Form-grabbing malware silently infects thousands of computers daily, often without the user noticing it.
What Is Form-Grabbing Malware?
The information gathered is then stored and transmitted to a specific server afterward.
These form grabbers are mostly used to steal information when the user is interacting with a banking website.
The malware was embedded in various emails that were sent to numerous people.
Those who received the emails erroneously thought they were from reputable banking firms.
Although the original Zeus code has been retired, it hasbirthed nastier form-grabbing malwarethat still plagues the internet today.
One of those is SpyEye.
Using code from its predecessor Zeus, SpyEye targets your web surfing app.
It records keystrokes, stealing your credentials and authorizations while you’re logged into a banking portal.
How Does Form-Grabbing Malware Work?
The key to successful form grabbing is inserting the malware between the web client and the networking stack.
This allows it to intercept the data before it becomes encrypted.
First, a web app Helper Object (BHO) is installed in the web app.
This allows the malware to look out for calls to the HttpSendRequest function.
The malware mayinput Dynamic Link Library files (DLL) into the browserevery time it launches.
Install Antivirus Protection
Antivirus works by scanning traffic going through the internet and into your gear.
But others perform automatic scans on all systems, detecting malware instantly and deleting them.
These are the most efficient against form grabbers.
Avoid Unencrypted Connections
You should avoid filling out forms on unencrypted sites.
Websites with the HTTPS Protocol are the most secure, not allowing any form grabbing or keylogging.
HTTPS uses complex encryption to secure data exchange.
Also, note that HTTPS is the same protocol as HTTP.
A way to confirm this is withGoogle Transparency Report.
Enter the URL of the website in the search bar of the page.
If the website pops up, it is confirmed to spread malware through plug-ins and downloads.
Completely avoiding these blacklisted websites will reduce the chances of malware getting into your gear.
Sadly, there are a lot of unsecured pages with harmful redirects that lead to these blacklisted sites.
A web firewall will block these redirects while protecting sensitive data from form grabbers.
Can You Completely Prevent Form-Grabbing?
Form-grabbing malware may be commonplace, but there are steps to take to prevent your data from being stolen.
Ensure extensions and plug-ins are only downloaded from trusted sources.
Furthermore, antivirus programs are the best bet as they automatically scan for malware and delete them instantly.
