Kama Sutra (computer worm)

The Kama Sutra worm, also known as Blackworm, Nyxem, and Blackmal, is a type of malware (malicious software) that infects PCs using Microsoft Windows.

Discovered January 16, 2006, Kama Sutra was designed to destroy common files such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents when each computer's calendar hit February 3 and on the 3rd of each following month.

The worm arrived via e-mail, enticing computer users with promises of sexy pictures. The subject lines included "School girl fantasies gone bad", "Hot Movie", "Crazy illegal Sex!" and "Kama Sutra pics". When users clicked on the attachment, the machine became infected. Once executed, the worm can corrupt and overwrite the most common Windows file types, .doc, .pdf, .zip, and .xls, among others; the data are changed and become unrecoverable. The worm also tries to disable antivirus software.

See also

• Computer worm

References

• Marsha Walton (February 2, 2006). "New worm relies on old trick". CNN Tech. Retrieved 2011-02-18. 

External links

• CNN:Kama Sutra worm hits home
• Google Accidentally Sends Out Kama Sutra Worm
• Symantec Security alert