Worm scourge dodges MS filter

According to WashingtonPost.com, Kaspersky Labs has indicated an increase in spyware attacks on MSN Messenger users. Recently, two out of three of the most active worms spread over MSN`s instant messenger program.

To counter this, Microsoft had configured its Messenger network to block transfers of files ending in ".pif," responding to a rash of viruses, worms and Trojans that disguised themselves as .pif images.

However, both recent worms spread using links to .pif files and still managed to get through as the MS block is case sensitive.

According to First Coast News, this latest "postcard" virus opens a backdoor for the hacker to freely exploit your machine.

It comes with the subject line "You have just received a virtual postcard from a family member!" and gives the readers options to run, save or cancel.

Anyone discovering such an e-mail in their inbox is advised to not only delete it, but to permanently remove it from their Deleted Items as well.

A worm is using the guise of coming from the "technical department" to unleash it`s fury upon gullible computer users, explains EFYTimes.

The e-mail message conveys a warning and asks that the recipient kindly opens the attachment. Trusting the source, the reader does this, only to infect themselves with the Warezov.at worm.

This fiend is a mass mailing worm that spreads in large numbers. It comes with its own SMTP engine, harvests e-mail addresses from the infected machine and starts sending itself to all contacts found. The worm then logs on to malicious Web sites to bring in more malware into the compromised computer.

According to Security Pro News, Kaspersky Labs` online scanner top 20 is back to normal this month. This follows last month`s unexpected report that had a large number of worms dominating the list.

The places occupied by worms last month have been taken over by malware which is traditionally present in the online scanner ratings.

There was one item on the list left over from the unexpected data produced by August, Backdoor.IRC.Zapchast managed to stand its ground, even rising to second position.