Skype Worm On The Loose

Skype users are being warned by it’s namesake that a new worm that spreads through the peer-to-peer chat feature.

The attack begins when a user gets and IM with a link from someone in their contact list or from an unknown user. There are several variations of the chat message, which seem to be very cleverly written. The link appears as a JPEG file, but if clicked causes the Windows Run/Save dialog box to pop up and ask whether the user wants to save or run a .scr file.

“Users whose computers are infected with this virus will send a chat message to other Skype users asking them to click on a web link that can infect” their computers, Arak wrote on the Skype heartbeat blog.

To avoid trouble, users should not download the file. At least two security vendors, F-Secure and Kaspersky Lab, have updated their software to detect the worm, Arak wrote.

Frank's the editor in chief of tech.nocr.at. He can be found surfing the internet and playing with gadgets. Follow him on twitter @franklinhares