<h1>
Skype Warns Users of P-to-P Worm </h1>
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<span>Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service</span><em class="timedate">Mon Sep 10, 10:00 AM ET</em>
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<p>Skype users are under attack from a new worm that spreads through the peer-to-peer Internet phone application's chat feature.</p>
<p>The attack begins when a user receives an instant message containing
a link from someone in their contact list or an unknown Skype user,
said Villu Arak, a Skype spokesman based in Tallinn, Estonia.</p>
<p>There are several versions of the chat messages, which are "cleverly
written" to fool users, Arak wrote on the Skype heartbeat blog. The
link appears to contain a JPEG photo file, but if clicked causes the
Windows run/save dialog box to appear, which asks whether the user
wants to save or run a ".scr" file.</p>
<p>The file is malicious software that can then access a user's PC via
Skype's API (application programming interface). The malicious file has
been named W32/Ramex.A.</p>
<p>"Users whose computers are infected with this virus will send a chat
message to other Skype users asking them to click on a web link that
can infect" their computers, Arak wrote.</p>
<p>To avoid trouble, users should not download the file. At least two
security vendors, F-Secure Corp. and Kaspersky Lab Ltd., have updated
their software to detect the worm, Arak wrote.</p>
<p>Instant message programs are another way hackers can try to gain
control over PCs. Access to one person's instant messenger or e-mail
account can mean contact details for many others, allowing hackers to
use malicious e-mails or instant messages to lure victims into
downloading malicious software.</p>
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