Beagle.B virus linked to online gamers

Yet another Microsoft Windows worm is about to start e-dropping into computer users mailboxes.

Beagle.B is triggered when a user attempts to open the attachment on an email. This then runs malicious code that not only harvests email addresses from Outlook, but sends information about an online computer to a number of German website addresses.

The code also exploits a 'backdoor' that may allow a compromised computer to be hacked into more easily.

Computer security experts have urged all computer users and system administrators to adhere to basic security protocols:

• Anti-virus patches should be kept up-to-date, especially on computers are accessible through a firewall;
• Enforce a password policy - complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers;
• email servers should be configured to block or remove emails that contains common file attachments, such as *.vbs, *.bat, and *.exe, that commonly contain virus code.
• Infected computers should be isolated quickly to prevent any further spread of malicious code.

However, one of the fundamental steps remains simply to warn all computer users of the risks posed by opening attachments received unexpectedly.

Computer security experts are linking the variant Beagle.B worm to the online Ultima computer game and to German websites to which the worm sends computer TCP addresses.

The Beagle.B worm will cease to run after February 25.

(SP)