Fake Free Windows 8 License Spam Messages Circulates Malicious Cridex Trojan

Windows 8, touted as the best flagship operating system yet from the good folks at Microsoft, has finally dropped but has experienced some backlash from spammers spreading fake free Windows 8 licenses leading to malware.

Windows 8, for several months this year, has been a highly anticipated operating system. In a recent discovery by security vendor GFI Labs, spam messages were found to offer a supposed free license for Windows 8 operating system. As you know, a free license to the latest and greatest desktop operating system from Microsoft is just too good to be true.

As it turns out, these spam messages were initiated by a sender claiming that you 'can download your Microsoft Windows License here', which is undoubted a rather enticing line. Who wouldn't want a free license to Windows 8?

The link, worded just like we mentioned above, leads to an attack identified as Blackhole-Cridex (Cridex Trojan). This particular Trojan horse is known for targeting websites based on the WordPress blogging software platform. Cridex Trojan, known for being distributed through spam messages, is the weapon of choice for these uncovered fake Windows 8 license spam messages.

Another thing to note about the infection wielded by fake Windows 8 license spam messages is that it is very difficult to uninstall and has the ability to connect to command servers where it obtains instructions for performing malicious actions on an infected system.

With Windows 8 just hitting the market officially on October 26th, we expect this free license spam message to gain a lot of traction. Just think, if you were offered a free license for Windows 8 you would be crazy for turning down the offer. Although, now with you knowing how scammers are circulating malware through spam messages offering up Windows 8 for free, you will hopefully utilize caution when running across such a shroud scam.