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NewsWorm Targeted at Online Gamers Infects Laptop in Space

Posted 09/02/08 at 08:30:18 PM by Pulkit Chandna

A computer worm primarily targeted at online gamers has found a very odd prey in form of the International Space Station. NASA confirmed last week that a computer worm had boarded the International Space Station and infected at least one laptop. Fortunately, though, none of the mission-critical systems were affected by the password-grabbing worm. NASA hasn’t revealed the name of the worm, but a website says that it is W32.Gammima.AG. Most of you might find the entire episode quite surprising and amusing, but the folks at NASA seem to be inured to computer worms aboard the ISS because this is not the first such instance.

Comments: 2
TAGS: Software, virus, malware, worm, Password, nasa, international space station, online gaming

NewsMySpace and Facebook Users Targeted by New Koobface Worm

Posted 08/04/08 at 03:07:27 PM by Mark Edward Soper

MySpace and Facebook users now have bigger worries than whether Wordscraper will stay online: two new worms, known as the Koobface family, are attacking Windows users of these popular social networking (or "Notworking" sites, as our friends at The Inquirer call them). These new worms pose a threat to the peace of mind of people like Zac Koobface (a real Facebook user, by the way).

Kapersky Labs was the first to detect these worms: Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.a (targets MySpace) and Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b (targets Facebook). McAfee refers to both worms as W32/Koobface.worm, while Symantec uses the terms W32.Koobface.A and W32.Koobface.B.

Both worms send comments or messages to other users of the service. The messages or comments contain alleged links to humorous YouTube files (such as "Paris Hilton Tosses Dwarf On The Street"). When the user clicks on the link, the link redirects to a website that displays an error message claiming the user needs an updated codec to enable the Adobe Flash player to play the video. The alleged Flash player update (codecsetup.exe) contain the worm.

When the Koobface.A worm runs, it configures itself to run automatically when the system starts, checks for MySpace cookies, and if it finds them, modifies the user's profile by adding links to malicious sites that contain the worm. To learn more about Koobface.A and Koobface.B, check the McAfee and Symantec links earlier in this article.

If you use Kapersky, McAfee, or Symantec antivirus, the latest virus definitions will detect and stop these worms. If you use other antivirus or anti-malware programs, check for updates daily - and don't click on funny video links from other MySpace or Facebook users. The results just aren't very funny.

Been bugged by these or other social-networking worms? Tell us your story after the jump!

Comments: 3
TAGS: windows, Software, Security, malware, facebook, myspace, web 2.0, antivirus, worm, Social Networking, Mcafee, symantec, Kapersky

NewsSanDisk Launches SD Media with WORM (Write Once Read Many)

Posted 07/17/08 at 09:23:28 PM by Paul Lilly

Usually when a company releases a product containing with a worm, it's not a good thing. But when that WORM comes in all caps, the nomenclature takes a whole different meaning. In this case, SanDisk has developed a card that can be written to only one time, after which it becomes a read-only card. That's not something that will appeal to home users, but SanDisk's WORM (Write Once Read Many) media means police and courtrooms no longer need to reject SD cards as evidence for fear of tampering.

Potential uses for WORM cards include police witness and suspect interviews, cash registers, electronic voting, security cameras, in-flight 'black boxes,' medical devices containing patient information, and anything else where a permanent one-time write would be desirable. Once written to, SanDisk claims the new cards will retain the data for up to 100 years. "As digital media volume has grown and surpassed traditional analogue media such as film and audio cassettes in the consumer market, law enforcement agencies and other professionals are facing rising costs and lack of supply," said Christopher Moore, director of product marketing for OEM memory cards at SanDisk.

The SD cards currently come in 128MB versions, but beefier WORMs are expected later this year. Yummy.

Comments: 6
TAGS: media, Sandisk, gadgets, hardware, worm, consumer electronics, SD, write once read many, forensics, police

FROM THE ARCHIVEStorm Worm Strikes Again - and Blasts from the Past, Part 1

Posted 12/27/07 at 10:17:27 PM by Mark 'Marcus Soperus' Soper

The bad guys behind the Storm Worm are revving up for another attack. Learn the warning signs of this nasty piece of malware, and revisit the past year's most interesting Windows news stories reported here.