Security news
Security news3 November 2003
Email virus lures with adult "Sex and the City" outtakes, Sophos reports
Virus experts at Sophos have warned fans of "Sex and the City" to be wary of emails claiming to contain a screensaver showing adult outtakes from the raunchy hit TV show.
The W32/Torvil-A and W32/Torvil-B worms travel via email with a variety of subject lines and message bodies including:
Real outtakes from Sex in the City!! Adult content!!! Use with parental advisory =)
If the attached file is launched the worm will try and forward itself every time the infected computer sends an email, as well as post itself to public internet newsgroups.
"Whether you're a fan of the TV show or simply lust after Sarah Jessica Parker's Manolo Blahnik shoes you may find it hard to resist launching the screensaver," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Carrie Bradshaw's Apple Mac can't be infected by this particular worm - but PC users should ensure they follow safe computing guidelines and practise safe hex."
Sophos notes that the female stars of "Sex and the City" are just the latest in the long line of glamorous celebrities who have been used as bait by virus writers to catch unwary computer users. Other female stars to have been exploited by virus writers in the past include Britney Spears, Shakira, Anna Kournikova, Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue.
