The latest version of the MyDoom virus started spreading by email yesterday. Like previous versions the virus will search your mailbox for email addresses and send them a mail containing the virus.
However, this incarnation will then go to Lycos, Google, Altavista and Yahoo and search for more email addresses from the same domains as those found in your mailbox. In this way the virus gathers even more victims for its rampage.
Due to the virus the search engine servers received a large number of virus generated search queries yesterday. Because of this Google slowed down considerably, and was even -- for some time -- unable to provide search services in parts of the world.
If you use antivirus software (and you should, if you have a Windows machine), this is the time to download the latest signatures.
By the way: The virus does not spread through the search engines. Hence: You will not get the virus by clicking on a link in Google. Moreover, even if someone receives the virus in a mail with your address given as the sender, this does not mean that your machine necessarily is infected. The virus will put in a email address fetched from someone's Outlook mailbox in order to make the virus mail look "real". The virus is not able to use your machine if you are not using the Outlook email software from Microsoft. Furthermore, the attack is limited to Windows machines. |
