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Beagle e-mail worm returns

Worm uses e-mail address 'harvesting' to disseminate itself

Cougar News Services

The Beagle computer worm, which first caused problems for computer users earlier this year, is resurfacing with a new variation, UH Information Technology reported.

The new variant, W32/Beagle.ai@MM, is transmitted through e-mail messages. Like the earlier versions of Beagle, it "harvests" e-mail addresses from a user's computer and uses them to distribute itself. The worm sends messages with attached files that appear innocuous but actually spread Bagle when they are opened.

Although the e-mail messages may appear to have been sent by friends or business associates, they may be identified by their subject lines or body text, which contain phrases including "foto3" and "mp3," "lovely animals," "predators" and "the snake."

To guard against infection by Beagle and other viruses and worms, Information Technology recommends updating antivirus software and never opening unsolicited or unexpected e-mail attachments.

McAfee antivirus software and updates -- as well as further information on Beagle -- are available free from the IT Web site, www.uh.edu/infotech.
 

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