Avoid infecting your system via emails concerning an iPhone 12 order
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
(updated)
What is "iPhone 12 email virus"?
"iPhone 12 email virus" refers to a malware-spreading spam email campaign. The term "spam campaign" is used to define a mass-scale operation, during which thousands of scam emails are sent. The deceptive messages distributed through this spam campaign concern a fake order of an iPhone 12, which has been paid for and can still be cancelled within 24 hours.
All of the information given by these emails is false - no unauthorized order has been made with the recipient's credit card, nor does it have to be cancelled. These messages are used to trick recipients into opening the attached file (the supposed order invoice), which starts the infection process of DUNIHI malware.
This piece of malicious software is capable of receiving and executing commands on a system, thereby allowing the cyber criminals using it a certain level of control over the compromised machine.
The scam messages distributed via the "iPhone 12 email virus" spam campaign (the subject/title "Thank you for your Order No.476702" might vary) thanks recipients for the order and informs them that the phone will be shipped tomorrow. The emails then state that the order has been paid for with a credit card.
The ordered product is allegedly an iPhone 12 Pro 256 GB and its cost is listed as US$1386,86 (USD). Furthermore, recipients are informed that the order can be cancelled through the attached Excel spreadsheet file.
To further increase the impression of urgency, the messages state that the fake order cannot be cancelled after 24 hours, however, should the attached document be opened (whether to cancel the bogus purchase or to investigate it), download/installation of DUNIHI malware will be initiated.
As mentioned, this malicious program can receive and execute commands on an infected system. Some of its primary functionality includes file extraction (download), infiltration (upload), execution and deletion. Its capability to upload and execute files allows DUNIHI to be used to cause chain infections.
I.e., download/installation of additional malware (e.g. ransomware, cryptominers, etc.). In addition, this malicious software is capable of infecting and proliferating via storage devices (e.g. external hard drives, USB Flash drives, etc.). Therefore, a storage device that has been connected to an infected system could infect a different machine when plugged into it.
To summarize, by trusting "iPhone 12 email virus", users can experience system infections, serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. If it is known/suspected that DUNIHI (or other malware) has already infected the system, use anti-virus software to eliminate it without delay.
| Name | DUNIHI malware |
| Threat Type | Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware. |
| Hoax | Scam emails claim recipients have ordered and paid for an iPhone, yet the order can be cancelled within 24 hours through the attached document. |
| Attachment(s) | Invoice_24077.xlsb (filename may vary). |
| Detection Names (Invoice_24077.xlsb) |
Fortinet (VBA/Agent.DFY!tr.dldr), GData (Generic.Trojan.Agent.QF7G9R), ESET-NOD32 (PowerShell/TrojanDownloader.Agent.DFY), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Dropper.MSOffice.SDrop.gen), Microsoft (TrojanDownloader:O97M/Powdow.PER!MTB), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal). |
| Symptoms | Trojans are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine. |
| Payload | DUNIHI |
| Distribution methods | Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software 'cracks'. |
| Damage | Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, the victim's computer added to a botnet. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
"VodaFone Email Virus", "Inditron Enterprises Email Virus", "$100 Amazon Gift Card Email Virus" and "CDP Email Virus" are some examples of other spam campaigns that proliferate malware. These scam emails can have a wide variety of disguises/thematics.
They might be presented as "urgent", "priority", "important" and as mail from legitimate institutions, organizations, companies and other entities, however, spam campaigns are not used exclusively to spread malicious programs. These deceptive messages are also used for phishing and other scams.
Due to the relative prevalence of spam mail, you are strongly advised to exercise caution with incoming emails.
How did "iPhone 12 email virus" infect my computer?
Systems are infected via malicious files distributed through spam campaigns. These files can be attached and/or linked inside the emails. Infectious files can be in various formats (e.g. Microsoft Office and PDF documents, archive and executable files, JavaScript, etc.).
When these files are executed, run or otherwise opened, the infection process (i.e. malware download/installation) is triggered. For example, Microsoft Office documents (e.g. "Invoice_24077.xlsb") cause infections by executing malicious macro commands.
In Microsoft Office versions released prior to 2010, malware download/installation begins when an infectious document is opened, however, newer versions have "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic execution of macros.
Instead, users are asked to enable macro commands (i.e., to enable editing/content) and hence infection processes can only be started by manually enabling macros.
How to avoid installation of malware
To avoid malware spread via spam mail, you are strongly advised against opening suspicious or irrelevant emails, especially those with any attachments or links present within them. Additionally, use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010.
Malicious programs also proliferate through untrusted download channels (e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders), illegal software activation ("cracking") tools, and fake updaters.
Therefore, only download from official/verified sources and activate and update software with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers. To ensure device integrity and user privacy, have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept updated.
Furthermore, use these programs to run regular system scans and to remove detected/potential threats. If you have already opened "iPhone 12 Email Virus" attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.
Text presented in the "iPhone 12" scam email message:
Subject: Thank you for your Order No.476702
Dear Customer ********,
Thank you for your Order No.3546033 , We will ship it tommorrow before 16:00 PM
Date: November 27, 2020 21:14:10
Status: Paid (Credit Card)
Product : iPhone 12 Pro 256 GB UNLOCKED
Total Amount : $1386,86 USD.
if you want cancel this order please check attached Invoice (xls) and click cancel order
Note : you can't cancel your order after 24 hours.
Thank you,
Sales Support.
Malicious attachment distributed via "iPhone 12 email virus" spam campaign ("Invoice_24077.xlsb"):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is "iPhone 12 Email Virus"?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of DUNIHI malware.
- STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.
How to remove malware manually?
Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically. To remove this malware we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:
If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:
Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:
Restart your computer into Safe Mode:
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu".
Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button.
In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.
In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.
Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.
You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".
After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.
Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs.
These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.
To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
Outstanding!
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