MyDoom Targets RIAA

SILICON VALLEY – There is no question at this point that the creator of the MyDoom virus has a very anti-establishment, counter-culture viewpoint when it comes to using innocent computer users as tools to wreak havoc on some of the largest corporations in the world, security experts are saying.

So far the deadly email virus that functions as a detonator for specific websites has targeted the SCO Group, a politically unpopular organization because of its recent patent claims against developers of Linux operating systems; Microsoft Corp, which is perceived by many as being a ruthless money maker; and now the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), despised by many computer users for enforcing its copyright claims against file-sharers.

The RIAA is currently in litigation against 531 individuals accused of uploading music files to file-sharing services.

Security experts announced Wednesday that MyDoom.F is the newest variant in the chain of viruses that started in January as MyDoom.A and infected up to one million computers worldwide in just two days.

Similar to its predecessors, MyDoom.F is programmed to use infected computers like automatons and wage an attack on the RIAA with intent to overwhelm the system and shut it down.

"It's still getting around, and it's destructive," a security expert said. "We're worried. The longer people keep their PCs on, the more files they risk losing. This worm keeps going back to attack again and again."

The new and destructive element that MyDoom.F comes equipped with is an uncanny ability to randomly delete Microsoft Word and Excel files, databases, and photo files. According to experts, it is rare to see a computer virus actually destroy files.

According to security experts Sophos, MyDoom.F searches for and deletes 40 percent of files with extensions of AVI, BMP, DOC, JPG, MDB, SAV and XLS. Unlike earlier variants of the MyDoom worm, this version does not have a "suicide date" at which point it stops spreading. The virus also appears to have been signed by its author in the following manner:

".-==I am "Irony", made by jxq7==-."

So far MyDoom.F has not been successful in its attempt to disable the RIAA's website, but traffic has been slowed, experts say.

The virus is also programmed to take another strike at Microsoft Corp., which it previously attempted to shut down after a prolonged, and some say indefinite denial-of-service attack a few weeks ago.

And while security experts are saying that Mydoom.F is not as fast or as deadly as the variants that came before, it has already infected three percent of all email traffic worldwide, compared to 60 percent of all email that the first variant claimed.

Experts are warning users to steer clear of attachments and subject headers that say anything similar to: "Approved," or "Your Credit Card," or "You use illegal file-sharing." According to Sophos, there are dozens of potential email headers the virus might be traveling under.

Attached files containing the virus will have an extension of EXE, SCR, COM, PIF, BAT, CMD or ZIP.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

Creator stats and affiliate marketing platform FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s new age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Show More