Warning - Skype Virus

[dantilley]

There's a Skype virus working its way through the Skype network now. It works by infecting a your open Skype session and then send out seemingly genuine looking Skype text messages to people at random in your contact list. Included in these messages will be a link to a hosted file called "DSC027.jpg" - this then redirects to a Screen saver (.SCR) file which is in fact the virus, which then installs itself onto your computer.

If you contract this virus it does all kinds of nasty things to your computer, including completely disabling Skype (while the virus takes over and tries to infect as many other people as possible through the Skype Instant Messaging program).

A friend of mine's whole Bangkok office has been affected, plus many friends from Thailand and back in the UK.

Don't click on any links in Skype's Instant Messenger would be my advice. Even consider not running Skype unless you really need it - an accidental click could be bad news...

More information here and here, including work-arounds / solutions in case you've already been infected by it...

[malcolmswaine]

Thanks for the warning

[nikster]

PS: Doesn't affect Macs. Or Linux.

[dttk0009]

Hah, yeah, I was sent that message at work today. Ignored it.

[stumonster]

http://heartbeat.skype.com/

the official warning

[Crossy]

Thanks for the heads up.

[stevenjm]

It also sets skype to "do not disturb" (osx - no problem )

[raro]

two in my contact list have it already...quite funny, you get a link in the message box. Click on it and an empty (!) browser window opens. Then another one pops up with a download. If you're not yet smelling something fishy, you still have to download and open that file....

okokok....I also opened that screensaver a couple of years ago that made the firework and f^%#ed up the comp....but doing it again? Touch wood...

[dantilley]

Click on it and an empty (!) browser window opens. Then another one pops up with a download. If you're not yet smelling something fishy, you still have to download and open that file....

True. But surprising how many people are getting it...

[think_too_mut]

There's a Skype virus working its way through the Skype network now. It works by infecting a your open Skype session and then send out seemingly genuine looking Skype text messages to people at random in your contact list. Included in these messages will be a link to a hosted file called "DSC027.jpg" - this then redirects to a Screen saver (.SCR) file which is in fact the virus, which then installs itself onto your computer.

2 years ago company declared installing Skype on company's computer - or on a private one if it is set to connect to corp network - a sackable offense.

[jackspratt]

There's a Skype virus working its way through the Skype network now. It works by infecting a your open Skype session and then send out seemingly genuine looking Skype text messages to people at random in your contact list. Included in these messages will be a link to a hosted file called "DSC027.jpg" - this then redirects to a Screen saver (.SCR) file which is in fact the virus, which then installs itself onto your computer.

2 years ago company declared installing Skype on company's computer - or on a private one if it is set to connect to corp network - a sackable offense.

And..............?

[think_too_mut]

There's a Skype virus working its way through the Skype network now. It works by infecting a your open Skype session and then send out seemingly genuine looking Skype text messages to people at random in your contact list. Included in these messages will be a link to a hosted file called "DSC027.jpg" - this then redirects to a Screen saver (.SCR) file which is in fact the virus, which then installs itself onto your computer.

2 years ago company declared installing Skype on company's computer - or on a private one if it is set to connect to corp network - a sackable offense.

And..............?

We don't worry that rubbish would do us any harm....deinstall it!

In the developed world, landline phone calls are free (included in ADSL 40$ per month), why Skype?

[Crossy]

There's a Skype virus working its way through the Skype network now. It works by infecting a your open Skype session and then send out seemingly genuine looking Skype text messages to people at random in your contact list. Included in these messages will be a link to a hosted file called "DSC027.jpg" - this then redirects to a Screen saver (.SCR) file which is in fact the virus, which then installs itself onto your computer.

2 years ago company declared installing Skype on company's computer - or on a private one if it is set to connect to corp network - a sackable offense.

And..............?

We don't worry that rubbish would do us any harm....deinstall it!

In the developed world, landline phone calls are free (included in ADSL 40$ per month), why Skype?

Because even in your developed world, landline calls to the other side of it are not free

Agree that it should not be run on a corportate network though, there are too many holes that potentially let all sorts of interesting stuff through.

[think_too_mut]

There's a Skype virus working its way through the Skype network now. It works by infecting a your open Skype session and then send out seemingly genuine looking Skype text messages to people at random in your contact list. Included in these messages will be a link to a hosted file called "DSC027.jpg" - this then redirects to a Screen saver (.SCR) file which is in fact the virus, which then installs itself onto your computer.

2 years ago company declared installing Skype on company's computer - or on a private one if it is set to connect to corp network - a sackable offense.

And..............?

We don't worry that rubbish would do us any harm....deinstall it!

In the developed world, landline phone calls are free (included in ADSL 40$ per month), why Skype?

Because even in your developed world, landline calls to the other side of it are not free

They are : FREE. I have been calling Thailand (Japan land line to Thai landline or mobile) for about 1 hour a day over last 4 years and have never had to pay anything. I'm not abusing it, there may be a treshold but 25-35 hours per month Japan - Thai has never reached it.

YahooBB (a broadband provider) assigned their own phone number to my landline (which still keeps it's NTT number and lives on NTT Network) and there we go. Is it not how Skype works - except this is over traditional equipment (I think I read Skype can do that too)?

And nothing to install, nothing to worry, crystal clear reception any time, no hangups.

Edit: did you mean my wife is being charged for my free calls ("not free to the other side")?

Edited September 14, 2007 by think_too_mut

[dantilley]

In the developed world, landline phone calls are free (included in ADSL 40$ per month), why Skype?

No they're not, at least not in the UK anyway.

[cdnvic]

$14.95 a year for unlimited long distance within the US & Canada. That's why Skype.

[lazeeboy]

In the developed world, landline phone calls are free (included in ADSL 40$ per month), why Skype?

No they're not, at least not in the UK anyway.

make you right there.