Yet another computer worm has spread across
the internet and threatens to shut down not only personal computers but
network servers as well.
The new virus, known as "Nimda",
spreads by sending infected e-mails and also appears able to infect web
sites, potentially hindering thousands of them.
It seems to be very widespread because it
not only travels via e-mail but it contaminates web sites as well."
Vulnerable Windows programmes
The virus has attacked servers around the
world that use Microsoft's Windows 2000 or Windows NT operating-system
software.
But the worm is also known to attack PCs.
It comes through an a-mail message as an attached file. While the body
of the e-mail may appear blank, it actually contains code to exploit
vulnerabilities in the Windows programmes.
Steven Sundermeier of antivirus software
maker Central Command said: "This is a new, fast-spreading internet
worm that has been seen spreading in the wild."
Users of Windows 95, 98 or Me are not
affected.
Code Red
The new Nimda virus attacks much more
quickly than the previously warned of Code Red virus, which struck
computers earlier in the summer.
The Nimda virus strikes at 16 known
vulnerabilities within the Windows programmes, whereas Code Red was
limited to just one "hole".
The virus is known to have taken down
entire sites. The speed and vigour with which it spread has hampered
antivirus experts' ability to stop it.
They warn that computer users should not
open e-mails with unexpected attachments.
The panic over Code Red in August began
when a variant of the original worm infected more than 250,000 machines
in only a few hours.
Analysis after the outbreak revealed that
the web traffic jams attributed to Code Red were due to a train crash in
a tunnel that severed key net cables.
