Security experts are warning that a new computer virus, dubbed
“Nimda,” is spreading itself by more advanced means that
predecessors such as the Love Bug or Kournikova viruses. Nimda is
carried as an attachment to an untitled e-mail. The attachment is
called readme.exe.
However, reports suggest that the virus can also download itself
through the browser of anyone who visits a web site hosted by an
infected server, unless the user’s browser has security against
infection. If infected, the victim computer will unwittingly e-mail
the virus to everyone in its contacts book.
US Attorney General John Ashcroft has stated that this new virus
may be “heavier” than the Code Red virus, which cost the computer
industry an estimated $2.4 billion. Experts caution that they do
not yet know exactly what harm is caused by the virus, other than
attempting to overload unsecure networks. Microsoft Windows 2000
and Windows NT operating systems appear to be at risk.
