All Ball State University computer users should be aware of a new and dangerous security threat, Storm Worm, which arrives via e-mail.  This tactic involves e-mailed Web links disguised as video clips from YouTube.com.

The link in the e-mail does not take the user to YouTube.com, but to an Internet address of a computer that the attacker has compromised and is using to serve up malicious software.  If you hover over the link with your computer mouse, it should reveal that the true address is a dotted IP address, not a page at YouTube.com.

After a user clicks through to one of the Storm addresses, the machine at the address will attempt to exploit a range of known Web browser and other software security vulnerabilities.  If the would-be victim is invulnerable to these attacks, he or she will be prompted to simply download and run the malicious code.

The Storm worm is already hugely successful, with estimates of infected machines in the millions worldwide and is likely to significantly increase the number of infected machines.

To protect yourself from this and other known viruses make certain your antivirus software is installed and up-to-date.  Many attempts to attack your computer can be prevented by using antivirus software which is functional and up-to-date.   Visit the Ball State University Antivirus web site at www.bsu.edu/antivirus/ for more information.

For additional information about viruses, scams, hoaxes and spam visit the Security & Policy Website.