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Sources from F-Secure, a Finnish data security centre, have warned users that there is a fast spreading computer virus (worm variant) nicknamed “Storm Worm” that is spreading like wild fire to computers world wide. The common mode of transmission is by an e-mail attachment. Taken from their website, these e-mails have common headings and look something like the attached picture below.

There are several variations to the e-mails carrying the virus. F-Secure indicated that those who receive any of the following lines in the subject line of an email are likely recipients of the “Storm Worm” virus:

• 230 dead as storm batters Europe.
• A killer at 11, he’s free at 21 and…
• British Muslims Genocide
• Naked teens attack home director.
• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza…
• So in Love
• Happy World Religion Day!
• Most Beautiful Girl
• Someone at Last
• I Believe
• The Dance of Love
• The Miracle of Love
• All For You
• Vacation Love
• I am Complete
• Wrapped Up
• Moonlit Waterfall
• A Little (sex) Card
• A Special Kiss
• Hugging My Pillow
• Safe and Sound
• You’re Soo kissable
• A Romantic Place
• Breakfast in Bed Coupon
• For You
• I Love You So
• Safe and Sound
• Want to Meet?
• We Are Different
• We Have Walked
• You Asked Me Why
• Sadam Hussein alive!
• Sadam Hussein safe and sound!
• Radical Muslim drinking enemies’ blood.
• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has kicked German Chancellor Angela Merkel
• U.S. Southwest braces for another winter blast. More then 1000 people are dead.
• Venezuelan leader: “Let’s the War beginning”.
• Fidel Castro dead.
• Hugo Chavez dead.

The virus also comes with one the following attachments:

• Full Clip.exe
• Full Story.exe
• Read More.exe
• Video.exe
• Flash postcard.exe

Another image of the said e-mail.

What this malicious virus does is that it copies itself onto the computer with a filename called, “Wincom32″. “Small Worm” is a trojan. It allows infected computers to be accessed remotely by hackers for the purpose of data theft or even denial-of-service attacks. As of now, the origin of the fast spreading virus is still not known. F-Secure advices people who frequently open e-mail attachments to be very vigilant to such e-mails, especially like the ones mentioned above. Do not open attachments that contains attachments from anonymous senders or attachments that may look bogus. The rule of the thumb is that if you are unsure of the content of the e-mail sent, do not open it at any cause or verify with the sender.

Here is a short video showing how fast the virus had spread throughout the world. The worst hit areas are those in the European and North American continents.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH8cS1AkqiI]