April 22, 2005 3:00 PM PDT
Virus pits itself against music pirates
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The worm, dubbed Nopir.B, spreads over peer-to-peer networks and appears to have originated in France, security researchers at Sophos said Friday.
Nopir.B is designed to look like a DVD-cracking program, to fool people looking for a program that will circumvent copy-restriction technology on the discs. When the worm is downloaded and run, it attempts to delete all MP3 music files and wipe some programs from the infected PC, the company said in its advisory.
Sophos said it believes the author of the virus may be looking to stamp out music piracy.
"The Nopir.B worm targets people it believes may be involved in piracy, but fails to discriminate between the true criminals and those who may have legally obtained MP3 files," Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, said in a statement. "Whichever side of the fence you come down on in regards to Internet piracy, there's no debate about the criminal nature of this worm--it's designed to inflict malicious damage on people's Windows computers."
Sophos has received few reports of the virus, but recommended that people update their security software. The malicious software affects PCs running Microsoft Windows.
Dan Ilett of ZDNet UK reported from London.
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The RIAA or a similar organization would never be this stupid. I think.
So, that leaves... a disgruntled musician who thinks piracy is killing him?
Ever heard of a Mac (running on OS X) that has problems with virus,
spyware or adware? Didn't think so...
Graham Cluley, the senior technology consultant for Sophos, is wrong in his statements. I don't care if it does attack legal mp3s with the illegal ones. You shouldn't be downloading cracks for computer programs through p2p anyways and you get what you deserve if you do. I use a lot of free open source software and when there isn't a good open source alternative I am willing to pay an honest fee to use software. Leave this virus alone.
But even if you toss that argument aside, what they gave in the article was just an example of how this malware could propagate. Anyone could easily change this malware to appear like some *other* application--say, HighHorse_PointMisser_2005.exe, which it seems you yourself would benefit from running. And it could also be distributed by means other than P2P (Usenet, email, IM, the web--anything.)
The bizarre position you've put yourself in is one in which you stand up for the digital rights of some (i.e. shareware and DVD authors), but not of others (i.e. those who mistakenly run this malware). To my cultivated mind, you can't have it both ways and still have both legs to stand on.
Advice , don't download any executable files or code cracking technology on your computer. Also before opening your files run your up to date antivirus software and have a strong firewall.
Next you may want to do a backup and demarcate a system restore function.
I'm sorry but two wrongs don't make a right.
as for this virus spreading and being changed and used by other means such as email and im, people need to realize what is safe and what isnt while on the net. take some personal responsibility while surfing, chatting, and whatever. my anti-virus and anti-spyware barely get workouts because my system is constantly clean.
as for the virus writers: shame on you for adding another resource hog to the internet. the last thing we needed was a wasteful program taking up bandwidth.
- RAA paid some one to write it
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by BraveErudite
April 24, 2005 3:38 PM PDT
- You better beleive the RIAA did it....WHo else would want to write somethink like that... Maybe some 14 year old from Shalalabadadukiestan?
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