BitTorrent Malware Spreads to Media Players
Written by enigmax on May 22, 2007When someone or something becomes a huge success, inevitably some people want a piece of that and try to cash in. The BitTorrent scene is no exception and in recent months we have reported on a raft of torrent clients hitting the internet, each installing malware on unsuspecting user’s PC’s. Sadly this disease is now spreading to their latest tool; malware-infected media players.
We have regularly reported on BitTorrent clients which also install malware such as Torrent101, BitRoll, TorrentQ and GetTorrent and have done our very best to let people know about the dangers of using such a product.
Unfortunately, as fast as we report such things, the malware peddlers create yet more bad clients with new names, but carrying the same bad story. However, these guys are very determined to get software such as CIDHELP on your machine, ready to watch your activities and to this end have become quite creative. Recently BitTorrent users are reporting that they have downloaded various pieces of video (usually a TV show) only to be confronted with a message during the first few seconds of the video which advises them to download a new media player called 3wPlayer, in order to view the rest of the file.
The displayed url directs the unsuspecting to the Play3W site, where they are given the chance of installing a shiny new media player.
From the screenshot you will see that there is a ‘more’ button and when you install this player ‘more’ is exactly what you get - more malware in the form of CIDHELP, yet again. It can be difficult task to uninstall it too, especially when you consider the veiled legal threat on the CIDHELP site - the vendor warns you could be in breach of the EULA if you try to remove it with your anti-spyware software. To get rid of the software, they advise to first turn off your anti-adware/spyware software and re-install the software, something that rings a few alarm bells!
It may seem that every pusher in the world is getting involved in the BitTorrent malware scene but a simple WHOIS on all the domains hosting the torrent clients listed above, (Torrent101 for example) including the 3wPlayer site, reveals that they are more than likely the same outfit, exploiting the less experienced members of the BitTorrent community. Anyone concerned about a particular torrent should take the time to read the user comments on the site where the torrent was downloaded from. Very often problems such as fake files are spoken about there.
Anyone needing a media player that will deal with almost any video format should consider the excellent VLC Media Player, available for free download. Those who still haven’t settled on a quality BitTorrent client will find everything they need by getting uTorrent. No spyware, adware or malware present in either product.
Previously: Tribler: A Next Generation BitTorrent Client?
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What do I put in the output section of a 3wPlayer converter?
Help!!
When i run 2 movies that i downloaded through lime wire named “NO RESERVATIONS” & ” THE BRAVE ONE” while playing them through WMP i get the msg “Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The Player might not support the file type or might not support the codec that was used to compress the file.” i have tried VLC player real one Power DVD, WMP 10 & 11 & Classic but to no use” i need help can ani one tell me how can i make these movies play
well.. at isohunt.com there are more and more .avi -container-files like this.. i think the admins are very weak because they don´t really care …. some bad files like “The.Kingdom[2007]DvDrip[Eng]-aXXo.avi” or “Beowulf.2007.DVDRip.XviD-DIAMOND.avi” could be easily erased, but nothing happens… even after the very nice aXXo-interview at this blog. whats wrong with isohunt.com and their admins?
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@12
lol….damn that spyware
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If your looking for a good media player try miro, zeropaid has a great post on how to download bitTorrents with it.
And this blog “the fullmetal blog” shows you how to rip video from video sharing sites with it.
http://thefullmetalblog.blogspot.com/
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bam axxo and all others that practic this shit
My brother was stupid enough to dl and try to pay for the domplayer for a file that was supposed to be prisonbreak s03e06.. (after decrypting it it turned out to be some ep of heroes)
anyone knows what happens with his phone? will they tap his phone for money, and is there a way of stopping them?
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Handle your blog spam
I have downloaded a few of these torrents… “need dom player” or password to open. I have deleted them. Can I still trust my security services to protect my computer and can I do online banking safely? I am new to computers and prefer not to find out the hardway. Thanx
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[quote comment="103531"]I tipped on this :D xD[/quote]
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Such mother fuckers should be paid in their ass…
[quote comment="221504"]Such mother fuckers should be paid in their ass…[/quote]
[quote comment="221504"]Such mother fuckers should be paid in their ass…[/quote]
[quote comment="160494"]how i can report this torrents ‘cos there is people still downloading them Pirates.Of.The.Caribbean.3[2007]DvDrip[Eng]-aXXo seeds:138 peers:243 ( and it’s infected with 3wplayer)…i do’t remember where i took them from …I ‘am usung UTorrent 1.7.4 how can I track them?!
sorry 4 stupid questions[/quote]
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