PandaLabs: hackers test malware by antiviruses

20th March 2008

PandaLabs has published an interesting material on the testing malicious software. According to the laboratory, cyber-criminals are developing tools to verify their products before distribution.
The study held by the laboratory showed that virus-creators are actively discussing at various forums and web pages opportunities to develop tools that would imitate verifying some of the leading security solutions. It gives hackers the opportunity to verify that malicious codes created by them will not be detected before the launch.
As one of these utilities they often use a modified version of the program Virus Total, which excludes the option “do not distribute the sample” - as a resulting, scanning of files is held without sending samples of anti-virus laboratories.
As specialists of PandaLabs point out, even if the malicious code is found by one or two antivirus programs, its use would still be very effective, because it would be dangerous for all the people having other security solutions.