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Experts warn over Yuletide computer worm 
Thursday, December 20 2001
by Matthew Clark


Computer security firms are issuing warnings over a dangerous Christmas greeting
from would-be computer attackers. 

The newly discovered Reeezak worm is threatening computer systems around the
world with reports of damage inflicted to computers in Europe and the US. The
worm, which was first reported in the UK on Wednesday, enters a computer as an
e-mail message in Microsoft's Outlook e-mail program with a subject line "Happy
New Year" and with an attachment, "Christmas.exe," in order to fool potential
victims into believing the program is an electronic Christmas card. 



The worm has the ability to disable keyboards on the infected computers and can
also delete all of the files found in the Windows System Directory, rendering the
computer inoperable. Furthermore, like many such worms that have abounded in
recent months, the malicious software spreads by re-mailing itself to all of the
addresses in Outlook's address book and may attempt to redirect the PC to a Web
page that will install the bug, explained John Mulholland, manager of information
security and consulting services with Systemhouse Technology in Dublin. 



Another consequence of the worm would change the name of infected computers to
"Zaker," Mulholland explained. He went on to say that part of the danger of the
worm is its holiday theme. "We thought that due to the time of year, it might
be a bit more dangerous because people might let their guard down." 



Ian Hameroff, director of antivirus solutions at Computer Associates, echoed
Mulholland's advice, urging users to keep their guard up at all times. "Be on
the lookout for suspicious messages -- they may be bearing gifts that you don't
want," Hameroff added.



Despite the danger that the bug poses, McAfee.com has given it a low risk rating
and Symantec rated the worm "level 2" (of 5). Meanwhile, Computer Associates
International assigned a medium-to-high risk to the bug, which is also known as
W32/Reeezak.A@mm, W32/Zacker.C@mm and W32.Maldal.C@mm. 



With the first word misspelled, the message Reeezak carries in the e-mail body
reads:

 

"Hii 



I can't describe my feelings 



But all i can say is 



Happy New Year :) 



bye"



For more information visit 
http://www.systemhouse.com/