A new technique to disguise a target URL in spam

[DCISS <dciss () bigpond net au>]

This is a new technique I have found to disguise a target URL in spam 
e-mail.  I received an e-mail claiming that I was infected with the 
Netsky.b virus.  It included a valid link to Mcafee.  Hovering the mouse 
over the link shows that it is for "http://www.mcafee.com";.  However I 
was suspicious because the e-mail came from a completely unexpected user 
I had never sent e-mail to.  Using the view source feature (I use 
Netscape), I found that the e-mail contained following interesting piece 
of code:

<FORM action=3dhttp://aicworld=2einfo/anz=2ehtm method=3dget>
<A href=3d"http://www=2emcafee=2ecom";>
<INPUT style=3d"BORDER-RIGHT: 0pt; BORDER-TOP: 0pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; 
BORDER-LEFT: 0pt; CURSOR: hand; COLOR: blue; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0pt; 
BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent;
TEXT-DECORATION: underline" type=3dsubmit value=3dhttp://www=2emcafee=2ecom>
</a>
...
</FORM>


(note that the dots in the URLs have been escaped for some reason)

This code creates an invisible form which appears to be a link to a 
reputable antivirus company.  However clicking on the link instead 
brings us to  aicworld.info/anz.htm.  I wasn't going to risk my home 
computer on an unsafe link, and by the time I tried on a work computer, 
the site was down, so I don't know what clicking on the link would have 
downloaded.  Has anybody else seen this techique before, or know what 
was being propagated?


Mark Goldfinch


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Free 30-day trial: firewall with virus/spam protection, URL filtering, VPN,
wireless security

Protect your network against hackers, viruses, spam and other risks with Astaro
Security Linux, the comprehensive security solution that combines six
applications in one software solution for ease of use and lower total cost of
ownership.

Download your free trial at 
http://www.securityfocus.com/sponsor/Astaro_incidents_040301
----------------------------------------------------------------------------