News Messaging worms could infect at lightning speed

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by GreatOldOne, 4 Oct 2003.

  1. GreatOldOne

    GreatOldOne Wannabe Martian

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    From New Scientist:

    A computer worm transmitted via instant messaging programs could, in theory, infect half a million computers within 30 seconds, simulations have shown.

    Instant messaging (IM) applications let users to type messages directly onto each others' computer screens via the internet. This has become a popular alternative to email among home users and office workers.

    So far, no-one has designed a computer worm to spread by IM. But computer security experts warn that it provides an obvious and potentially explosive target.

    Eric Chien and Neal Hindocha, researchers at US anti-virus company Symantec, set out to determine how quickly an IM worm could spread. They calculated the speed of spread based on the time required to send packets of information between the IM programs on users desktops, as well as the number of additional users in the average person's IM "buddy list"

    Full report here
     
    GreatOldOne, 4 Oct 2003
    #1
  2. Atomic

    Atomic Gerwaff

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    Now this doesn't sound good...
     
    Atomic, 4 Oct 2003
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  3. sheardjr

    sheardjr Minimodder

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    .
     
    Last edited: 23 Apr 2016
    sheardjr, 4 Oct 2003
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  4. andyunder

    andyunder What's a Dremel?

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    dont think they should have Publicized that as some one will now creat a virus to do it
     
    andyunder, 4 Oct 2003
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  5. Rich_13

    Rich_13 What's a Dremel?

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    i don't really think you would have to be running your IM client either. doesn't msn store ur contacts on a remote server? If the virus got on that it could just send the virus to every computer that logged into there account. :eeek: not good........
     
    Rich_13, 4 Oct 2003
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  6. BioSniper

    BioSniper Minimodder

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    Y'a know. it looks like they got the info about the blaster and slammer worms round the wrong way ;)
     
    BioSniper, 4 Oct 2003
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  7. JADS

    JADS Et arma et verba vulnerant

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    You mean MSN Messenger Service. However Trillian is known to be one of the least security minded of all the IM services, there are security holes in Trillian you could drive a bus through. Plus it depends whether it affects the program or the protocol, it is quite possible that any messenger service that connects a specific service could be affected by the problem.
     
    JADS, 4 Oct 2003
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  8. NiHiLiST

    NiHiLiST New-born car whore

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    Believe me, many people have had this idea before now, and I would put money on someone already have found security holes that would allow for it.
     
    NiHiLiST, 5 Oct 2003
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  9. Melov

    Melov What's a Dremel?

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    Actually I have seen small virus'. Basicly it IM's your friends using your name and says [link]Check this out![link] It automatically downloads the virus and does the same thing over and over again. I don't think it's harmful though. Just spreads fast.
     
    Melov, 6 Oct 2003
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