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Malware Is Being Distributed Via Fake Windows 11 Installers

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engrssc

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Malware Is Being Distributed Via Fake Windows 11 Installers

PostMon Jul 26, 2021 10:20 am

Personally, in order to keep my HW installation(s) safe, I err on the side of being cautious.

Malware is being distributed using a fake Windows 11 installer, according to Kaspersky.

The security firm says one example malware contained in a file called "86307_windows 11 build 21996.1 x64 + activator.exe" increased its file size to 1.75GB using "one DLL file that contains a lot of useless information" to create the illusion that it was a legitimate Windows 11 installation tool. That illusion extended beyond the size of the executable file, too.

Kaspersky says opening that file invokes a series of installers resembling "an ordinary Windows installation wizard," complete with a license agreement that notes "that it would also install some sponsored software." Which is true, in a sense, except in this case the additional software in question is malware rather than a pre-installed version of a game like Candy Crush.



The installed malware "can be very wide-ranging—from relatively harmless adware, which our solutions classify as not-a-virus, to full-fledged Trojans, password stealers, exploits, and other nasty stuff," the company says. It's not clear if some of these schemes eventually install Windows 11 as well or if they all leave victims with their existing version of Windows instead.


MICROSOFT: ACTUALLY, WINDOWS 11 WON'T ARRIVE UNTIL 2022 FOR EXISTING WINDOWS 10 PCS
Kaspersky says its security offerings "have already defeated several hundred infection attempts that used similar Windows 11–related schemes." The company advises PC users looking to use Windows 11 ahead of its official release to join the Windows Insider Program—which is currently the only legitimate way to install the operating system—instead of downloading shady files.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/malware-is-being-distributed-via-fake-windows-11-installers?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=whatsnewnow&utm_medium=title

Another proof that it's best to wait.

(Curious also about Kaspersky - Лаборатория Касперского, Laboratoriya Kasperskogo) is a Russian multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider headquartered in Moscow, Russia[1 Hmmm :roll:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaspersky_Anti-Virus

Thoughts?

Rgds,
Ed

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