Malware: Archive: July 2003

Virus Alert: Virus Overwrites Program Files with Copy of Itself

W32/Cidu-A is a virus written in Delphi. When an infected program is run, W32/Cidu-A searches the hard disk for EXE (program) files, and overwrites each program it finds with a copy of itself.

Worm Targets Systems With Weak Passwords

W32/Randon-R is a network worm that searches the local network for computers with weak or no passwords on the administrator or admin accounts to which it can copy itself.

ITSPA Offers Fast Fixes to Reduce Spam

Fighting spam is an aggravating priority for America's eight million small- to medium-sized businesses, according to the ITSPA, a national non-profit group established to help smaller businesses understand how local technology providers can help them grow.

Naked Chef Hoax Causes E-mail Indigestion

A new e-mail scam is 'eating up' corporate bandwidth and employees' time. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, known as the Naked Chef, is the subject of the hoax, which claims to contain a copy of the chef's new cookbook.

Virus Alert: Trojan Allows Unauthorized Computer Access

The Backdoor.Lala.B Trojan Horse is a variant of Backdoor.Lala and allows unauthorized access to an infected computer.

The Pros and Cons of Automatic Updates

Ask any administrator and they'll tell you that maintaining a secure network can be a juggling act. If you're considering letting your Windows server automatically download and install security updates, there are a few things you should know before either of you drops the ball.

Virus Alert: Trojan Arrives as Email Attachment

Antivirus software vendor Sophos Monday issued an alert for Troj/Mimail-A, which will attempt to download and execute a file from a particular Web site.

Virus Alert: Macro Virus Infects Word Documents, Template

Antivirus software vendor Symantec Friday issued an alert for W97M.Acus.A, a simple macro virus that infects Microsoft Word documents and the Normal.dot template.

Would Do-Not-Spam List Benefit the Enterprise?

The increased energy behind the consumer push to stop spam through federal legislation and the equivalent of a do-not-call list could help businesses, which have been fighting the spam battle for years, according to industry analysts.

Virus Alert: Virus Drops File as Signature for Outlook Express 5.0

JS/Fortnight-H is a virus that is combination of JavaScripts and Java Applets.

Worm Spreads via Network Shares, Backdoor Trojan Server

Antivirus software vendor Sophos reported Wednesday that the W32/Mofei-C worm, which spreads via network shares and a backdoor Trojan server, allows remote access and control over the computer.

FTC Goes Phishing, Nails Scammer

In its first case of Internet fraud involving stealing a site identity in order to illegally obtain consumer financial information, agency settles with 17-year-old minor.

Virus Alert: Trojan Downloads, Deploys Additional Components

Troj/DownLdr-DI is a malicious program that downloads and deploys additional components from URLs stored (in encrypted form) inside the program.

Virus Alert: Worm Uses Windows Hidden System Shares to Spread

Antivirus software vendor Sophos Monday issued an alert for W32/Graps-A, a worm that uses Windows hidden system shares for inter-process communication and administration tasks (IPC$ and ADMIN$), to spread.

Virus Alert: Several Variants of Gruel Worm Reported

Antivirus software vendor Sophos says B, C and D variants of the Gruel worm are now in the wild.

Poll: Spam Annoyance Leveling Off

A new Harris Poll finds that four out of five Internet users want spam outlawed, but many are starting to get used to it.

Worm Uses Same Icon as Norton Antivirus

A mass-mailing worm that uses Microsoft Outlook to spread attempts to disguise itself with the same icon as Norton AntiVirus.

Virus Alert: Gruel Worm Deletes Vital System Files

A dangerous worm that deletes system files vital to the correct functioning of the computer was reported Wednesday by antivirus product vendor Panda Software.

Virus Alert: Trojans Run Wild

Several Trojan horse viruses were reported making the rounds Tuesday by antivirus vendors.

Teaching Employees New Security Tricks

To help fend off spam, viruses, identity theft and corporate sabotage, IT managers need to train company employees to protect themselves and the corporate network. But with budget cuts and understaffed IT departments, it's just not getting done. And that's leaving IT managers with even more headaches.

Virus Alert: Trojan Allows Unauthorized Remote Access

Antivirus vendor Sophos on Monday reported a backdoor Trojan that allows unauthorized remote access to the computer over a network.

Web Applications Generating Lots of Email Traffic

A trio of Internet-based applications for Microsoft Windows appearing on a Web site run by Avenue Media NV is generating a huge amount of email traffic.

Bill Gates Email Hoax Tops the Charts

The series of Bill Gates email chain letters is topping the charts as the most prevalent scam on the Internet, choking corporate in-boxes, clogging bandwidth and causing headaches for IT managers.

'Good Enough' Security: Network Security on a Shoestring Budget

Beth Cohen presents principles of 'good enough' computer security that might not prevent a massive targeted attack, but that will prevent 90% of your problems while keeping your finance department happy and your job secure.

Virus Alert: Worm Uses Own SMTP Engine to Spread

A worm that spreads using its own SMTP engine creates copies of itself in the Windows system folder.

House Democrats Attack Tauzin Anti-Spam Bill

Critics say bill too narrowly defines spam and would create new legal category of unsolicited commercial mesages.

Warning Goes Out on New Spam Attacks

IT managers are warned to be on the lookout to protect their company's reputation, as well as their users, from a new wave of spam aimed at stealing personal and financial information.

Virus Alert: Worm Spreads Via Hidden System Shares

Antivirus vendors on Wednesday reported the existence of a worm that uses Windows hidden system shares to spread.

Virus Alert: Worm Lowers Microsoft Office Security Settings

Antivirus vendor Sophos on Tuesday warned about a worm that sets a registry entry to reduce security levels for Microsoft Office.

House Begins Spam Debate

The Senate already has an anti-spam bill out of committee. This week, the House moves into action with its own ideas.

Virus Alert: Worm Sends Profane Emails

An email worm reported Monday sends profanity-laced messages to addresses found in a computer's Outlook address book.

The Deadly Duo: Spam and Viruses, June 2003

Spam attacks increase nearly 2.5 percent for the month, as the ratio of spam to non-spam reaches the global tipping point.

Worm Searches for Admin Passwords

A worm making the rounds Thursday scans for administrator passwords, according to antivirus software vendor Sophos.

AirDefense Describes Lack of Client Security at Show

The 802.11 Planet Conference & Expo featured hundreds of Wi-Fi users on the show floor -- and many of them were wide open to outside attacks.

Virus Alert: Worm Launches IE, Connects to Various News Sites

A mass-mailing worm that harvests MSN Messenger contact addresses has been deemed a medium risk for home users, but corporate users are at a reduced risk of infection.

What's the Big Deal about Spam?

If you're in IT, then you know about spam and you know you've got problems, but what can you do that will actually slow down the proliferation of spam? Marty Foltyn offers some tips and suggestions that will filter out unwanted spam and thereby free up much needed storage space.

Malware: Archive: July 2003

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