Zafi Worm Hides Behind Christmas Cheer
A new version of the Zafi e-mail worm is spreading Christmas wishes along with its malicious code, according to antivirus software companies.
Source: PC WorldZafi.D is a mass-mailing worm that arrives in a .zip file attached to e-mail messages with the subject "Merry Christmas." Instead of a gift, however, the e-mail package delivers worm code that infects Microsoft Windows systems on which it is opened. Leading antivirus companies, including McAfee, Sophos, and Computer Associates issued warnings about the new worm and updated antivirus signatures to stop the new threat.
In addition to the Christmas well wishes in the subject line, Zafi-generated e-mails contain the message "Happy Hollydays" and are signed "Jaime."
CA researchers collected almost 100 samples of Zafi.D since spotting the new worm variant early Tuesday, says Stefana Ribaudo, manager of the company's eTrust Security Management division. At McAfee, around 50 samples of the worm were collected, mostly from Europe, says Vincent Gullotto, vice president of McAfee's Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team.
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