Sneaky IM Bots Spread Worms

InformationWeek reports that there is a new breed of IM Bots that spread their malicious programs by appearing to come from the user that has the bot installed. Usually the person who has the bot installed does not know that it is installed.

Once a user’s system in infected, the bot reportedly sends new messages to the user’s buddy list that appear to come from the infected user, instructing the recipients to download the malicious content.

One troubling aspect of this new attack, which has been broadcast over the AOL Instant Messaging network in a version called IM.Myspace04.AIM, is that the infected users can’t see the messages the worm is sending out on their behalf, according to IMlogic. In the case of the IM.Myspace04.AIM IM bots, when recipients of the bot’s messages reply, the bot sends a follow-up message that says, ââ?¬Å?lol no its not its a virusââ?¬Â or “lol thats cool.”

Source: InformationWeek

Bottom Line: Don’t trust anyone offering you download on an IM service. Don’t download anything through IM services without first scanning it with a virus scanner.