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Infected chat message worms its way along via Skype
Today, Skype warned of
a worm spreading through its popular VoIP application.
The worm arrives as one of several possible chat messages designed to entice
you into clicking a malicious link. If you click the link, and accept and run
its download, a worm infects your computer, disabling your security and
antivirus (AV) software. The worm then sends itself to your Skype contacts,
again as an instant message.
This worm only affects Windows-based Skype users and requires quite a bit
of user interaction before it infects you. I doubt many users who read this
blog will fall for this worm's tricks. The AV vendors seem to agree, as they
rate the Skype worm as a very low threat. What they can't seem to
agree on is the worm's name: F-Secure calls it W32/Skipi.A,
while Symantec calls it W32.Pykspa.D.
Regardless of its name, most AV vendors have signatures that will detect
this worm. So if you use Skype for Windows, make sure your AV is up-to-date,
and warn your Skype users not to click on links from unsolicited chat messages
-- no matter what chat program they might come from. -- Corey
Nachreiner, CISSP
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