New malicious computer worm preys on anthrax scare

San Francisco: A computer virus purporting to provide information about anthrax and its side effects has been discovered, computer security experts said on Tuesday. The new computer virus, technically a worm because it is self-propagating, is spreading through e-mail systems and instant relay chat channels on the Internet where people “talk” in real-time, according to Steven Sundermeier, product manager at Central Command which monitors corporate e-mail systems for viruses.

The e-mail, written in Spanish, has a subject line that says “Antrax Info.” The message claims that the attachment is a photo that shows what the side effects of anthrax are. Once the attachment is opened the worm spreads itself to everyone listed in the email address book. The worm also can overwrite certain files on remote drives, Central Command said in a statement on its Web site.

Researchers in September discovered a worm masquerading as a program to allow people to vote on whether the United States should go to war over the September 11 attacks. However, the “Vote Virus” did not become widespread.

US authorities say one person has died and others in three states and Washington, DC, have been infected by or exposed to anthrax, a bacterial disease spread by spores. The bacteria is believed to have been spread via powder in or on letters.

— Reuters