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Santa IM Worm Hits AOL, MSN and Yahoo

Posted by samzenpus on from the bad-santa dept.

elmtree95 writes "CNET News reports A Santa Claus worm is attempting to trick America Online, Microsoft MSN and Yahoo instant-messaging users into clicking on a file that delivers unwanted software to a victim's computer. The IM.GiftCom.All worm attempts to dupe IM users into thinking an acquaintance has sent them a link to a harmless Santa Claus file. IM security vendor ELMTree Software has released a patch to their ChatPatrol (www.chatpatrol.com) product to address this issue."

8 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. gotta love free advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    elmtree95 writes.... IM security vendor ELMTree Software has released a patch to their ChatPatrol

    'nuff said

    1. Re:gotta love free advertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      What makes you think it was free? It's hard to escape the conclusion that slashdot has been running paid slashvertisements for years, indeed some editors hardly seem to approve any other kind of story.

      In addition there are pagerank spammers like **BeatlesBeatles that appear so frequently despite user outcry that backhanders are again the only logical reason.

      Slashdot : Press releases for gullible nerds, stuff that makes us money

  2. It's a /. story... by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And an advertisement, all in one convenient package!

    --
    Do you have ESP?
  3. Bad information by sloanster · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The article says that "it delivers unwanted software to a victim's computer"...

    Um, no. It delivers unwanted software only to hapless users of microsoft OSes. Those running OSX, Linux, BSD etc are completely unaffected.

  4. Technically You're Wrong by Afecks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It delivers it to anyone... it only works on Windows.

    Sorry but if you want to nitpick, be prepared to receive the same.

  5. How much does a story like this cost? by trance9 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So is slashdot running paid stories now? How much to I have to pay to have a story of my choice run and mention my company like this?

  6. Re:Say it with me people by Beale · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yeah! And why should pressing down the accelerator in my car make me crash into stuff?

  7. Re:User's fault again by BigDogCH · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I agree totally. Everyone in my family has been warned about not clicking on links in IM, and openening Email attachments, and .......................

    Yet they don't think it is their fault when they get a virus/worm/spyware.

    Unlike the ignorant Linux fanboys on /., I do not think it is their fault just for using Windows, but they need to be somewhat responsible. The sad part is, even after 10 years of Windows problems, I still have family that insist they don't need security updates, firewall, and the like.