Unknown hackers are trying to infect computers by capitalizing on strong
interest in a recent report by a security firm that accuses the Chinese
military of supporting widespread cyber attacks on U.S. companies.
Tainted
digital versions of the report from cyber forensics firm Mandiant
infect PCs with computer viruses that allow hackers to gain remote
control of computers after users attempt to read those documents,
according to security researchers.
Anti-virus software maker
Symantec Corp said on its blog that some of those tainted documents were
attached to Japanese-language emails purporting to be from someone
recommending the report.
Security engineer Brandon Dixon said on
his blog that he had identified a similar document on the Internet,
which appeared to have originated in India.
"It was only a matter
of time," Mandiant said on its blog, adding that its own network had not
been compromised. "Reports downloaded, previously and currently from
our website, do not contain exploits."
The report, which is
available from Mandiant charges that
a secretive Chinese military unit is behind a series of hacking
attacks. It prompted a strong denial from Beijing and accusations that
China was in fact the victim of U.S. hacking.
© Thomson Reuters 2013