Happy New Year!

January 2, 2007: Watch your inboxes, a new worm with the subject ‘Happy New Year!’ is on the move.

The news from VeriSign warns that the message is rapidly spreading across the globe through 160 email domains.

While the worm requires user interaction in order to do its harm, its relevant subject line of holiday wishes could entice users to open the attached ‘postcard.exe.’ Once open, the file which downloads malicious software, infect the user’s machine, then uses the machine to commence spamming mail to other computers.

The warning came from VeriSign’s iDefense Labs which dedicates itself to researching cyber threats and alerting users to the potential for harm.

Ken Dunham, director of the Rapid Response Team at iDefense says New Year’s Day is a particularly vulnerable time for cyber risks as antivirus protection is at it lowest. “Everyone should be on guard for emails and other content potentially harbouring malicious code during the holiday period,” he said.

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