Post by bucknrut on Jan 23, 2005 10:42:45 GMT -5
Researchers have identified a new computer virus that masquerades as news headlines from CNN's Web site.
Sophos, an anti-virus firm, says the virus -- identified as Crowt-A -- pulls headlines, subject lines and other content from CNN.com. Once opened, the virus can then scan the user's address book and try to email itself to those users.
The virus' subject line and attachment share the same name, Sophos researchers say, but change continually to match headlines from CNN.com's home page.
"Virus writers are always looking for new tricks to entice innocent computer users into running their malicious code," Carole Theriault, security consultant at Sophos, said in a statement. "This latest ploy feeds on people's desire for the latest news."
Sophos, an anti-virus firm, says the virus -- identified as Crowt-A -- pulls headlines, subject lines and other content from CNN.com. Once opened, the virus can then scan the user's address book and try to email itself to those users.
The virus' subject line and attachment share the same name, Sophos researchers say, but change continually to match headlines from CNN.com's home page.
"Virus writers are always looking for new tricks to entice innocent computer users into running their malicious code," Carole Theriault, security consultant at Sophos, said in a statement. "This latest ploy feeds on people's desire for the latest news."