# MA-123.012008: MyCERT Alert - Malicious New Year Card Emails

**Date:** 08 Jan 2008  
**Source:** https://www.mycert.org.my/portal/advisory?id=MA-123.012008  
**Advisory ID:** MA-123.012008

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#### MyCERT had observed mass circulation of New Year card spam emails on the eve of New Year. The spam contains link that when clicked, will redirect users to to download a malicious program called Happy -2008.exe. Our analysis had shown that.
The **subject lines** of the spam emails include the followings:
- Happy New Year To You!
- Wishes for the new year
- Opportunities for the new year
- New Year Postcard
- New Year Ecard
- New Year wishes for you
- Happy New Year To You!
- Message for new year
- Blasting new year
- As you embrace another new year
- It.s the new Year
- As the new year.
- Happy 2008 To You!
- Joyous new year
- Lots of greetings on new year
- A fresh new year
The messages contained in the mail has simple messages such as the following:
- A fresh new year
http://uhavepostcard.com/
- New Year wishes for you
http://happycards2008.com/
- Joyous new year
http://uhavepostcard.com/
Our analysis have shown that the IP addresses of the malicious domains involved keeps on changing. By employing such technique the attacker makes it difficult for efforts to remove sites serving malicious programs.
The program, happy-2008.exe itself, is a malware known as zhelatin/pearcom or storm worm which uses peer-to-peer technology to as a communication channel.
Attached is the scan-result produced by ClamAV antivirus:
$ clamscan happy-2008.exe.1 No Ubuntu promotion please :-) happy-2008.exe.1: Trojan.Zhelatin FOUND
----------- SCAN SUMMARY -----------
Known viruses: 181122
Engine version: 0.91.2
Scanned directories: 0
Scanned files: 1
Infected files: 1
Data scanned: 0.39 MB
Time: 1.578 sec (0 m 1 s)
---------------------------------------------------
Details on the malicious spam emails is available at:
- http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/00001350.html
- http://blog.trendmicro.com
- http://www.antirootkit.com/blog/2007/12/27/happy-new-rootkit/
We advise members/users to be extra cautious when receiving such emails. We advise NOT TO click on the malicious link attached in the email or delete any such emails received.
#### Mitigation Steps
As for preventive steps, we advise the followings:
1. Do not click on any links attached in unknown emails, as the links may redirect to malware sites.
2. Make sure your PCs and browsers are properly patched with latest patches.
3. Make sure your PC is installed with latest anti-virus softwares and always updated with latest signature files.
4. Report to CERTs/ISPs on any suspicious emails that you receive.