Newpic Targets MSN Messenger Users
Kaspersky Labs, an international data-security software developer,
announces the registration of computer
infections by the Internet worm “Newpic,” which are spreading via
the popular MSN Messenger pager network.
The current malicious program was detected at the beginning of last
week, at which time it was added to the
Kaspersky Anti-Virus database with the necessary defense procedures.
However, the first incidents connected
with “Newpic” were noted this past weekend.
"Newpic" is an executable program written in Visual Basic and is compiled in an EXE file about 50Kb in length. Upon execution of the worm-carrying file, “Newpic” displays a fake message pertaining to a file-processing error in order to hide its activity.
The worm than registers itself in the auto-run registry key so that the worm is automatically executed upon every ensuing computer reboot.
“Newpic’s” active copy keeps track of new incoming messages to MSN Messenger, answers these tracked messages in the infected computer user’s stead and offers the message recipient the chance of receiving some recent photographs.
“The possibility of ‘Newpic’ spreading in the USA and Europe is very
good, because this messaging service has millions of users there,” commented
Eugene Kaspersky, Head of Anti-Virus Research for Kaspersky Labs.
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