New Adult Content Virus Puts Victims' Web History On Net

Hackers have found new ways to further exploit the already popular adult entertainment industry.

A new type of malware parasite in Japan has attacked thousands of people who download Hentai (animated pornography) computer games.

The malware infects PCs using file-share sites, publishes the user's browsing habits on a public website and then demands a fee for removal. The Japanese trojan virus installs itself on computers using a popular file-share service called Winni which is used by up to 200 million people. Computer users in other countries have access to the same adult animated game.

It targets gamers who download illegal copies of Hentai games, which is explicit adult anime. Over 5000 people have since been infected, according to Website Yomiuri, a Japanese news site.

The virus, known as Kenzero, is being monitored by web security firm Trend Micro in Japan. It appears to be a game installation screen which requests the PC user's personal details.

The virus then takes screenshots of the user's web history and publishes it online in their name, before sending an e-mail or pop-up screen demanding a credit card payment of 1500 yen (about $16) to settle "violation of copyright law" and remove the webpage.

The website that the history is published on is owned by a shell company called Romancing Inc. It is registered to a fictitious individual called Shoen Overns. Kenzero is a twist on ransomware, which infects a computer and encrypts the documents, pictures and music stored on it, before demanding a fee for a decryption key.

A fictitious organization calling itself the ICPP copyright foundation issues threatening pop-ups and letters after a virus searches the computer hard drive for illegal content. This actually happens regardless of whether it actually finds anything. It offers a "pretrial settlement" fine of $400 payable by credit card, and warns of costly court cases and even jail sentences if the victim ignores the notice. However, rather than take the money, the outfit sells the credit card details which may lead to other issues.