Battery charger software contains malware

Backdoor found in Energizer Duo USB battery charger [CNET News]

What will they come up with next?  It's amazing the vectors for malware that users have to protect themselves against in 2010. CNET is reporting that the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) is warning that a particular brand battery recharger that connects to a computer's USB port has specialized software that contains a Trojan. The Energizer Duo USB battery charger's downloadable software contains malware that installs itself onto a Windows-based PC which creates a backdoor on the infected computer that hackers could use to steal data and execute other malware.

The malware infects the computer when a user installs the Energizer software. Energizer is currently working with CERT to determine how the malware made its way into the otherwise legitimate software. The charger and software have been discontinued, and customers with the charger are encouraged to scan their system with a current version of an anti-malware program.

Insight Broadband customers have free access to the CA Internet Security suite, which can be downloaded here.

Comments

[Steve Huff]

I go to the AntiVirus page for Insight and get the message telling me it doens't support Windows 7:

"We're sorry, this application is only compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista operating systems."

Good time to point out that Microsoft gives away a kick-butt Anti-Virus software program now anyway:

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

[Erik]

Michael, as per above, this software is not compatible with Windows 7 of which has been out for quite a few months now. It's disheartening when Insight isn't supporting new Windows versions in this time of viruses, malware, ad ware, trojans, etc.

As Steve suggests, and as do I, use Micrisoft's Security Essentials instead. Small yet powerful.