User User name Password  
   
Monday 9.11.2009 / 08:14 AM
Search AfterDawn.com:        In English   Suomeksi   På svenska
afterdawn.com > news > new trojan deletes your music
Show topics
News
News

New trojan deletes your music

4 August 2007 11:44 by Dave "Davedough" Horvath | 42 comments

New trojan deletes your music In an obvious protest against pirating music, someone has unleashed a new, low threat trojan virus onto the Internet community that is hellbent on deleting all of your MP3 files. Known as the W32.Deletemusic, this virus does exactly as the name implies. Once activated, it will scan any drive connected to your PC and delete any music file, whether it be on your primary hard drive, flash drive, or external hard drive. Additionally, it'll attach itself to an infected drive and if that drive is inserted into another machine, it will again continue its destruction of all your music.

This isn't the first time some group has taken its aim on pirating. Over the past two years, there have been other trojans named Nopir-B and Erazer. The latter being the more vicious of the two as it wouldn't only target mp3s, but AVI, mpgs, wmvs and ZIP files.

While speculation can point this towards an RIAA cooked up trojan that thwarts would-be pirates, analysts claim that this type of thing appears to be the work of mischievous teenagers and not some larger entity.

W32.Deletemusic affects computers running Windows all the way back from Windows 95 to Windows Vista and everything in between.

Source:
ARS Technica


Permalink to this article

Get AfterDawn's news to your favourite feed reader! Share this story with your friends!
 

 
Related articles:

  • eMusic hits 250 millionth download (21 November 2008)
  • RIAA sued by consumer citing illegal tactics (17 August 2007)
  • Children sued by RIAA try to bring Sharman with them (16 August 2007)
  • Allofmp3 case thrown out of Russian court (15 August 2007)
  • EMI brings DRM-free catalogue to Canada (3 August 2007)
  • Creative introduces 16GB Zen V Plus (2 August 2007)
  • Bluetooth gets a lossless audio codec (1 August 2007)
  • Sony brings SACD to car stereos (31 July 2007)
  • Chinavasion introduces underwater media player (31 July 2007)
  • Microsoft exec hints at additions to Zune line (30 July 2007)
  •  

    « Previous news article
    Germany refuses to cooperate with music industry
    Next news article »
    V-chip 2.0 could censor everything
     Post your comment
    Discuss this article!  There are more user comments available, read them here
    AXT (Member) 4 August 2007 17:16 Send private message to this user   
    I don't think that the RIAA or MPAA is smart enough to create such a virus, it is simply too complicated for them.
    L-Burna (Senior Member) 4 August 2007 17:44 Send private message to this user   
    In other words it is an easy fix,just back up your music.It isn't hard to put music on a cd,dvd,or even an external harddrive which are very cheap to buy anyways.I agree there are idiots out there that create viruses for no apparent reason at all.I think whoever created it made it for a reason,and it was probably to stop pirating music.A big corporation could create something like this,and it doesn't suprise me at all to see something like this.

    This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4 August 2007 17:45

    c1c (Member) 4 August 2007 17:48 Send private message to this user   
    Anyone know how to create a virus that will wipe out our entire MPAA and RIAA collection?
    garmoon (AfterDawn Addict) 4 August 2007 18:31 Send private message to this user   
    Now might be a good time to take a few minutes and back up those precious files to some DVD RWs. I have done so since day one and not afraid of losing them.
    ZimHosein (Newbie) 4 August 2007 19:13 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by narmo:
    does anybody know where this virus can be found so we can all avoid it like some viruses can be avoided by not going to certain websites or downloading certain things and can the nod 32 antivirus protect my computer from that virus?
    In addition when will A/V companies update their virus definitions so their users are protected?
    raygodl (Newbie) 4 August 2007 19:25 Send private message to this user   
    Where can i download this trojan???
    WierdName (Senior Member) 4 August 2007 19:59 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by Bobby728:
    Really It almost makes me wanna sell my Dell and get a Brand New MAC.Enough with Microsoft and virus's.
    Well first of all, I'm not supporting Windows because they do have a LOT of viruses but, no offense, anyone who says or thinks they are safe because they are on a MAC is an idiot and/or misinformed. MACs are just as susceptible to viruses as anything else and stating they you aren't makes you more of a target because now they want to prove you wrong. Anyone with a good head on their shoulders and understands the tech virus world knows that everything from a supercomputer to a little 5-year-olds toy video game they got from the fast food place are all able to be attacked by viruses. Its just the matter of if anyone actually cares about it. And stating that you are invincible or such just because you are on whatever makes you a target. Don't take this personally, its just that it is getting EXTREMELY annoying hearing people say they are just fine because they are on a MAC. If you wanna know they truth, search around for a list of how many security fix updates were put out for MACs. Its a long list just as any other OS. The fact is that everything is vulnerable somewhere because every little security breach is just to hard to account for.

