Chat worm warning for Skype users

17 April 2007

A new instant-messaging pest that spreads using the chat feature in Skype has surfaced, according to a warning by security company F-Secure.

The worm, dubbed Pykse.A, is similar to threats that affect IM applications. A targeted Skype user will receive a chat message with text and a web link that looks like it goes to a Jpeg file on a website, F-Secure said on its website.

Clicking the link will redirect the user to a malicious file. After executing, the file will send a malicious link to all online contacts in a Skype user's list and will show a picture of a scantily clad woman, F-Secure said. In addition, it sets the user's Skype status message to "Do Not Disturb", the company said.