03 Feb 2005
Bropia-D instant messaging worm offers poultry reward, Sophos reports
Anti-virus experts at Sophos have warned computer users about a
new version of the Bropia worm which spreads via the MSN Messenger
online chat system.
The W32/Bropia-D worm sends
itself to all contacts in an infected user's MSN Messenger buddy
list, using a variety of filenames, in an attempt to drop a copy of
another worm - the W32/Rbot-VH network worm
and backdoor Trojan horse. This malicious worm allows hackers to
take remote control of infected computers, allowing them to capture
keystrokes and grab screenshots (allowing opportunities for
identity fraud), and even capture webcam footage of the
unsuspecting user.
Bizarrely, the Bropia-D worm plants a comical image of a
sunburnt chicken onto infected users' computers:
|
| The image used by the Bropia-D worm. |
"Some may be amused by pictures of a chicken that's been basking
in the oven for too long, but it's no joke receiving a battery of
Bropia-D," said Graham
Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "System
administrators should encourage staff to take security seriously,
and be wary of opening unsolicited attachments - even if they come
in via instant messaging systems rather than regular email. If you
don't secure your computers you could end up with egg on your
face."
Sophos continues to recommend that businesses ensure their
computers are kept automatically up-to-date with the very latest
anti-virus software.
About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.