Mydoom virus really a spam tool? | MSNBC

[Ediacara]

Mydoom virus really a spam tool?
Super Bowl Sunday attack might be a ruse
By Bob Sullivan
Technology correspondent
MSNBC
Updated: 6:09 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2004

While computer security experts prepare for a Super Bowl Sunday attack by Mydoom-infected machines, there is increasing speculation that the virus is really a program designed to help spammers.

Experts estimate that between 100,000 and 200,000 computers around the globe are still infected with the worm, which first appeared on Monday. Researchers have called Mydoom the fastest-spreading e-mail worm ever. While the spread of Mydoom has slowed by Friday, it was still generating massive amounts of stray e-mail traffic and infecting more computers worldwide.

This weekend, the worm’s second feature will kick in, when it begins a denial of service attack aimed at Utah software company SCO Group Inc. Beginning just a few hours before Super Bowl kickoff, every infected machine will begin pelting SCO.com with requests for information, a denial of service attack which could take the firm’s home page offline.

More at MSNCB

[Nomad559]

1. Microsoft Offers $250,000 Reward

for Information Leading to Conviction of MyDoom.B Perpetrators.

$250,000 Reward

[oostevo]

2. You know,

I understand that virus writers are just juvenile egomaniacs for the most part, SCO really deserves to be DOSed.

[Unforgiven]

3. Yes They Do!

Scum that they are!

[JailForBush]

4. Well, this is a major internal conflict!

I just discovered that all my websites are down - and they're hosted by three different ISP's! See my notes at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1071571

But if the real target is SCO (a notorious Microsoft ally), then I guess it's for a good cause. I wish they'd take out Microshaft permanently, so us law-abiding citizens can get on with our lives.

[oostevo]

5. "a nototious Microsoft ally"

Umm ... no. SCO (sort of) makes Unix (tm).
Microsoft makes Windows.

Unix (along with every other *nix) is essentially Microsoft's only competitor. Microsoft hates unix (reference all the Microsoft internal memos about how to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt about unix).

[JailForBush]

6. Take another look.

Yes, SCO is part of the Linux community. But who is it attacking? The Linux community!

Everyone knows who SCO is working for. They've really got a very slick partnership - partners in crime, that is.