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TechSpot RSSIT Security
Rogue Flash ads overwrite clipboard
There is a new type of malicious advertising doing the rounds, one that targets users of Windows, Mac, and Linux systems running IE, Firefox, and Safari. The attack, which was made public via a number of discussion boards, exploits a feature in Flash to put a plain-text string of characters on a user’s clipboard.
While the feature alone appears to pose no security risk at all, hackers are using it in tandem with Flash-based banner ads on legitimate sites to persistently overwrite the clipboard with a malicious URL – effectively hijacking the clipboard until the browser window is closed. This of course can lead some people to unknowingly spam the link, which points to a fake anti-virus product for sale.
Adobe says it is investigating potential solutions to this issue and has promised to update customers as soon as more information is available.
While the feature alone appears to pose no security risk at all, hackers are using it in tandem with Flash-based banner ads on legitimate sites to persistently overwrite the clipboard with a malicious URL – effectively hijacking the clipboard until the browser window is closed. This of course can lead some people to unknowingly spam the link, which points to a fake anti-virus product for sale.
Adobe says it is investigating potential solutions to this issue and has promised to update customers as soon as more information is available.
