A new cyberespionage tool linked to the Flame virus has been infecting computers in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere, security researchers said Monday.<\/p>\n
Kaspersky Lab, which was credited with revealing the Flame virus earlier this year, dubbed the new malware \u201cminiFlame,\u201d and said it was \u201ca small and highly flexible malicious program designed to steal data and control infected systems during targeted cyber espionage operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russian-based Kaspersky said miniFlame \u201cis based on the same architectural platform as Flame,\u201d widely reported to be part of a US-Israeli effort to slow Iran\u2019s suspected nuclear weapons drive.<\/p>\n
The smaller version \u201ccan function as its own independent cyber espionage program or as a component\u201d inside Flame and related malware.<\/p>\n
Unlike Flame, which is designed for \u201cmassive spy operations,\u201d miniFlame is \u201ca high precision, surgical attack tool,\u201d according to Alexander Gostev at Kaspersky Lab.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost likely it is a targeted cyberweapon used in what can be defined as the second wave of a cyberattack.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaspersky Lab data indicates the total number of infections worldwide is just 50 to 60, including computers in Lebanon, France, the United States, Iran and Lithuania.<\/p>\n
MiniFlame operates \u201cas a backdoor designed for data theft and direct access to infected systems,\u201d according to Kaspersky, which said development of the malware might have started as early as 2007 and continued until the end of 2011, with several variations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that the developers of miniFlame created dozens of different modifications of the program,\u201d Kaspersky said. \u201cAt this time, we have only found six of these, dated 2010-2011.\u201d<\/p>\n
From RawStory.com: http:\/\/www.rawstory.com\/rs\/2012\/10\/15\/new-version-of-cyberspying-flame-virus-uncovered\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A new cyberespionage tool linked to the Flame virus has been infecting computers in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere, security researchers said Monday. Kaspersky Lab, which was credited with revealing the Flame virus earlier this year, dubbed the new malware \u201cminiFlame,\u201d … Continue reading