About 70% of installed programs are adware such as pBot, and 10% are detected as malware that can bring other malware onto the PC, such as another Trojan downloader. These include a malicious clicker that, among other things can check the ‘agree’ box that triggers the adware installer, flooding a victim’s device with unsolicited software.
The infection process continues even if user credentials are not entered, with the malware unpacking further malicious modules. Pirate Matryoshka’s scheme of infection and distribution on Pirate Bay The research shows that so far, the phishing link has been accessed around 10,000 times. Later this malware uses these credentials to create new seeders distributing more of PirateMatryoshka. First, it shows the victim a copy of The Pirate Bay page that is in fact a phishing page, asking them to enter their credentials to continue the installation. Once a user clicks on the installer, PirateMatryoshka’s infection process begins. The latter makes an effective distribution process, because due to the good reputation of the seeder, potential victims have no reason to doubt that the file to be downloaded is safe. While the vast majority of malicious code discovered on torrent websites is usually spread through newly set up user accounts (seeders), PirateMatryoshka malware is spread using established seeders with no known history of malicious activity. The malware uses a sophisticated method of self-propagation from the social engineering point of view. The newly discovered PirateMatryoshka malware carries a Trojan-downloader (malware that downloads malicious installers) disguised as a hacked version of legitimate software used in everyday PC activity. They are a popular target for cybercriminals looking to distribute malicious code, not least because users in search of illegal content often disconnect their online security solutions or ignore system notifications in order to install the downloaded content.
Torrent services are mainly used for the distribution of “pirated” content that is illegal in most countries as it can infringe intellectual property rights, yet they remain easily accessible online.
It has multilayered structure and due to its hidden, seemingly endless stack of functionality, the threat has been named PirateMatryoshka, after the classic Russian stacking doll. The malware aims to infect users’ PCs with adware and tools for additional malware installation. Kaspersky Lab researchers have detected a new malware spreading through the Pirate Bay – one of the most popular torrent trackers.
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