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Microsoft finds new computers in China preinstalled with malware
IDG News Service - Brand-new laptop and desktop computers sold in China contain preinstalled malicious software, which has infected millions of computers around the world, according to an investigation by Microsoft revealed on Thursday.
The malware, embedded in counterfeit versions of Microsoft's Windows OS, is engineered to spy on users and conduct denial-of-service attacks, Microsoft said. It warned that the findings pose fresh questions over the integrity of computer-part supply chains.
Cybercriminals "are out to get you," said Richard Domingues Boscovich, assistant general counsel for Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit. "They will do whatever it takes. If the supply chain is how they're going on get on [computers], that's what they're going to do."
Microsoft's investigation, dubbed "Operation b70," culminated with the shutdown of the command-and-control system connected to computers infected with "Nitol," a piece of malicious software called a rootkit preinstalled on some of the examined computers. Nitol quickly spreads via removable drives.
The company said the malware was embedded inside counterfeit versions of its Windows OS
IDG News Service - Brand-new laptop and desktop computers sold in China contain preinstalled malicious software, which has infected millions of computers around the world, according to an investigation by Microsoft revealed on Thursday.
The malware, embedded in counterfeit versions of Microsoft's Windows OS, is engineered to spy on users and conduct denial-of-service attacks, Microsoft said. It warned that the findings pose fresh questions over the integrity of computer-part supply chains.
Cybercriminals "are out to get you," said Richard Domingues Boscovich, assistant general counsel for Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit. "They will do whatever it takes. If the supply chain is how they're going on get on [computers], that's what they're going to do."
Microsoft's investigation, dubbed "Operation b70," culminated with the shutdown of the command-and-control system connected to computers infected with "Nitol," a piece of malicious software called a rootkit preinstalled on some of the examined computers. Nitol quickly spreads via removable drives.