Virus Encyclopedia
Welcome to the Virus Encyclopedia of Panda Security.
Gaobot.QKZ | |
Threat Level Damage Distribution |
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| Common name: | Gaobot.QKZ |
| Technical name: | W32/Gaobot.QKZ.worm |
| Threat level: | Medium |
| Type: | Worm |
| Effects: |
It spreads and affects other computers.
It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy.
It uses the infected computer to take malicious actions on other users.
It awaits remote-control orders to carry out.
It uses stealth techniques to avoid being detected by the user.
It uses anti-monitoring techniques in order to prevent it being detected by antivirus companies.
It spreads
, across the Internet, via IRC, through instant messaging.
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| Affected platforms:
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Windows 2003/XP/2000/NT/ME/98/95/3.X |
| First detected on: | Jan. 12, 2010 |
| Detection updated on: | Jan. 12, 2010 |
| Statistics | No |
Brief Description | |
Gaobot.QKZ is a worm that spreads by copying itself, without infecting other files. It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy:
passwords saved by certain Windows services; email addresses; user's browsing habits; screenshots of actions carried out. It affects productivity, preventing tasks from being carried out: - In the affected computer:
it converts the computer into a platform for taking malicious action surreptitiously: spam sending, launch of Denial of Service attacks, malware distribution, etc.
It reduces the security level of the computer:
it awaits remote-control orders received through
FTP. It uses stealth techniques to avoid being detected by the user: - It deletes the original file from which it was run once it is installed on the computer.
It uses several methods in order to avoid detection by antivirus companies: - It terminates its own execution if it detects that it is being executed in a virtual machine environment, such as VMWare or VirtualPC.
Gaobot.QKZ 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.
- Via Internet, exploiting remote vulnerabilities: attacking random IP addresses, in which it tries to insert a copy of itself by exploiting one or more vulnerabilities.
- IRC: It sends a copy of itself to all users connected to the channel to which the infected user is connected.
- Instant messaging: it sends links pointing to a copy of itself to all users included in the infected user's contacts list.
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