Internet worm

BBC News reports a new internet worm spreading across the net, MSBlast.

On infected machines the malicious program also launches an attack against the Microsoft site that holds a software patch that keeps the worm out.  Security firms say the design of the worm is hampering its spread but warn that tens of thousands of computers could fall victim to it.  The vulnerability exploited by the worm has been known about for almost a month and net security organisations have been warning that it would soon be exploited.

Hidden inside the worm are two messages. One taunts Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and reads: "billy gates why do you make this possible? Stop making money and fix your software!" The other is more cryptic and says: "I just want to say LOVE YOU SAN!"

The list of affected systems includes all the current NT-based versions of Windows (2000, NT4.0, XP), which happily excludes both Windows 98 and Windows Me. My laptop is therefore safe, even if the worm did get past the virus scanner.  Security through obsolescence isn't the best protection, but it works.  Mac users likewise have nothing to worry about.  If the Safari browser on the Mac did tabbed browsing, I'd be joining them.