“Leaked” Beta Version of MSN Messenger 8 is a Virus
By Angsuman Chakraborty, Gaea News NetworkSaturday, December 31, 2005
F-Secure claims that the latest “leaked” beta of the IM client might not be what it seems. It is a virus in disguise.
F-Secure said that a variation of the Virkel instant messaging virus has been circulating amongst MSN users, posing as a leaked beta version of MSN Messenger 8.
The virus uses the Messenger client to send download links to all of an infected user’s contacts, and connects the user’s machine to a second “botnet” server, which could then could be used to install unauthorised software on the machine. Victims are being infected by clicking and installing the BETA8WEBINSTALL.EXE file that is being distributed via these download links.
Source: F-Secure via TechWorld
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