Print 92 comment(s) - last by Pirks.. on Jan 23 at 5:45 PM

The new virus can infect USB storage devices, in addition to attack over corporate ethernet networks. While a patch from Microsoft will protect against the ethernet attacks, currently no patch can stop the USB-side attacks. Only antivirus software can block it.  (Source: IoCell)
New worm is very sophisticated and spreading fast




The virus's main method of transmission is via local networks.  Once a computer is infected on the network it scans for other computers on the network, and then it uses the aforementioned Windows security flaw to attempt to gain access to them.  While the computers are typically password protected, the virus can guess shorter passwords by a brute force method of random guessing.  Once it finds the right password, it infects the next computer, which joins the attacking ranks.

Microsoft has a patch which protects against the Ethernet side of the attack -- MS08-067.  Companies are strongly recommended to get this patch as the virus is rapidly spreading across Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Describes Graham Culley, senior technology consultant with anti-virus firm Sophos, "Microsoft did a good job of updating people's home computers, but the virus continues to infect business who have ignored the patch update.  A shortage of IT staff during the holiday break didn't help and rolling out a patch over a large number of computers isn't easy.  What's more, if your users are using weak passwords - 12345, QWERTY, etc - then the virus can crack them in short order.”

However, while the patch may slow the spread of the virus it may not be enough to stop it.  The most recent variant of the worm, which is the one that was released two weeks ago and caused the number of infections to skyrocket, can transmit itself via USB, an attack route that currently no Windows patch blocks.  While properly patched antivirus software may block the attack, relying on such a software block is a risky proposition.

Kaspersky Lab's security analyst, Eddy Willems describes the virus's nightmarish spread, stating, "The replication methods are quite good. It's using multiple mechanisms, including USB sticks, so if someone got an infection from one company and then takes his USB stick to another firm, it could infect that network too. It also downloads lots of content and creating new variants though this mechanism."

Thus far the virus has only been used to inject malware into PCs.  But security experts warn that attackers could use their foothold on the system to start stealing users' and customers' credit card numbers and personal information.  It could also be used to completely hijack the computer, adding it to a botnet.

Ultimately the only current solution is for companies to patch their machines, quarantine and remove malware from infected machines, and disallow use of USB storage devices.

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By Pirks on 1/20/2009 4:10:02 PM , Rating: 0
It has to be said, the USB memory stick autorun virus trick is something that should have been killed ages ago
Haha, like Redmond idiots are even remotely bothered with fixing moronic age-old bugs and holes in Windows. For Christ sake, they CAN'T EVEN MAKE COMMAND PROMPT WINDOW HORIZONTALLY RESIZABLE SINCE WINDOWS 1.0!!!

Do you really expect them to fix much more complex problem of autorun security hole when they can't do even THE HORIZONTALLY RESIZABLE COMMAND PROMPT THING??? Jeeee... wake up people!

