SC Magazine

New IM worm speaks your language

By Marcia Savage | Aug 24, 2005

Researchers at Akonix Systems said they found a new variant of the Kelvir instant messaging worm that adapts to the language of a user's system.

Kelvir.HI, which checks the system settings of an IM client and sends a message in the appropriate language, is the first of its kind, according to researchers at Akonix, a supplier of IM security.

The company rated the worm as a low risk, as did Symantec.

Kelvir.HI spreads through MSN Messager and targets Windows systems, according to Symantec.

The worm downloads a copy of the Spybot worm and sends messages in either English, Spanish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese, or Turkish, Akonix researchers said.

In July, Akonix reported a 400 percent increase in IM threats in the second quarter of this year.

www.akonix.com

Copyright © 2013 Haymarket Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of Haymarket Media's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.