Security researchers from Kaspersky Lab have identified another piece of malware targeting the Middle East that is likely part of the interrelated cyberespionage efforts behind Stuxnet, Duqu, Flame, and Gauss.The malware was dubbed miniFlame because its code suggests that it was built on the same platform as
the highly sophisticated Flame threat discovered in May. However, the functionality of miniFlame -- called SPE by its authors -- is different.
"Flame and Gauss are mostly about data and information stealing," Roel Schouwenberg, a senior researcher at Kaspersky Lab, said Monday via email. "MiniFlame serves as a backdoor which gives the operator direct access to an infected machine. So yes, the functionality and intent is different."
