York Times, as their common ad network has come under attack by internet criminals by the look of things. Affected users may found themselves on the other side of a screen displaying a Bitcoin ransomware message very soon, and the number of potential infections is increasing every minute.
Also read: BTC38 Will Add A DASH/CNY Trading Pair New Bitcoin Ransomware Attack Through Ad Networks
Anyone who has visited the website of these mainstream hubs may have been exposed to malware and Bitcoin ransomware infections. Even though the number of reported infections remains incredibly low for the time being, there is a serious threat associated with these infections, as it appears major internet ad networks are affected.
The culprit for these infections is an exploit kit called Angler , which targets a wide variety of common Internet software tools embedded on websites and in advertisements, including Microsoft Silverlight and Adobe Flash. By infecting an undisclosed ad network, this toolkit has been able to infect computers all over the world, and it looks like the malware is spreading.
As is the case with any Bitcoin ransomware or sophisticated malware, it is very difficult for security solutions to pick up on these threats. One particular JSON file contains over 12,000 lines of code, which ensure the malware remains undetected by antivirus solutions. Once again, security experts and researchers will have to play catch-up with the malware threat.
Teslacrypt seems to be the Bitcoin ransomware variant of choice, which we have covered on this website extensively in the past. This is a particularly nasty type of ransomware which spread through an infected ad network a few […]
