Users of AOL’s instant messaging software, AIM, should be on the lookout for an innovative new worm, variously named "Oscarbot-B" and "Doyorg" by anti-virus companies.
The Windows-based malware emerged early this week, and has made itself a nuisance for its ability to hijack the list of contacts or "buddies" in an infected user’s IM account. After opening a window to any one of these contacts with the message "Hey check this out" , it invites users to follow an embedded link. Anyone who clicks on this will risk becoming its next victim.
On machines where infection is successful, the worm creates a backdoor into Internet Relay Chat (IRC) to download and run files on the instruction of the attacker, giving remote access to that PC.
I really hope my friends are smart enough to not click unknown links in their IMs. ;)
J
