If you have a serious MP3 collection, you ought to take extra special care of it as some anonymous virus writers have released a nasty new worm entitled Deletemusic. As the name of the worm implies, it attempts to delete MP3 files from machines that it has infected. The Deletemusic worm spreads via removable devices to PCs running Microsoft Windows. Removable devices include not only USB stick drives, but also portable music players themselves, USB hard disks are also a risk. You might want to think twice before allowing a friend to plug their iPod or Zune into your PC.
The Deletemusic worm has yet to spread very far, but virus makers are not silly. You can bet that there are plenty of infected torrents floating around. People who download illegally are obviously going to be at greatest risk.
Source: The Register
Image source: Worm
A few questions our readers:
1. Have you ever had a virus?
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Tags: Internet, mp3, Security
9 responses
Aug 1, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Is this a joke?
Aug 1, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Is there going to be a way to make sure your iPod/Zune/whatever is clean by antivirus or other methods?
I find it funny that there is a virus aimed at those who download illegally now. It kinda makes you wonder if it was released through certain people. cough, cough…
Aug 1, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Yes, you do have to wonder about the source.
Nathan, no this is not a joke. As of this time, Symantec is rating the threat as very low, but those virus writers are pretty persistent, you can bet that they will play around with it to get it to spread.
I do not think it is specifically aimed at people who use illegal downloads, it is just easier to release malware through them. If you want to get a virus out you need an effective transmission point and you need a few suckers that are going to install it. Here is how it works:
Let us say Avril Lavigne is releasing a new album. We know that her fans are going to be, on the most part, young. If they are downloading torrents they have to be a little bit tech savvy, but it does not take a lot of skill. You release the “album” a few days before other illegitimate sources within a self-extracting archive. You bulk up the size of the “album” to make it look more realistic. You will get quite a few bites.
With albums that are already released, you can slip the self-extracting .exe amongst them. It has been happening for years.
That is how viruses get into the mainstream. You are not going to get a virus on a legal download site. Places like that thoroughly check everything that they put up. On a big torrent site, anyone can put anything up.
If people are going to download, they need to be paranoid about security.
Aug 2, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Never had a virus. . . don’t get me wrong- my antivirus software has stopped many a virus from infecting my machine. Many have tried, none have succeeded!
I used to use norton 2003, but I had some trouble installing it in my new comp for some reason, so I now use avast. It seems to do the trick.
Aug 2, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I had trouble with Norton once. I am using Zonelabs now, but it is a bit of a stinker. I think I am going to go to Nod32 for my next one.
Aug 6, 2007 at 11:12 am
Just an pathetic attempt to scare people from downloading files via BitTorrent.
*Sigh*
Dec 4, 2008 at 2:23 pm
How the shit can you fix it. Goddamn avg wont touch it its turning all my mp3s into a chopped up version of feel like making love. Its eating up more every day. For the love of god I been collecting music since 97. I read everywhere about the problem. What the hell is the FIXX.
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Mac is the way to go man! Never had a problem or issue with anything. Was a windows user all my life but have been with my boyfriend and his Mac, then an old employer started using mac’s they run uber quick and the programs are amazing, my friend wanted to upload pictures but we didnt have her cameras installation CD but it recognized it immediately and send the photos to iPhoto, the photo program i have 2,000+ pictures, NO outer-hard drive, at least 2,000 songs and this computer is still as quick as when i first used it. The only cons i have encountered are A) some programs are not compatible for mac so we did have to buy windows and install it so that we can use the programs BUT it doesnt always work (ex: Netflix still does not let us play movies because even thought we are using the Windows, our IP address is still Macintosh so if the program requires Online activity there may be issues, Now i am not good with computers but it was explained to me like this: When you install the Windows its like having to brains in one body and even though there are two, you will only be known as one body (it made sense to me).
Now B)PRICE! Mac’s are a lot more expensive than computers on windows but with all of the virus protections and cameras(as mac has one built in) it pans out even!
Jan 25, 2009 at 4:03 am
I am in two minds about that. Check out our XP Ninja articles for some cool stuff that can be done with XP.
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