MegaPanzer: Parts of Possible Govware Trojan Released under GPL
The name Ruben Unteregger may well become more newsworthy in the next few days. Unteregger has been working at the Swiss ERA IT Solutions company to develop the trojans MegaPanzer and MiniPanzer and has released the code under GPL.
After working for ERA IT Solutions for seven years, Unteregger is only sporadically releasing parts of his trojan under GPLv3. His homepage currently has the downloadable source code for his Skype trojan that taps Skype conversations and dumps the audio data to MP3 files. Swiss authorities have allegedly been using the software since October 2006.
Originally designed for attacks on Windows XP, the MegaPanzer code is "simple and straightforward," according to Unteregger in his blog. The backdoor gets instructions from a specially prepared server (the "dropzone") and transfers the audio data. The Skype-Tap intercepts Skype function calls, dumps the audio data to files, converts them to MP3 and encrypts them. The code is currently missing a few pieces for security reasons, among them a plugin system for the backdoor and functions to circumvent firewalls. These Unteregger will publish later as separate tools and also put them under GPL. His bottom line is, "as always I am open for your opinions and criticism."
The Swiss developer lets on to some of his work at ERA IT Solutions in an interview on gulli.com. Whether this type of benevolent malware has some use for other govware is yet to be seen. Unteregger won't say for sure whether Linux or Mac versions are currently being considered.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.
-
EndeavorOS Mercury Neo Available
A new release from the EndeavorOS team ships with Plasma 6.3 and other goodies.
great post
http://www.cocoschanel.com
http://www.gucciguccis.com
http://www.urboots.com
http://www.handbags2012.com
http://www.louisvuittonslv.com
http://www.uggmalls.com
New version of the sniffing plugin for Skype 4 available
It took its time, several bugs were fixed, some of the old features were removed as for example encryption and encoding.
The source is available here : http://www.megapanzer.com/w.../uploads/SkypeTap_20091226.zip