Security Paranoia

I wrote before that Yahoo IM has worm issues. Usually it is done through sending online or offline message containing malicious link.

ALWAYS be careful about clicking any link — Even if it is from most trustable person. Chances are — it was not sent by him.

After yahoo, now it is Skype’s turn — another popular IM.

”

The worm, dubbed Pykse.A, is similar to threats that affect instant-messaging applications. A targeted Skype user will receive a chat message with text and a Web link that looks like it goes to a JPEG file on a Web site, F-Secure said on its Web site.

Clicking the link will redirect the user to a malicious file. The file, after executing, will send a malicious link to all online contacts in a Skype user’s list and will show a picture of a scantily clad woman, F-Secure said. In addition, it sets the user’s Skype status message to “Do Not Disturb,” the security firm said.

Pykse also visits a number of Web sites that don’t host any malicious code and a site that appears to count infected machines, F-Secure said. The Finnish security company doesn’t list any particular malicious payload for Pykse other than it spreading and visiting Web sites. The IM worm affects Skype users running Windows.

”

BE CAREFUL !!

BOTTOM LINE - While clicking any link.. think twice !

I wrote before that Yahoo IM has worm issues. Usually it is done through sending online or offline message containing malicious link.

ALWAYS be careful about clicking any link — Even if it is from most trustable person. Chances are — it was not sent by him.

After yahoo, now it is Skype’s turn — another popular IM.

”

The worm, dubbed Pykse.A, is similar to threats that affect instant-messaging applications. A targeted Skype user will receive a chat message with text and a Web link that looks like it goes to a JPEG file on a Web site, F-Secure said on its Web site.

Clicking the link will redirect the user to a malicious file. The file, after executing, will send a malicious link to all online contacts in a Skype user’s list and will show a picture of a scantily clad woman, F-Secure said. In addition, it sets the user’s Skype status message to “Do Not Disturb,” the security firm said.

Pykse also visits a number of Web sites that don’t host any malicious code and a site that appears to count infected machines, F-Secure said. The Finnish security company doesn’t list any particular malicious payload for Pykse other than it spreading and visiting Web sites. The IM worm affects Skype users running Windows.

”

BE CAREFUL !!

BOTTOM LINE - While clicking any link.. think twice !