Posted on 02/14/2003 3:17:15 AM PST by ex-Texan
New celebrity virus -- Catherine Zeta-Jones
By Will Sturgeon
Silicon.com
The popularity of media favorite Catherine Zeta-Jones has led to the Welsh actress being used as a hook to tempt users into launching a virus on their PCs.
Anti-virus firm Sophos has detected a virus hidden in a file which offers recipients some smutty pictures of Mrs. Michael Douglas.
Although the firm says customers have reported instances of the virus in the wild there are no known cases of infection. Users at risk are those using file-sharing service Kazaa and internet relay chat (IRC) instant messaging through which the virus can travel.
The use of the actress, currently enjoying unprecedented media coverage on the back of awards nominations and a high-profile court case against Hello! magazine in the UK, follows the growing trend towards social engineering on the part of virus writers.
Typically such files, generally spread via email, purport to contain pictures of attractive females--with the likes of Latino lovely Shakira, Russian tennis ace Anna Kournikova and US singer Jennifer Lopez all being used to disseminate malware in the past.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: "It is ironic that supposed photos of Catherine Zeta Jones are being used to try to spread a virus at the same time that she's in the courts fighting Hello! magazine over the publication of unauthorized snaps.
"We all know the saying that curiosity killed the cat. In this case the curious user looking for dirty pictures of celebrities is likely to be one who is compromised."
As ever, Sophos advises users to be careful when opening any files from unknown sources. The golden rule is that if you can't vouch for the source and the contents of the file then don't risk opening it.
13 February 2003
New worm touts more unauthorised Catherine Zeta Jones snaps, reveals Sophos Anti-Virus
Sophos has today detected a new computer worm which claims to have pictures of Catherine Zeta Jones in poses which are unlikely to have been authorised by the Hollywood star.
Users of the KaZaA file sharing system and IRC instant messaging are duped into opening a file that contains compromising pictures of Catherine Zeta Jones and other celebrities such as Britney Spears, Shakira and Sarah Michelle Gellar. In fact, they are activating the Igloo worm (W32/Igloo-15), a backdoor Trojan horse that actually allows another computer user to take control of their PC across the internet.
"It is ironic that supposed photos of Catherine Zeta Jones are being used to try to spread a virus at the same time that she's in the courts fighting Hello! magazine over the publication of unauthorised snaps," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos Anti-Virus. "We all know the saying that curiosity killed the cat. In this case the curious user looking for dirty pictures of celebs is likely to be one who is compromised."
Sophos has received queries from concerned customers but no actual reports of infections at present, but reminds users that a safe computing policy and up to date anti-virus software will nullify the risk of infection. Sophos recommends companies set policies about whether their users should be allowed to access KaZaA and IRC systems in the workplace.
I was just thinking the EXACT same thing! *LOL*
I got the "Helen Thomas Virus" once.....
Every time I typed the word "Clinton" on my computer, the speakers made a sighhhhhing sound, and every time I hit page up it said: "So Ari, Bush thinks he's a better man than Mugabe or something?"
<i>
then the italicized message, then the 'italics off' code:
</i>
So that what you type looks like this: <i>make this italics</i>. It will display 'make this italics.'
You'll figure it out, kid!
Just type: < i > at the beginning and: < /i > at the end, without the spaces...........FRegards
Thanks, the kid figured it out! I now realize this is html text formats. I even figured out the spacing.
I learned html right here on FR. Have a good one...........FRegards
Will the cruelty never end?
Good-on-you, BOO! Michael, Wright-is-right, gave me instructions years ago on HTML, and I am eternally grateful.
Welcome to FR, kid! I gotta hunch yer years ahead of me on computer stuff. Stay well and vigilant.............FRegards
PLEASE no more pics of the troll!
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