IM Threats Adding Up

IMlogic is warning Internet users that another worm is again exploiting
instant messaging technology to infect machines running Windows.

The worm, dubbed IM.Treba.AIM, forwards a malicious link to known
unsuspecting users listed on an infected machine’s buddy list, according to
the security outfit.


The threat identifies known buddies that are currently online and forwards a
message with a note to look at the content displayed at the particular URL.

Once successfully executed, the vulnerability allows a hacker to attack a
number of systems, including stealing system info, or the most damaging
impact, forcing an infected computer into a continual reboot, according to
IMlogic.

This most recent assault on instant messaging clients is part of a growing
trend of scammers attempting to exploit the increasing popular networks,
according to a survey issued by IMlogic.

The IMlogic Threat Center has reported a 3,295 percent increase in the
number of instant-messaging and file-sharing worms in the third quarter of
2005, compared with the year-ago quarter.

IMLogic said attacks on IM networks has increased to a record highs of fourteen times through the first three quarters of this year.

The report said MSN Messenger was the most frequently attacked network,
accounting for 62 percent of reported incidents. AOL’s AIM client was hit 31
percent of the time, and seven percent were aimed at Yahoo Messenger users.

IMlogic says it provides protection against emerging IM threats by providing
automatic security policy updates to IMlogic IM Manager from the IMlogic
Threat Center.

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