New Bagle Worm Mutant Emerges

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject: New Bagle Worm Mutant Emerges

According to PandaSoftware, an antivirus software company, new Bagle Worm variations have appeared today for the first time. While the Bagle.BC work continues to wreak havok world wide, a new Bagle.BE mutant has emerged. PandaSoftware has given the Bagle.BE worm a "Medium" threat level. The Bagle worm only affects Windows XP/2000/NT/ME/98/95 based machines (so if you're on Linux or MacOS, don't worry).

The following information about the worm is provided by PandaSoftware:

Bagle.BE "opens the TCP port 81 and listens to it, waiting for remote connections. By doing so, Bagle.BE allows hackers to gain remote control over the affected computer in order to carry out malicious actions that would compromise user's confidentiality or impede normal work.

Bagle.BE ends processes belonging to security tools, such as antivirus programs. This leaves the affected computer vulnerable to the attack of other malware. In addition, Bagle.BE prevents certain worms, such as several variants of Netsky, from being executed whenever Windows is started. In order to do so, it deletes the entries belonging to these worms from the Windows Registry. Bagle.BE spreads via e-mail in a message with variable characteristics and through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs."

Please note that Absolute Insight recommends keeping your operating system and antivirus software up to date at all times and running an active antivirus utility.

For more information concerning this worm or to find out what to do if infected, please visit PandaSoftware here.