TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE

Posted: April 10, 2014

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	9/10
Infected PCs:	63

First Seen:	April 10, 2014
Last Seen:	February 21, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE is one of the most recent updates to Zeus or Zbot, a banking Trojan that hacks into your bank account by interfering with your Web browser's data transfers. Because TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE is a multifaceted PC threat with multiple ways of attacking your computer, including installing other threats, its elimination should be taken as mandatory, and always should be handled with suitable anti-malware solutions. Until you have deleted TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE with the security solution of your preference, most passwords and other sensitive information on your machine may remain susceptible to being compromised.

The Thief Hidden in a Message... that's Hidden in Another Message

As one of the most popular, flexible and potent of banking trojans, Trojan Zeus often is seen in new variants. One of its latest campaigns has resulted in the identification of TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE, which is being distributed through spam e-mail. As per the norm for similar scams, TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE's e-mail messages are formatted to look like notifications from legitimate entities, such as major US banks. Instructions to open the accompanying file attachment claim to be passing along a 'secured message' that's protected with encryption, but malware researchers found that what they really want is to install TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE.

TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE's installer is TROJ_UPATRE.YYKE, a Trojan downloader hidden in a MSG, or Outlook message file. Creatively, this file is embedded in another MSG file attached to the original e-mail. This packaging is likely to foil some simpler types of anti-malware solutions and bears more than a passing resemblance to the exploitation of ZIP and RAR archives. However, as is usual, malware experts stress that the instructions to open an unusual file attachment should be a readily obvious clue that the communication is illegitimate.

TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE also includes threat-downloading functions of its own and has been seen installing RTKT_NECURS.RBC, a rootkit whose primary purpose is to disable critical security features. Naturally, TROJ_UPATRE.YYKE also may install other PC threats, along with Zeus.

How to Steal Your Way Back to Safety from TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE

TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE, like most functional versions of Zeus, attempts to target bank account information, and may even inject additional information requests into a Web page for easy theft. However, even PC users without bank accounts are endangered by TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE, which may use several means of stealing passwords for other accounts, along with information such as your personal identity. Computers that are compromised by TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE should not have any unneeded network contact with other PCs and should not share peripheral devices with hard drives, since both of these are vulnerable to threats that may be installed by TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE.

With this spyware confirmed to be working in conjunction with a rootkit that expressly targets security solutions, malware researchers feel obligated to insist on all appropriate anti-malware protocols be used for removing TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE. Booting your PC through a separate OS, such as an emergency USB loader, may be required before you can disinfect your system. Afterward, any important passwords should be changed to prevent third parties from taking advantage of this security lapse.

Regardless of the effects after the fact, Zeus's continuing shifts in how it is distributes makes it clear that the people enjoying its information-collecting features are not leaving the threat scene anytime soon.

TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE

Threat Metric

The Thief Hidden in a Message... that's Hidden in Another Message

How to Steal Your Way Back to Safety from TSPY_ZBOT.YYKE

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