January 31, 2005
If your computer starts insulting you, you might be infected with Cisum.A:
A new worm, Cisum.A, is spreading through network connections, throwing insults as it goes. Once a computer is infected a message is displayed in a new window stating, "YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!" Additionally, an MP3 file plays a message with the same phrase and repeats it every 5 seconds. The malware also disables any anti-virus and firewall software that is on the PC. In a strange twist, Cisum.A also looks for Bagle or Netsky infections and attempts to remove them. The virus is currently rated as a low threat by Panda Software.The most interesting aspect of this particular worm is not the insults but that it identifies and remove other virus infections. Is this the start of a new phase in virus development? Viral warfare, where virus authors fight for market share by infecting unsuspecting users (idiots) with antidotes for their competitor's offspring.



