Malware spreading through USB drives

A new piece of malware has been identified by experts as being able to spread through USB drives due to a vulnerability in the Windows software.

The virus was reported by VirusBlokAda, which identified the malware’s ability to spread through USB sticks.

“You just have to open [an] infected USB storage device using Microsoft Explorer or any other file manager that can display icons, to infect your operating system and allow execution of [the] malware program,” the company said in a statement.

“At this time it is unclear whether this is necessary for the exploit to work, or whether it is a control mechanism for the perpetrators of this attack,” Sophos analyst Chester Wisniewski told Information Week.

The malware is actually disguised as a driver for a device, allowing the virus to load automatically. It is understood this virus has a legitimate driver signature, which has baffled experts.