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Akonix Raises Threat Level Of Kelvir Worm
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2005-04-16
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Akonix Systems' Security Center has received multiple reports from enterprises whose networks have been compromised by the Kelvir worm.
As a result, Akonix has raised the threat level of the virus from a medium to high risk.
The Akonix Security Center first identified the Kelvir worm several weeks ago, monitoring its development and protecting customers automatically from its many variants. Kelvir has undergone frequent mutations over recent weeks, and new reports to the Akonix Security Center about large corporate networks under attack have caused alarm that latest Kelvir virus version could have severe consequences on unmanaged, insecure IM environments.
According to Symantec, W32.Kelvir.U is the latest in a series of variants that target MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger. Like other social engineering attacks, the Kelvir worm sends an instant message to the infected user's contact list that encourages the recipient to click on a URL link within the message. One of the messages sent is "Picture of you" with a link. Once the link is opened, a version of the Spybot worm is downloaded and the worm then sends itself to the newly-infected user's contact list.
"2005 has seen an unprecedented level of IM attacks on corporate networks and today we have compelling evidence that the Kelvir worm has had a very clear and severe impact on the productivity of some major corporations," said Peter Shaw, CEO of Akonix Systems. "Virus and worm writers are specifically attacking IM networks as they are seen as a weak link in an organization's electronic defenses. CIOs in every company must wake up to the fact that now is the time to shore up their IM defenses and at the same time benefit from making IM an essential business communications tool."
The Akonix Security Center has taken immediate action to provide new and updated Spim (spam over IM) & Malware filtering policies for customers. Akonix L7 Enterprise is the industry's only IM management system that combines dynamically updated IM security policies and integrated anti-virus scanning using leading scan engines to provide the most comprehensive protection for corporate networks from IM-based attacks.
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SecurityProNews is a daily online and email publication focusing on internet security issues.
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