A new password stealing trojan horse has emerged that uses rootkit techniques to hide from AV products and it transmits passwords from websites allowing security to be compromised. The old axiom of "Think before you click" is always important for URLs in email, IM, or when surfing the Internet.

Rootkit.Hearse - Article on Dangers
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=5869

Rootkit.Hearse - Related AV links
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_138991.htm
http://secunia.com/virus_information/27816/pws-banker.be/
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/hearse_a.shtml
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=TROJ%5FHEARSE%2EA
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.goldun.k.html

Security researchers at Sana Security are warning of a new type of malicious software designed to steal usernames and passwords from web surfers. The malware, dubbed "rootkit.hearse", uses rootkit-cloaking techniques, making it extremely difficult to detect.

To steal information, however, the software must first be downloaded on to a user's system. This can be done by tricking the user into downloading the malicious code, or by infecting a computer with some other form of malware. Once installed, it sends the sensitive information to a server in Russia, that appears to have been in operation since 16 March, Sana said.

The software has two components: a Trojan horse application that communicates with the Russian server, as well as rootkit software that cloaks the malicious software from system tools and antivirus programs. Sana has observed the software being downloaded in conjunction with the Win32.Alcra worm.