19/09/2001

New worm threatens internet

A new computer worm is threatening to infect computers worldwide that could also see websites come under attack.

The worm, called ‘Nimda’, is spread by infected emails, and can affect both computers and network servers, meaning the virus could spread much faster than any previously known variant.

An affected email will show no outward signs of its infected status, but it contains code in the form of an attachment that exploits 16 known weak spots in the Windows System. In comparison, the recent Code Red worm affected only one such weak spot.

Computer users have been warned that they should not open any emails that contain unrequested attachments.

Warnings have also been given over the probability of increased hacker activity following the terrorist attacks on America. Already, a group calling themselves the Dispatchers have said they will initiate attacks against organisations who they believe to be affiliated with the ‘perceived perpetrators’ of the US attacks. Another hacker momentarily broke into UK domain registrar NetNames to redirect visitors to a site detailing anti-American sentiment. (CL)

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