What Does a Spreading Worm Look Like?

quibbs0 writes "When a new worm spreads around the world, people want to know if they are protected. How fast is it? How does it spread? A new simulation program developed by Symantec Research Labs not only has the answers, it also provides pictures."

Comments

What a spreading worm *really* looks like.

[TripMaster Monkey]

What Does a Spreading Worm Look Like?

This is what a spreading worm looks like.

^_^

Re:What a spreading worm *really* looks like.

[Reziac]

I thought it might look rather like a flatworm, or perhaps a leech.

"When a new worm spreads around the world, people want to know if they are protected."

Well, I suppose that depends on whether it's an endangered species or not.

Great thing for a security company to encourage

[Lord Bitman]

"So, what does a worm look like when it spreads? Install this program to find out!"

and ALT-F4 will activate "ultra mode"

Re:Great thing for a security company to encourage

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't get ultra mode to work. Every time I try the program crashes.

What Does a Spreading Worm Look Like?

[Zontar The Mindless]

And it's a .msi file, hence Windows only.

How appropriate.

You want us to install a program?

[mrighi]

I can't believe Slashdot wants us to learn how a virus spreads by encouraging us to download an MSI executable off the home page!

That would be like me going to the doctor and having him ask me if I know how HIV is spread and then asking me to take my pants off.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

In other news...

[qw(name)]

Symantec has issued yet another warning that the world will end as soon as all the worms and viruses unite against true carbon-based life forms. Symantec CEO John W. Thompson was quoted as saying, "If people would have heeded all our warnings about the coming war between reality and virtual reality we would not be headed for certain doom." At that point he started crying as his company's stock soared to record highs.

Up next, Symantec issues a warning to the Mac/UNIX community saying that their computers are too safe from Windows-based viruses. "We can no longer support operating systems that flaunt their security in face of corporate IT managers everywhere when millions of starving children are dying of malnutrition."

The Weekly World News news service will be right back after this message from our sponsor, Symantec. Ensuring your fear, uncertainty and doubt since 1982.

Re:Fastest way to spread a worm...

[boaworm]

I seem to be immune to these worms, I cannot doubleclick on the "msi" file.

boaworm$ ls -l *.msi
-rw-r--r-- 1 boaworm boaworm 2022400 28 Apr 17:16 SRL_Worm_Simulator.msi
mirage:~/Desktop boaworm$ chmod a+x SRL_Worm_Simulator.msi
mirage:~/Desktop boaworm$ ./SRL_Worm_Simulator.msi
-bash: ./SRL_Worm_Simulator.msi: cannot execute binary file
mirage:~/Desktop boaworm$

Poor me, my Panther cant even get that worm to RUN... i't should be dead scared, should it not ? Perhaps I need Tiger..

Re:Don't Download it

[leuk_he]

No it is not. At least my norton antivirus enterprise edition 10.0 with updated signatures does not flag this file.

I should be safe.

ps: ;)

ps2: Note to moderators: this is funny, not informative!

Yellow?

[SmokeyMirror]

So I read the article and I find this bit here: As the worm spreads, nodes in the network and on the globe start turning colors. Symantec Yellow represents patched and secure machines

Tell me Symantec hasn't trademarked a shade of yellow.

Re:Goodbye Slashdot.

[Lothsahn]

...you must be new here.

Re:Goodbye Slashdot.

[sehryan]

Can I have your UserID?

Make the "pictures" a PowerPoint presentation...

[faloi]

If it's gonna be a marketing pitch, they should at least make it PowerPoint so the people that try to get money to buy the solutions can make it management friendly... A few slides, some small buzzwords and presto! People get funding! Makes me crazy...Crazier. Whatever.

Re:Anyone figure out?

[alecks]

Yes you can, but you need a hex editor. Load up the exe and goto this address: 23HX,12BA... change the H to an F... This will let you literally drag and drop simulation (.sim) files in the loader and run them. I showed this to my boss earlier today and he's been busi all morning creating sim files to try out.

an even better question: ...

[cutecub]

What does a spreading Worm Simulator look like?

Thanks to the Slashdot effect, I think we're gonna find out.

-S

Re:launching a windows executable from a link

[Shisha]

Odd; the simulation does not work on any of the platforms I use (OS X, Linux). So no pretty pictures for me. I guess that's because Linux (or OS X) are not "enterprise ready".

Is it a coincidence that the only platform, for which one can get programs simulating the spread of worms, is MS Windows?

Re:Goodbye Slashdot.

[Vaystrem]

Bah its not worth it its just a '6 digit id' ;)

Re:Fastest way to spread a worm...

[Neurotoxic666]

You must be new here. People don't click the links.