    EDIT- grammer

    This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4 August 2007 20:05

    jimmer (Newbie) 4 August 2007 20:50 Send private message to this user   
    as long as it doesn't delete my porn
    TazmanYo (Newbie) 4 August 2007 21:18 Send private message to this user   
    "Really It almost makes me wanna sell my Dell and get a Brand New MAC.Enough with Microsoft and virus's."

    Mac is never the answer, the only reason it has less is because it has very few things that work with it. Mac is for newbies.
    rdmercer1 (Senior Member) 5 August 2007 2:41 Send private message to this user   
    nobrainer where did you hear thi or read this? i did a search and this is a old virus like over a year old and it is aimed at people who use p2p software, like limewire,frostwire, and so on, if you want a virus all you have to do is start using p2p software, you never know what you will get, this is what i found http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/trojerazera.html
    venomX05 (Senior Member) 5 August 2007 8:05 Send private message to this user   
    Ok...so, let me get this right,

    If the RIAA "created" the virus, this is legal HOW?

    Man, it just amazes me that someone, especially a teenager would go through great lengths to created some virus, but it does happen all the time. If the RIAA is behind this though, here is the rootkit situation all over again.
    thekingo7 (Senior Member) 5 August 2007 21:03 Send private message to this user   
    The article said, the virus would ravage every single drive, does it need an OS to latch on to, or would something like an ipod not be affected due to its lack of Windows OS?
    lordelven (Newbie) 6 August 2007 5:18 Send private message to this user   
    OK. what about you have legally downloaded ur music from one of many reputable music sites?

    I guess they would be affected too?
    plazma247 (Junior Member) 6 August 2007 9:44 Send private message to this user   
    http://www.symantec.com/security_respons...4123-99&tabid=2

    has anyone actually seen this in the wild, aparently is coded in delphi so it should be possible to de-compile and see if the little scamps left any clues behind...
    borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 9 August 2007 4:24 Send private message to this user   
    This is great news i feel this is awesome next time i have music i want to get rid of ill get this virus :P lol

    Thanxs for making me smile after a long hard day at work :)
    _viper_ (Junior Member) 10 August 2007 6:38 Send private message to this user   
    lol... gotta love the latest trojans.

    A point about effectiveness--if you have a decent antivirus (AVG free edition for example), as soon as the trojan is detected, which should be as soon as you download it, if we assume no change in autoprotect options, the trojan should be automatically be paused/put into some virus vault.

    Also, I'm unsure about vista claim; by default, at least, the whole vista attempt at copying *nix unprivileged users should stop deletion without confirmation on /
    editmon (Newbie) 10 August 2007 6:45 Send private message to this user   
    Uh, folks. I don't know if anyone has thought about this but when you mount an iPod to a Windows it is considered an external hard drive. That could be a problem also.
    Maybe better to backup your music to CD or DVD. Just a thought.
    editmon (Newbie) 10 August 2007 6:49 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by mspurloc:
    I'm sorry, we're supposed to believe this is some pimply-faced teenager? I don't think so. Either the RIAA hired a black hat to do it, or they're doing it themselves. What would the motivation be for some syphillitic band-follower to do this? Street cred? No. He'd get street cred for wiping out the RIAA's payroll database. This gets him killed, if his victims ever hear a peep out of him. Good riddance, too.
    Actually the RIAA is operated by pimply-faced kids. The problem is most of them only have degrees in business administration. Their creative side ends at the bank and the power-on switch of their computers.
    editmon (Newbie) 10 August 2007 6:52 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by lordelven:
    OK. what about you have legally downloaded ur music from one of many reputable music sites?

