Malware distributors: FBI warns of fraudulent online file converters

Online file converters are practical and convert a .doc file into a PDF document, for example. There are many free offers for this. However, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver now warns, there are also black sheep who want to foist malware on victims.

Current scams

The US security authority provides further background information in a recent article. They state that they have documented services that convert documents but also infect them with malware at the same time. At first, the victim is unaware of this. However, if the file is downloaded, there is a good chance that a virus scanner will sound the alarm. However, it is also possible that the malicious code is still so new that no scanner can detect it.

In some cases, according to the FBI, cybercriminals also want to trick victims into downloading file converter tools to convert documents locally on a PC. In some cases, however, these tools are equipped with a Trojan that infects systems.

Effects of the malware

Once the malware is installed on computers, it usually operates unnoticed by victims and copies data. Attackers are primarily after personal data, log-in access and cryptocurrency wallets. The Trojan then forwards this data to the criminals.

Security researchers from Malwarebytes have also addressed this issue in an article. In it, they add specific web addresses of fraudulent online file converters to the problem. Of course, this is only an excerpt and an inventory. Several of the services listed are now offline. However, they are very likely to reappear under a different URL.

• Imageconvertors[.]com (phishing)
• convertitoremp3[.]it (riskware)
• convertisseurs-pdf[.]com (Riskware)
• convertscloud[.]com (phishing)
• convertix-api[.]xyz (Trojan)
• convertallfiles[.]com (Adware)
• freejpgtopdfconverter[.]com (Riskware)
• primeconvertapp[.]com (Riskware)
• 9convert[.]com (Riskware)
• Convertpro[.]org (Riskware)

(des)