Fontra is a virus that spreads to other computers by copying its code to other files or programs. It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy:
. It sends the gathered information to a remote user by any available means: email, FTP, etc. Fontra accesses several websites to download files, which it then runs. These can be any type of file, although they are normally malware. Fontra uses the following propagation or distribution methods: - Exploiting vulnerabilities with the intervention of the user: exploiting vulnerabilities in file formats or applications. To exploit them successfully it needs the intervention of the user: opening files, viewing malicious web pages, reading emails, etc.
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs: it makes copies of itself with enticing names in shared folders belonging to these programs. Other users of this type of networks then voluntarily download and run the infected files.
- File infection: it infects different types of files, which are then distributed through any of the usual means: floppy disks, email messages with attachments, Internet download, files transferred via FTP, IRC channels, P2P file sharing networks, etc.
Fontra uses the following infection strategies: - Resident: once it has been run, the virus goes memory resident and stops functions belonging to the operating system. Therefore, every time the operating system or an application tries to access any of these functions, the virus will activate and infect new files.
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