    I guess they would be affected too?
    Yes, this keeps "legal" revenue up by making you repurchase all that "hi quality" music you have downloaded.
    editmon (Newbie) 10 August 2007 6:55 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by c1c:
    Anyone know how to create a virus that will wipe out our entire MPAA and RIAA collection?
    Yes!
    What I have been drumming for over that last four years. A boycott of all music purchases for three months. That hits them in the only spot that hurts. Their wallet. Careful though. If we did this they might turn into rampant murders!
    madman91 (Junior Member) 12 August 2007 17:32 Send private message to this user   
    I am terrified, truly terrified. How will all those windows-using-noobies survive :)
    WierdName (Senior Member) 12 August 2007 18:48 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by madman91:
    I am terrified, truly terrified. How will all those windows-using-noobies survive :)
    Oh? You better be on Linux or the like if your saying that.
    tuataress (Inactive) 13 August 2007 6:16 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by georgeluv:
    if only it just deleted BAD music.
    I luv u George!!
    theonejrs (AfterDawn Addict) 18 August 2007 12:55 Send private message to this user   
    Originally posted by AXT
    Quote:
    I don't think that the RIAA or MPAA is smart enough to create such a virus, it is simply too complicated for them.

    No, but they are smart enough to get someone to do it for them. I use Kaspersky 6.0 AV, which updates on the fly so I'm not worried.
    Quote:
    analysts claim that this type of thing appears to be the work of mischievous teenagers and not some larger entity.


    I love how they blame the kids though!LOL!!

    c1c,
    Quote:
    Anyone know how to create a virus that will wipe out our entire MPAA and RIAA collection?

    How about a virus to wipe out the MPAA and the RIAA! We could call it the "Mafia" virus! ROFLMAO!!

    Clock On,
    theone (:>}
    c1c (Member) 24 August 2007 15:26 Send private message to this user   
    Do people really roll on the floor and laugh?

    hp dvd 840, vaio pcg-frv27,Epson r260 Printer, Wacom Graphire 4x5, Verbatim 4X Printable DVD-R
    theonejrs (AfterDawn Addict) 24 August 2007 15:44 Send private message to this user   
    c1c,
    Quote:
    Do people really roll on the floor and laugh?

    Wouldn't you if the MPAA and the RIAA got wiped out by a Mafia virus? LOL!!

    Clock On,
    theone :>)


    GigaByte GA-965P-DS3 V. 1.33 MB w/E4300 1.8 OC'd to 3.2GHz - Arctic Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler - 2 GB G. Skill DDR2/6400 Cas4 running at 5-4-4-12 @890 MHz - Thermaltake TR-2 500 watt P/S - Seagate "Barracuda" 160GB SATA 3.0 7200 rpm hard drive - Asus 16x DVD-Rom - NEC 16x DVD-RW - XFX 7600GT PCIe x16 w/256 DDR3 @653/1600MHz - Sceptre X20 Naga III 20.1" Digital LCD "Widescreen" - Sony 425 Watt Digital Audio Control Center 5.1 PL-II Suround
    And a little "Alien Expertise"!
    http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=211920


    "With Your Arms around the Future and Your Back up against The Past" The Moody Blues
     Post your comment
     

    Subscribe to our newsfeed

    Get the latest headlines delivered directly to your favourite RSS reader or content aggregation service by using the links below.

    AfterDawn.com: News - RSS feed
    Add to Google
    Add to My Yahoo!
    Add to MyMSN

    Search for headlines

    Search through our news archive.

    Last week's most popular software downloads

    Digital video: AfterDawn.com | AfterDawn Forums
    Music: MP3Lizard.com
    Gaming: Blasteroids.com | Blasteroids Forums | Compare game prices
    Software: Software downloads
    Blogs: User profile pages
    RSS feeds: AfterDawn.com News | Software updates | AfterDawn Forums
    International: AfterDawn in Finnish | AfterDawn in Swedish | download.fi
    Navigate: Search | Site map
    About us: About AfterDawn Ltd | Advertise on our sites | Rules, Restrictions, Legal disclaimer & Privacy policy
    Contact us: Send feedback | Contact our media sales team
     
      © 1999-2009 by AfterDawn Ltd.