SAN FRANCISCO -- Security researchers at Sana Security are warning of a new type of malicious software designed to steal user names and passwords from Web surfers. The malware, dubbed "rootkit.hearse," uses rootkit cloaking techniques that make it extremely difficult to detect.

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Before it can steal information, however, the software must be downloaded onto a user's system. A bad guy can accomplish this by tricking the user into downloading the malicious code or by infecting a computer with some other form of malware. Once installed, it sends the sensitive information to a server in Russia that appears to have been in operation since March 16, Sana said.

The software has two components: a Trojan horse application that communicates with the Russian server, and rootkit software that cloaks the malicious software from system tools and antivirus programs. Sana has observed the software being downloaded in conjunction with the Win32.Alcra worm.

Rootkit.hearse uses the same kind of cloaking techniques made infamous by Sony BMG Music Entertainment's XCP (Extended Copy Protection) rootkit software, making it hard to find, according to Sana's chief technology officer, Vlad Gorelik.

As of late Monday, only five of the 24 security products that Sana tested rootkit.hearse against detected the malware, though that number will undoubtedly change as word gets out. "I'm sure that there are others who are beginning to pick it up at this point," Gorelik said.

The Trojan horse software spends most of its time lurking in the background, but it springs to life to communicate with the Russian server whenever a user hits a Web site that requires authentication. The software can read password information as it is typed or even when it is automatically stored and submitted by tools like Internet Explorer's AutoComplete.

As of today, the Russian server had stored about 35,000 unique user names and log-ins that could be used on about 7000 different Web sites, including banking, auction, and social networking sites, Gorelik said.

Sana informed the Russian Internet service provider for the site in question yesterday, Gorelik said. Sana declined to name that ISP. As of this morning, the Russian site was still operational, he said.

More information on rootkit.hearse can be found here.