<FONT COLOR=CRIMSON>IMPORTANT NON-PARTISAN NO-BULLSHIT MESSAGE</FONT>
New Computer Worm Exploits False Security Update
Helsinki, Finland - September 19, 2003
F-Secure Corporation warns the computer users about a new worm known as Swen. F-Secure has today increased the alert
level to Radar Level 1, as the worm is spreading rapidly worldwide. This is the highest alert level for a computer virus.
Swen is a mass-mailer, which was first found on Thursday, September 18th, 2003. This rather complex worm uses several
different techniques to spread and can, unlike most other e-mail worms, execute automatically when an infected e-mail
message is received. Swen can also, in addition to e-mail, use IRQ chat, Kazaa networks and shared folders in local area networks to spread.
The infected messages that carry the Swen worm are spoofed to look like security updates from Microsoft. These false
security updates are quite realistic and mimic the look and feel of Microsoft web pages. "The Swen worm clearly tries to ride on the publicity created by the Lovesan/Blaster worm in August. The importance of installing security updates was stressed many times", says Mikael Albrecht, the Product Manager of F-Secure. "It is therefore natural that people open what they think is a security patch. However, the attached file is not a patch, it is a virus", he continues. Swen is not the first worm to use this trick, but the spoofed message created by Swen is the most professional looking so far.
It is important to note that the real security updates from Microsoft are always published on the web or distributed through automatic update channels. They are never sent by e-mail.
Detailed technical description of the worm as well as screenshots are available in the F-Secure Virus Description Database at f-secure.com.
F-Secure Anti-Virus can detect and stop the Swen worm. F-Secure Anti-Virus can be downloaded from
f-secure.com
More information on the F-Secure Radar warning system can be found from f-secure.com
About F-Secure
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F-Secure Corporation is the leading provider of centrally managed security solutions for the mobile enterprise. The
company's award-winning products include antivirus and network security solutions for major platforms from desktops to servers and from laptops to handhelds. Founded in 1988, F-Secure has been listed on the Helsinki Exchanges since November 1999. The company is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, with the North Amercan headquarters in San Jose, California, as well as offices in Germany, Sweden, Japan and the United Kingdom and regional offices in the USA. F-Secure is supported by a network of value added resellers and distributors in over 90 countries around the globe. Through licensing and distribution agreements, the company?s security applications are available for the products of the leading handheld equipment manufacturers, such as Nokia and HP.
For more information, please contact:
Finland:
F-Secure Corporation
Mikael Albrecht, Product Manager
PL 24
FIN-00181 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 2520 5640
Mobile: +358 40 550 9349
mailto:Mikael.Albrecht@F-Secure.com
Media contact in the USA:
F-Secure Inc.
Heather Deem,
675 N. First Street, 5th Floor
San Jose, CA 95112
Tel +1 408 350 2178
Fax +1 408 938 6701
mailto:Heather.Deem@F-Secure.com
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