Updated variant of the Downadup worm identified in the wild

April 2009 Information Security

Bitdefender researchers in the Antimalware Labs have identified a new variant of the Downadup/Conficker worm, able to circumvent detection and disinfection using the removal tools created for its previous versions.

In addition to blocking access to any website of antivirus vendors, as well as third-parties offering online scanning services or removal tools, the malicious binary has been updated to refuse users access to http://bdtools.net, BitDefender’s online repository for distributing disinfection and removal tools.

The updated disinfection tools are now available online at www.disinfecttools.com, a domain that is not currently blacklisted on the compromised machines.

"Since the new variant blocks bdtools.net the new recommended domain name is www.disinfecttools.com ( from our preliminary analysis this is not blocked by the malware ),” said Viorel Canja, head of the BitDefender Labs.

All the BitDefender 2009 products detect the worm as Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen and stop its execution before it is able to perform changes on the system. In order to stay safe while surfing the Web, BitDefender recommends that you install a complete and up-to-date anti-malware software solution.

About BitDefender:

BitDefender is the creator of one of the industry's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified security software. Since its inception in 2001, BitDefender has continued to raise the bar and set new standards in proactive threat prevention. Every day, BitDefender protects tens of millions of home and corporate users across the globe - giving them the peace of mind of knowing that their digital experiences will be secure. BitDefender solutions are distributed by a global network of value-added distribution and reseller partners in more than 100 countries worldwide. More information about BitDefender and its products are available at the company’s security solutions press room. Additionally, BitDefender’s www.malwarecity.com provides background and the latest updates on security threats helping users stay informed in the everyday battle against malware.

Share this article:

Open source code can also be open risk
Information Security Infrastructure
Software development has changed significantly over the years, and today, open-source code increasingly forms the foundation of modern applications, with surveys indicating that 60 – 90% of the average application's code base consists of open-source components.

Read more...

DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...

SA’s strained, loadshedding-prone grid faces cyberthreats
Power Management Information Security
South Africa’s energy sector, already battered by decades of underinvestment and loadshedding, faces another escalating crisis; a wave of cyberthreats that could turn disruptions into catastrophic failures. Attacks are already happening internationally.

Read more...

Almost 50% of companies choose to pay the ransom
News & Events Information Security
This year’s Sophos State of Ransomware 2025 report found that nearly 50% of companies paid the ransom to get their data back, the second-highest rate of ransom payment for ransom demands in six years.

Read more...

Survey highlights cost of cyberdamage to industrial companies
Kaspersky Information Security News & Events
The majority of industrial organisations estimate their financial losses caused by cyberattacks to be over $1 million, while almost one in four report losses exceeding $5 million, and for some, it surpasses $10 million.

Read more...

Digital economy needs an agile approach to cybersecurity
Information Security News & Events
South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyberattacks

Read more...

SIEM rule threat coverage validation
Information Security News & Events
New AI-detection engineering assistant from Cymulate automates SIEM rule validation for SecOps and blue teams by streamlining threat detection engineering with automated testing, control integrations and enhanced detections.

Read more...

Cybersecurity a challenge in digitalising OT
Kaspersky Information Security Industrial (Industry)
According to a study by Kaspersky and VDC Research on securing operational technology environments, the primary risks are inadequate security measures, insufficient resources allocated to OT cybersecurity, challenges surrounding regulatory compliance, and the complexities of IT/OT integration.

Read more...

Categories

Updated variant of the Downadup worm identified in the wild

Further reading:

Published by Technews