FTC gets court injunction against malware distributing companies

FTC gets court injunction against malware distributing companies

LOS ANGELES - The US District Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles has ordered three Web businesses to temporarily close shop following a request from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The said companies- Enternet Media, Conspy & Co. Inc., and Networld One- were thought to be using free ringtones, browser upgrades and free music lyric files to bundle up their malicious spyware and adware. In turn these deadly software was downloaded on to a users' computer allowing hackers free control over the same. The FTC alleged that one of the companies.

Enternet based in Woodland Hills, Calif, was operating under names like Searchmiracle.com, c4tdownload.com and cash4toolbar.com to spread its reach. "EliteBar" and "EliteToolbar, were the adware that were installed onto the computers, according to Richard Stiennon, who is the director of threat research for Webroot, which sells anti-spyware software.

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"We've consistently found these in our top 10 of adware and spyware," Stiennon observed. "They've been very effective at getting installed, sometimes even more effective than better-known adware." The court order was issued to three Enternet officials identified as Lida Rohbani, Nima Hakimi and Baback Hakimi.

The court also acted against Iwebtunes.com, which was spreading spyware through a free music offering to Weblog operators. Nicholas C. Albert, the chief of Iwebtunes.com received the court order to shut shop. It was said that the spyware was very difficult to remove once it was installed on a user's PC.

The FTC said that Microsoft, Google Inc. and Webroot Software Inc had helped it in its operations against the three companies. The FTC is also requesting anyone who has come across these companies to contact enternetmedia@ftc.gov or to call 202/326-2992.