Worm on MSN Messenger detected

A new computer worm that spreads through the MSN Messenger, an instant messaging platform, is likely to tempt Internet chat users with 8220;sexy8221; images, an anti-virus software firm warned on Monday.

8220;The worm attempts to send copies of itself in different file names to all online contacts, pretending to be alluring images,8221; said Trend Micro, an Internet security software and anti-virus firm, in a press release here. 8220;MSN Messenger users get comical photo of a roasted chicken with a bikini tan line. The worm also bears the AGOBOT worm as part of its payload, capable of opening backdoor on infected systems,8221; Trend Micro said.

The sightings of the worm have been reported in Taiwan, China, Korea and the US, it said. Upon execution, the memory resident worm WORM8212;BROPIA.F drops a copy of itself in the Windows system folder, and then tries to propagate to other MSN Messenger users by sending a copy of itself under other file names. 8212;PTI