Santa Claus Worm Strikes Instant Messaging Clients
Madeleine Acey
Times Online, UK
A Santa Claus worm is attacking computers via instant messaging programs, according to anti-virus software companies.
Instant messaging, the computer equivalent of text messaging, is being more frequently targeted by malware writers. Christmas provides them with the perfect cover as e-cards and joke messages are sent in their millions.
IMLogic warned last night that the IM.GiftCom.All worm presented itself as a harmless Santa Claus file, apparently sent from someone known to the recipient. Victims who clicked on a file link would see an image of Santa Claus but in the background the worm would be loaded on to their computer, IM Logic said.
The worm would then send the same message to people on that person's address list.Anti-virus company Sophos said that this was just the latest such malware to be making the rounds as instant messaging and chat programs, provided by companies including AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo!, came under fire. However Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the company, said that such worms were less successful than ones sent via e-mail.
They would only arrive if the recipient was logged on to the instant messaging program when they were sent.
Dec 21, 2005
Madeleine Acey
Times Online, UK
A Santa Claus worm is attacking computers via instant messaging programs, according to anti-virus software companies.
Instant messaging, the computer equivalent of text messaging, is being more frequently targeted by malware writers. Christmas provides them with the perfect cover as e-cards and joke messages are sent in their millions.
IMLogic warned last night that the IM.GiftCom.All worm presented itself as a harmless Santa Claus file, apparently sent from someone known to the recipient. Victims who clicked on a file link would see an image of Santa Claus but in the background the worm would be loaded on to their computer, IM Logic said.
The worm would then send the same message to people on that person's address list.Anti-virus company Sophos said that this was just the latest such malware to be making the rounds as instant messaging and chat programs, provided by companies including AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo!, came under fire. However Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the company, said that such worms were less successful than ones sent via e-mail.
They would only arrive if the recipient was logged on to the instant messaging program when they were sent.
Dec 21, 2005
