[Gimp-user] Yay, mainstream! - and trojaned GIMP installers

[Michael Schumacher <schumaml gmx de>]

Hi,

recently, we're seeing more and more sign of GIMP becoming mainstream - 
the availability of several GIMP installers for the Microsoft Windows 
platforms loaded with trojans is certainly an indication for that.

The most common trojan seems to be InstallIQ. A piece of software that 
grants the providers of the actual installers plausible deniability 
because the installers itself is clean, and because the user has to 
agree to install additional "utilities" during setup.


Case 1:

Step 1: the victim is sent a scam mail pointing to a file at 
photo-host.net/ (which disguses as a image upload site).

Step 2: the files provided there are .gmp files (huh?)

Step 3: for viewing those files, there's a link to gimphost.com, where 
the infected installer is located


Case 2:

Another victim or culprit of a related scam seems to be the gimpshop.com 
site, which used to host a modifed version of GIMP which resembled the 
Photoshop UI. Either its original author has gone to the Dark Side, or 
that site has been taken over by a scammer - it is distributing 
InstallIQ-infected installers.


Advice:

If you see any GIMP installer sites which have a fine print with phrases 
like

"is distributing a modified installer which is different from the 
original ones"

or

"InstallIQ"

or

"the installer is compliant with the original software manufacturer's 
policies"

then do the following:


STAY AWAY FROM THEM!



--
Regards,
Michael