Skype chat faces worm attack

Worm attacks are becoming a regular feature at Skype. In early September 2007, the Net telephony company alerted users that a worm that attacks Windows computers through its instant messages is on the prowl.

In the meantime, Skype is borrowing solutions to the problem and advising users to combat the virus with some do-it-yourself stuff. According to a report, the worm arrives via a chat message, supposedly from an IM friend.

Cleverly masquerading as an erotic image, it urges users to click on the image which promises a screensaver. When users click on the image, the worm enters their computers, which then spreads on to other users’ PCs too.

Named w32/Ramex.A, the worm is now facing stiff opposition from products developed by F-Secure, Kaspersky Lab, and Symantec Corp. A report added that the extent of the damage the worm has done to users' computers remains unknown. It has already damaged Skype's reputation, owing to the fact that it emphasizes Skype’s continuing problems with worm attacks. Skype's net telephony service had suffered an outage in August 2007.

Skype, which is trying hard to transform itself into a business tool rather than just a cheap way to call friends and family around the world, has yet to find a way to stop the worm from attacking at regular intervals.