With security notifications from all of the major security software vendors as well as Microsoft, the latest worm is set to deliver its payload for the first time on Friday. It appears that Blackworm (also known as MyWife.E and CME-24) has the ability to disable virus protection systems, especially those that are out of date.
Naturally, this means that your virus protection software needs to be current as well as the software’s virus definitions.
While most recent worms have caused havoc by taking over machines and sending email non-stop, Blackworm actually destroys files. In fact, the danger is that Blackworm will corrupt Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Acrobat, PhotoShop and zip files on the third of each month. The worm will search the files out on virtually every different drive to which the computer has access.
Apparently, the email which delivers the worm promises explicit images to entice the user into opening the attachment. As usual, don’t open attachments from senders you don’t already trust – no matter how much fun it might seem. |
