Apple iPhone 'game' contains Windows Trojan

By Oliver Garnham, PC Advisor |  Security, iPhone, spam 3 comments

September 18, 2008, 11:01 AM — Apple iPhone users are the latest target of hackers trying to infect Windows PCs, according to security firm Sophos.

The company says cybercriminals are sending spam emails with subject lines such as 'Virtual iPhone games!', 'Apple: The most popular game!' and 'Virtual iPhone toys!' in an effort to encourage iPhone owners to download a malicious file.

The emails are sent with an attachment called Penguin.Panic.zip, which poses as a version of the platform game for the iPhone. But Sophos' senior technology consultant Graham Cluley said the file actually contains a Trojan Horse which infects Windows PCs.

"Games, of course, are hugely popular with people young and old these days - and there is a real buzz about games on the new Apple iPhone, especially because of the new App Store and the device's use of an accelerometer to introduce some Nintendo-like innovative gameplay," said Cluley in a blog posting.

"Hackers, it seems, are jumping on the bandwagon of the iPhone phenomenon and using it as a springboard to infect innocent users. As always, you should exercise extreme caution if you receive an email like this - and never run unsolicited attachments."

3 comments

    Anonymous 2 years ago
    Search-and-destroy Antispyware is one of the best options available when you are searching for protection for your computer that you can trust. I know because I have tried many different types of scans in the past and the biggest difference I have found between them is the price. I found the antispyware solution from Search-and-destroy to be a great option that is affordable and easy to use. Visit http://www.Search-and-destroy.com to learn more about this scan and what it can do for you. If you are like me, you will be glad that you took the time to check it out.
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    Anonymous 3 years ago
    The title of your article is misleading and should read "Virtual Apple iPhone emulator 'game' for the PC contains Windows Trojan". Iphone users are not being targeted... The true targets are PC users who probably do not have iphones and want to have a "Virtual iPhone" interface working on their computer. Your title makes it sound as if Apple is approving malicious software into the App Store, and as of yet, that is not the case.
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago
    This points out an advantage of the App Store being the only portal from which you can load apps onto the iPhone - emailed solicitations such as this are easily distinguishable as fakes. Were you able to load executables via other means this spoof could be much more effective.
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply

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