|
|
|||
|
| Evening 7ºC  | Morning 10ºC |  |
There's still chance to win £50,000 in our free Fantasy League game...more
Experts believe a disgruntled hacker with a grudge against software firm Symantec is behind the virus
Major companies are at risk from a crippling new computer bug which targets their antivirus software, it was revealed last night.
Already, a division of the world's biggest media corporation, Time Warner, has been hit.
Experts believe a disgruntled hacker with a grudge against software firm Symantec is behind the new trojan virus, a version of the 'Rinbot' bug.
The US company designs anti-virus packages for major corporations.
The 'worm' works by exploiting security loopholes in anti-virus software. It then spreads through the network by manipulating 'weak' spots such as simple passwords.
Once the virus is embedded, it takes over many other computers forming a 'zombie' network.
Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant with IT security firm Sophos, said: 'Traditionally hackers always went after Microsoft's anti-virus programs. But now they're targeting other programs such as Symantec's.'
He added: 'Without you knowing it, hackers will use your computer for a variety of purposes like sending out spam, or distributing denial of service attacks, or even blackmailing other websites.'
Mr Cluley said the strain appeared to be hitting networks that run Microsoft Windows operating system.
He added: 'We do know that it has hit CNN Time Warner in the US. That's the most high-profile place but we are aware of it hitting elsewhere.'
Symantec said its Norton products were not affected and it had released new protection against the virus yesterday morning.
Add your comment Comments (3)Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below?
The government do not have any need to attack anything they just tax it out of existence if they do not like it or if it happens to be profitable.
- Louis Cannell, Northampton, UK
Given that when a company's IT system goes down it usually results in a loss of productivity which in turn leads to a loss of revenue and therefor tax income for the government, I suspect that 'government complicity' is not a factor here Roger.
- Dan, London, UK
In my cynical opinion, I would not rule out government complicity where these "virus" are concerned. NOT, as we are given to believe, some disgruntled hacker. As governments are waging war against their own people, the information available on the internet is an irritant and set-back to their plans.
- Roger, Amsterdam. Nederlands
Have your Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday delivered to your door. To find out more click here.
Mail to a friend 
Print story 
Read later
Police set out to crucify us, say couple cleared over salt killing
It has been a four-year long nightmare for a couple wrongly accused of killing their adopted son by force-feeding him salt - but, to the cheers and tears of relatives and jurors alike, they have finally been set free
Britney begs strangers to be her friend
Having fled rehab at an all-time low, troubled pop princess Britney Spears tried to hide away from friends and family by drowning her sorrows at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles and begging strangers to be her friend
I give you The Queen ... of the Hippies
Gardening in the nude. Princess Margaret feeding the pigs. A lion on the lawn and dope galore. Revealed for the first time, the inside story of Helen Mirren's hippy commune past
TODAY ON SPORT...
Comments (3)
