Watch out Skype!
September 14th 2007 20:20
As someone who’s made great use of Skype since we came to England, it’s a concern to hear that the program can be used to transmit a virus.
The virus uses a typical instant messenger (IM) approach to hijacking: it grabs contacts from an infected machine's Skype software, and sends messages to those people who are currently on their computers. People on the list who click on the URL - it looks like a JPG image but is in fact a download to a file with the .scr extension - then wind up with the infection themselves.
Skype users will only become infected if they download the link and run the malicious software.
There are several versions of the chat message. It’s well written, and may easily appear to be a real message. The virus is called “w32/Ramex.A” - a wonderfully unimaginative name, as the viruses often are.
The basic thing as always, is to keep your wits about you. Use the commonsense approach to links that appear out of nowhere. As one Skyper suggests, if you get a message from someone and it doesn’t make sense in regard to that person, check it out with them first. Don’t open anything until you’ve investigated further.
Skype.com is working hard to make sure its program stays secure. You can check out what it's doing here.
One other thing while we’re talking about Skype. There are moves afoot to close down the so-called loophole that allows Skype to function. India, for example, and the United Arab Emirates, are two places that are investigating the possibility of closure.
The virus uses a typical instant messenger (IM) approach to hijacking: it grabs contacts from an infected machine's Skype software, and sends messages to those people who are currently on their computers. People on the list who click on the URL - it looks like a JPG image but is in fact a download to a file with the .scr extension - then wind up with the infection themselves.
Skype users will only become infected if they download the link and run the malicious software.
There are several versions of the chat message. It’s well written, and may easily appear to be a real message. The virus is called “w32/Ramex.A” - a wonderfully unimaginative name, as the viruses often are.
The basic thing as always, is to keep your wits about you. Use the commonsense approach to links that appear out of nowhere. As one Skyper suggests, if you get a message from someone and it doesn’t make sense in regard to that person, check it out with them first. Don’t open anything until you’ve investigated further.
Skype.com is working hard to make sure its program stays secure. You can check out what it's doing here.
One other thing while we’re talking about Skype. There are moves afoot to close down the so-called loophole that allows Skype to function. India, for example, and the United Arab Emirates, are two places that are investigating the possibility of closure.
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