Shylock Banking Trojan Spreads via Skype

Shylock Banking Trojan Spreads via Skype

The home Trojan-banker known as Shylock has just been updated with new functions. According to the CSIS Security Group, during an investigation, researchers found that Shylock is now capable of spreading using the popular Voice over IP service and software application, Skype.

The program was discovered in 2011 that steals online banking credentials and other financial information from infected computers. Shylock, named after a character from Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”.

Shylock is active in only a few parts of the world. The epicenter of infections is primarily located in the UK.

The Skype replication is implemented with a plugin called “msg.gsm”. This plugin allows the code to spread through Skype and adds the following functionality:

– Sending messages and transferring files
– Clean messages and transfers from Skype history (using sql-lite access to Skype%smain.db )
– Bypass Skype warning/restriction for connecting to Skype (using “findwindow” and “postmessage”)
– Sends request to server: https://a[removed]s.su/tool/skype.php?action=…

Besides from utilizing Skype it will also spread through local shares and removable drives. Basically, the C&C functions allow the attacker to:

– Execute files
– Get cookies
– Inject HTTP into a website
– Setup VNC
– Spread through removable drives
– Uninstall
– Update C&C server list
– Upload files

Shylock is one of the most advanced Trojan-banker currently being used in attacks against home banking systems. The code is constantly being updated and new features are added regularly.

As always for this type of Trojans antivirus detection is low.