Unless you have been living in a cave, you know about the MyDoom virus that has been plaguing computer networks of all sizes. Well get ready for more. According to a Reuters report Thursday, security experts said that there will be another attack beginning Sunday on both software company SCO Group Inc. and Microsoft. The new worm is aptly named MyDoom.B.
Currently, MyDoom.B has not proven very effective; there is a suspected bug in the virus. However, it still has its eye on the prize with a timed release targeting SCO and Microsoft on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
Not only does it attack networks via email through the use of its personal SMTP, but MyDoom.B also “modifies the Windows hosts file and redirects certain Internet addresses–including those of several antivirus vendors,” according to Enterprise Linux IT News. And security experts cannot keep up with it.
“It’s very difficult for anti-virus firms to react in these scenarios,” stated information analyst Paul Wood to Reuters. “We’re always going to be on the back foot.”
A Utah-based software company, SCO has already offered a $250,000 reward for information that may lead it to MyDoom’s creators. Furthermore, the firm is working in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI to do further investigation.
On the other hand, some experts feel that Microsoft may not require as much help to deter and/or deal with the worm.
“My guess is that the SCO web site will go down,” reported Mikko Hypponen, director of anti-virus research at F-Secure, to Enterprise Linux. “…Microsoft may be able to handle the attack better since it has more experience dealing with denial of service attacks.”
A Reuters report found that, as of today, one in three emails have been triggered by MyDoom.A. MyDoom.B is only going to worsen the usability of email.
It’s been said time and time again since MyDoom made headway, but we’ll say it again: Do not open any suspicious email attachments in your messages. Easier said than done.
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