The virus isn't new, but has been spreading for quite a while
already. It has gotten way too nasty.
The effects... there are quite a few, but I will say the worst. In
any case, the worst requires you to reformat and reinstall the
machine. Recommended... if don't want, can try to fix.
1. Computer being controlled by hackers. Your computer will be part
of a botnet. A botnet is network of zombie computers. This means
the computer is no longer belonging to the user, but the hacker. By
being part of this botnet, your computer will be doing the
following illegal things:
a) sending out spam emails
b) performing a DDoS on a website or machine
c) hacking another machine
2. This is closely related to point 1. If you ever receive any
warning from your ISP about hacking or sending out spam mails, but
virus scans and all kinds of scans turn out clean, you have a
rootkit on your machine. Go Wikipedia to find out what a rootkit
is.
3. Passwords and usernames stolen.
