Desktop Linux users accustomed to a relatively malware-free lifestyle should get more vigilant in the near future—a researcher at RSA has detailed the existence of the "Hand of Thief" Trojan, which specifically targets Linux.
According to cyber intelligence expert Limor Kessem, Hand of Thief operates a lot like similar malware that targets Windows machines—once installed, it steals information from web forms, even if they're using HTTPS, creates a backdoor access point into the infected machine, and attempts to block off access to antivirus update servers, virtual machines, and other potential methods of detection.
Hand of Thief is currently being sold in "closed cybercrime communities" for $2000, which includes free updates, writes Kessem. However, she adds, the upcoming addition of new web injection attack technology will push the price to $3000, and introduce a $550 fee for major version updates.
"These prices coincide with those quoted by developers who released similar malware for the Windows OS, which would make Hand of Thief relatively priced way above market value considering the relatively small user base of Linux," she notes.
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