Moralityware

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Moralityware is a subset of malware which infects a PC with the intention of imposing morality upon the user (for example, by blocking pornographic websites). The first cited example appeared in eWeek [1]. In the example cited, the trojan deemed Yusufali-A by Sophos is said to monitor Internet Explorer title bars for content potentially relating to pornography. Upon triggering, the Internet Explorer window will be minimized and a window will take it's place, with a quote from the Koran translated into several languages.

Screenshot of Moralityware at work
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Screenshot of Moralityware at work

After a time, the trojan will display an Exit button, but will trap the mouse cursor within the window when the button is attempted to be clicked, displaying the message "OH! No I'm in the Cage". The trojan will then require that the computer be logged off, at a minimum, before it will return control of the mouse.

What remains unclear is whether the trojan was designed as a joke or truly as a moral guardian. Regardless, anti-virus makers are blocking the software through virus definitions. Additionally, it remains to be seen whether this indicates a trend in malware or if it is simply a new term for a one-time occurrence.

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