Users of MSN Messenger beware.
A new Bropia worm variant is now spreading via the instant
messaging platform.
Users who are lured into opening the file called "SEXY.JPG" will
find a photo of a roast chicken with a bikini tan line.
Upon entering a computer system, the worm known as WORM_BROPIA.F
will drop a copy of itself into the Windows system folder, and then
try to send a copy of itself under file names such as
Bedroom-thongs.pif, Hot.pif, Naked_drunk.pif, New_webcam.pif, and
Underware.pif, to other MSN Messenger users on the contact list of
an infected system.
Said Mr Ang Ah Sin, the regional marketing manager for Trend Micro
(Asia South), a network antivirus and Internet content security
software and service provider: "With the popularity of instant
messengers, home users are probably most at risk - this kind of
worm uses humour to make people unaware that their systems are
being infected via the backdoor."
The company has issued a medium risk alert on the worm which has
already been reported in Taiwan, China, Korea and the US.
The worm also bears the AGOBOT worm, enabling it to expose the
backdoors of infected systems to hackers.
By opening the backdoor to your system, the AGOBOT worm or Bot
programmes may allow commands to be executed by a remote user. This
means that information such as your Windows Product ID can be
stolen from your system.
The worm affects Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP platforms. You
can use Trend Micro's online virus scanner, Housecall, check if
your system has been affected. - TODAY