 |
|
Once downloaded, dialers disconnect the user’s
modem from the designated Internet service
provider and connect to another phone number
(possibly a long distance number for which
the user will be billed). Dialers often alter
DUN settings to silence the modem, hiding
the fact that a connection is being made.
Malicious dialers (such as a trojan
horse dialer) can be identified by the following
characteristics: •
A
download popup opens when opening a website.
•
On
the website there is only a small hint,
if any, about the price.
•
The
download starts even if the cancel button
has been clicked.
•
The
dialer installs as default connection without
any notice.
•
The
dialer creates unwanted connections by itself
and without user interaction.
•
The
dialer does not show any notice about the
price (only few do) before dialing in.
•
The
high price of the connection is not being
shown while connected
•
The
dialer cannot be uninstalled, or only with
serious effort.
Lately (March 2004), malicious dialers get
installed through a nonexistent antivirus
program. Spam emails from a so-called "AntiVirus
Team" for example contain a download
link to programs named "downloadtool.exe"
or "antivirus.exe", which are
malicious dialers. Other current ways are
greeting card mails that link to pages forcing
the user to install ActiveX controls installing
dialers in the background.
Hence
links in spam emails should never be opened,
automatically started downloads should be
cancelled as soon as discovered, and one
should check on each dial-up to the internet
whether the displayed phone number is still
the same. Another way to protect oneself
is to disable expensive numbers using phone
company services, but of course this disables
all of them -- even the honest ones.
A
number of spyware
remover applications are available to
help computer users search for and remove
trojan horse dialer software.
Additional Definitions:
Adware
Browser
Hijacker
Dialer
Malware
Scumware
Spyware
Trojan Horse
Virus
Worm
This
article is licensed under the GFDL.
It uses material from the Wikipedia
article "dialer"
|
|
|
