McDonald's Japan malware attack: Difference between revisions

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[[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]On August 4,2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran an promotion that lasted until August 31. Customers would peal an code from a cup and type the code onto their website, with selected winners of 10,000 individuals obtaining an USB-stick MP3 players loaded with ten free songs. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=2006-10-16 |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=InfoWorld}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

[[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]On August 4,2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran an promotion that lasted until August 31. Customers would peal an code from a cup and type the code onto their website, with selected winners of 10,000 individuals obtaining an USB-stick MP3 players loaded with ten free songs. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=2006-10-16 |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=InfoWorld |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222055606/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

==Incident==

Winner's who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running Microsoft operating system, disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running [[wikipedia:Tencent_QQ|QQ Instant Messenger]], sending it via email to an third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villa |first=Joey |date=2006-10-16 |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Global Nerdy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |date=2006-10-17 |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |date=2006-10-16 |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Register}}</ref>

Winner's who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running Microsoft operating system, disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running [[wikipedia:Tencent_QQ|QQ Instant Messenger]], sending it via email to an third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villa |first=Joey |date=2006-10-16 |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Global Nerdy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806085622/https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |date=2006-10-17 |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821060514/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |date=2006-10-16 |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123185302/https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref>

[[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisment.png|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisement|thumb|I can't delete this ;-; ]]

==Company response==

[[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page.png|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page apology and request for Mp3 players. |thumb|McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page]]

On August 7, McDonald's issued an public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The Company offered a Web link that removes the malware from computers and allows winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |date=2006-10-17 |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=ITpro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-26 |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=spamfighter.com}}</ref>

On August 7, McDonald's issued an public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The Company offered a Web link that removes the malware from computers and allows winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |date=2006-10-17 |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=ITpro |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250710015215/https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |archive-date=10 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-26 |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=spamfighter.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213213750/https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>

[[File:McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page.png|alt=McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page in 2006 |thumb|Customer Support Page]]

[[File:McDonald's Official Statement.png|alt=McDonald's Official Statement regarding 2006 Japan malware incident |thumb|McDonald's Official Statement]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]On August 4,2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran an promotion that lasted until August 31. Customers would peal an code from a cup and type the code onto their website,  with selected winners of 10,000  individuals obtaining an USB-stick MP3 players loaded with ten free songs. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=2006-10-16 |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=InfoWorld}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Youtube}}</ref>
+[[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]On August 4,2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran an promotion that lasted until August 31. Customers would peal an code from a cup and type the code onto their website,  with selected winners of 10,000  individuals obtaining an USB-stick MP3 players loaded with ten free songs. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=2006-10-16 |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=InfoWorld |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222055606/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-13 |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Youtube}}</ref>
 ==Incident==
-Winner's who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running Microsoft operating system, disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running  [[wikipedia:Tencent_QQ|QQ Instant Messenger]],  sending it via email to an third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villa |first=Joey |date=2006-10-16 |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Global Nerdy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |date=2006-10-17 |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |date=2006-10-16 |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Register}}</ref>
+Winner's who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running Microsoft operating system, disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running  [[wikipedia:Tencent_QQ|QQ Instant Messenger]],  sending it via email to an third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villa |first=Joey |date=2006-10-16 |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=Global Nerdy |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806085622/https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |date=2006-10-17 |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=CNET |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821060514/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |date=2006-10-16 |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=The Register |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123185302/https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref>
 [[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisment.png|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisement|thumb|I can't delete this ;-; ]]
 ==Company response==
 [[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page.png|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page apology and request for Mp3 players. |thumb|McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page]]
-On August 7, McDonald's issued an public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The Company offered a Web link that removes the malware from computers and allows winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |date=2006-10-17 |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=ITpro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-26 |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=spamfighter.com}}</ref>
+On August 7, McDonald's issued an public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The Company offered a Web link that removes the malware from computers and allows winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |date=2006-10-17 |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=ITpro |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250710015215/https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |archive-date=10 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-26 |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=spamfighter.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213213750/https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>
 [[File:McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page.png|alt=McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page in 2006 |thumb|Customer Support Page]]
 [[File:McDonald's Official Statement.png|alt=McDonald's Official Statement regarding 2006 Japan malware incident |thumb|McDonald's Official Statement]]