New virus spreading worldwide said to be worse then SoBig
27 January 2004
Creating havoc through email inboxes, the new MyDoom virus is said to be spreading at super rates all across the world.
Thought to originate in Russia, the MyDoom virus, also known as Novarg or Mimail-R, is a mass mailing worm that spreads through email after the attached file is launched.
Once the attachment is opened, it doesn't just infect the computer but also mails itself to all the contacts in the address book. It then goes on to randomly guess other email addresses to send itself to.
The format of the attached file can vary and may include what looks like a text file, which is in fact an executable.
Already 1.2 million copies of the worm have been intercepted.
MessageLabs has claimed the virus is bigger than the SoBig worm that infected last year and proves that users are still opening attached files when they aren't sure of their contents.
Senior technology consultant for anti virus company Sophos, Graham Cluley told Internet Magazine: 'MyDoom can pose as a technical sounding message, claiming that the email body has been put in an attached file. Of course, if you launch that file you are potentially putting your data and computer straight into the hands of hackers.'
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