Security researchers from Bitdefender have identified a new variant of the Dorkbot worm. The malware is designed to spread from one computer to another via Facebook's chat service.
Once it infects a device, the malware is able to monitor the victim's browsing activities. But it doesn't stop there. It can steal the victim's personal information, such as username and password, and it can start downloading various malicious applications to the infected machine.
According to experts, the Dorkbot malware is most prevalent in the United States, India, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
To trick its victims, Dorkbot prompts users to open a seemingly harmless image that comes in .Jpg file format.
Dorkbot, which uses IRC to send and receive data, can also be transmitted via a USB connected to an infected device.
To protect yourself from this threat, experts advise avoiding clicking on suspicious links you receive via chat, even if they appear to come from a friend.
