Yahoo and Microsoft's instant messenger applications are under attack from malware that is able to infect a PC without any interaction from the user.
The malware can automatically infect a user's contacts or "friends" lists across both company's instant messenger platforms.
Unlike conventional malware delivered through attachments, reports suggest this latest attack can infect a machine even when the recipient does not open the file delivered to them.
According to a ZDNet Asia sister site ZDNet.com.au reader whose PC was affected by the malware this afternoon, it installs itself in the Windows Registry.
Once infected, whenever a user visits any Web site, ads that should be displayed are replaced by ads from a third party.
Also, when the reader attempted to boot up their PC after removing the malware in question, the machine shuts down.
"It gave me the blue screen," he said.
The malware is not detected by McAfee and also bypasses Spybot Search and Destroy, the reader said.
Microsoft and Yahoo were not available for comment at the time of publication.
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That's why, for those networks, I use GAIM / Pidgin on both Windows and Linux. Well, that's one reason...
Posted by anonymous on Tuesday, March 11 2008 06:27 PM