Skype Worm
This past week a worm virus attack on Skype users made front page headlines in some of the technology news sites. The worm sends messages through Skype chat users and asks users to run a file called sp.exe. If a user executes this file, it installs spyware that can steal passwords and other info. It also can connect to a remote server that can install additional malicious code on your computer. Some are calling it a Trojan horse, some a worm. In any case, as usual, do not click to open any files that you can verify their source. Even if it looks like it is from one of your contacts and you see an executable file, ask them first, it is not often that people need to send you an executable file.
We are starting to see more and more of this malicious activity on the public IM networks these days. Unfortunatly, it isn’t going to stop anytime soon either. The spammers and thiefs have found a new outlet to steal personal and corporate information and it is only going to increase.
This is one of many reasons we suggest to companies to ban these public IM services from their corporate networks. The risk of data loss, employee downtime, PR nightmares and the cost to rid the infections far outweighs the costs of getting a secure IM solution made for the needs of Enterprise.
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