ZDnet sent out an e-mail announcement last night about the Storm Worm — an insidious trojan that can cause the recipient’s computer to become part of a botnet (and slowing functionality to near nil, not to mention making it part of a mass spam spreader).
Since Thursday night, I’ve received notices that Bellsouth prohibited delivery of seven e-mails containing the trojan (under the versions W32/Downloader.AYDY and W32/Downloader.AYEN). The subject lines varied, as follows:
- The commander of a U.S. nuclear submarine lunch the rocket by mistake
- Sadam Hussein alive!
- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has kicked German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Sending domains included HickoryFarms.com in the US, as well as a couple in the UK and Mexico. Once infected, the machines spread it like crazy.
Be careful out there, and make sure your virus definitions are up to date!
Good advice NM. My virus protection checks for new definitions daily and my system is scanned for virus’ every night…while I sleep.
Might be time to get a mac.
Macs are less frequently hit, but they’re not immune. It’s kind of like why Linux-based machines aren’t as susceptible — they’re such a small share of the overall market, so seldom worth the script kiddies’ trouble.
I considered a Mac last summer when I replaced my laptop — the small form factor, light weight, long battery life — were very attractive, but the added cost of the computer, the cost of completely repurchasing ALL of my software, along with the fact that I just LIKE XP better kept me with Dell.
Mac is improving, though. Before OSX, I wouldn’t have given it a moment’s thought.
I love my G4 laptop. I see your point on purchasing all new software, and mac hardware is generically more expensive. And you clearly have a fondness for understanding the inner workings of your machine.
I view my computer as I view my car. I don’t care how it works, I only care *that* it works–reliably, seamlessly, effortlessly. I can satisfy my techno jones at the lab bench.