Sophos, a world leader in protecting businesses against spam and
viruses, is delighted to report that the MyDoom-O computer worm -
apparently causing significant problems elsewhere in the world -
does not seem to have troubled Australian businesses.
"Although virulent, this worm is easy to detect and prevent for
businesses with sensible email policies," said Paul Ducklin,
Sophos's Head of Technology, Asia Pacific. "Australian users have
shown themselves willing to take on the virus problem not just with
technology but with a good dose of common sense."
As a confidence trick, MyDoom-O produces emails which warn you
to open an attached file for security reasons, allegedly because
"your e-mail account has been used to send a large amount of
unsolicited e-mail messages during this recent week".
Since many users in Australia are understandably afraid of being
billed by their ISPs for emails sent by someone else, this tactic
might seem a likely way for the latest MyDoom variant to worm its
way around this country. But Ducklin suggests that users are
building a healthy cynicism for claims made in email.
"Few people really believe emails which promise to extend
various parts of their body," remarked Ducklin. "Likewise, they are
learning to disbelieve emails which claim to be a magic bullet for
their supposed security problems."
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.