Bully
23-09-2003, 05:49 PM
THE Swen computer virus had infected at least 200,000 computers worldwide and could spread to millions more when office workers returned to their desks after the weekend, an anti-virus expert has said.
"This virus has the technical potential of infecting millions of computers," Mikael Albrecht, manager at Helsinki-based anti-virus software firm F-Secure said
"At least 200,000 computers have been infected so far, if not more. This is a very conservative estimate," he added.
The Swen virus poses as a Microsoft security upgrade and was first detected last week. It is also known under the names I-Worm.Swen, W32/Swen.AAmm, W32/Gibe.EAMM, and Gibe.E, F-Secure said.
It has so far caused significantly less damage than was caused by the Sobig F computer bug last month, Mr Albrecht stressed.
But he warned: "The number of infected computers is still rising and the number will be boosted by people returning to their offices after the weekend and starting to use their computers again."
Swen exploits a vulnerability in the Internet Explorer web browser. It spreads itself primarily through email attachments, local computer networks (LAN) and internet downloads such as music swapping services, Mr Albrecht said.
Swen's email and attachment look like they were sent by Microsoft but Microsoft never issues such warnings by email, Mr Albrecht said, adding that such emails should be deleted immediately without being opened.
The Swen virus was first detected on September 18 and is thought to have originated in Eastern Europe. It has some similarities with earlier varieties of the Gibe family of viruses and was probably created by the same person, Mr Albrecht said.
"This virus has the technical potential of infecting millions of computers," Mikael Albrecht, manager at Helsinki-based anti-virus software firm F-Secure said
"At least 200,000 computers have been infected so far, if not more. This is a very conservative estimate," he added.
The Swen virus poses as a Microsoft security upgrade and was first detected last week. It is also known under the names I-Worm.Swen, W32/Swen.AAmm, W32/Gibe.EAMM, and Gibe.E, F-Secure said.
It has so far caused significantly less damage than was caused by the Sobig F computer bug last month, Mr Albrecht stressed.
But he warned: "The number of infected computers is still rising and the number will be boosted by people returning to their offices after the weekend and starting to use their computers again."
Swen exploits a vulnerability in the Internet Explorer web browser. It spreads itself primarily through email attachments, local computer networks (LAN) and internet downloads such as music swapping services, Mr Albrecht said.
Swen's email and attachment look like they were sent by Microsoft but Microsoft never issues such warnings by email, Mr Albrecht said, adding that such emails should be deleted immediately without being opened.
The Swen virus was first detected on September 18 and is thought to have originated in Eastern Europe. It has some similarities with earlier varieties of the Gibe family of viruses and was probably created by the same person, Mr Albrecht said.