Online users who have received email messages with attached files with names ending with "iso are asked not to open them. This is because the attachments are archived disc image file (iso) that may contain malware, malicious programs or viruses. And, any attempt to open the malicious attachments will result in the recipients getting their computers infected with a virus, Trojan horse, spyware, ransomware or other malware.
A Fake Email with a Malicious .ISO Attachment
Subject: New Quotation
Date: Mon 06/11/2017 02:08
From: sales@arcmaster.uk.com
Attachment: Invoice-75643.iso - 520 KB (Disc Image File)
Dear Sir,
With reference to your enquiry, please find attached our quotation.
We hope that our offer meets with your requirement and look forward to receiving your valued order confirmation.
If you require any further clarifications, please feel free to contact us on under signed.
With kind regards,
Mareena John
Cybercriminals have started storing their malware in ".ISO" files to help prevent antivirus software from detecting them. In other words, they do it because the archived malicious email attachments may bypass the recipients' antivirus software.
What is an .ISO file?
An ISO file or image, also called a Disc Image File, is an archive file of an optical disc, a type of disk image composed of data contents from a CD, DVD or Blu-ray Disc.