Fake Windows 11 installers used to infect you with malware

silversurfer

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Scammers are already taking advantage of the hype surrounding Microsoft's next Windows release to push fake Windows 11 installers riddled with malware, adware, and other malicious tools.

While Windows 11 will start rolling out worldwide during early 2022, Microsoft has already made it available for install to all customers enrolled in the Insider program after officially unveiling it as the next version of Windows last month.

However, hundreds of users have already downloaded installers from unnoficial sources are getting infected with malware, as Kaspersky security researchers discovered.

"Although Microsoft has made the process of downloading and installing Windows 11 from its official website fairly straightforward, many still visit other sources to download the software, which often contains unadvertised goodies from cybercriminals (and isn’t necessarily Windows 11 at all)," Kaspersky said.
A lot of the malware distributed by attackers this way were downloaders designed to deliver other malicious payloads on the victims' already infected computers.

Windows 11 installer lures were also used to directly push a wide range of other payloads, ranging from adware (considered mostly harmless by anti-malware software) to a lot more dangerous trojans, password stealers, and similar hazardos stuff.

One of the infected users downloaded a 1.75 GB fake Windows 11 installer which, once launched, displayed what looked like Windows installation wizard.
However, the malicious installer would actually download and run a second installer designed to install adware, potentially unwanted programs, and malware.
 

show-Zi

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The Malicious Software Tool is provided under the guise of a monthly updateo_O
 

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