New Worm - Webcams are next

[Oz]

A new worm can spy on users by hijacking their web cameras, a security firm warned this week.

The Rbot.gr worm -- the latest in a long line of similar worms; one security firm estimates that more than 4000 variations have appeared -- has the capability of turning webcams against their owners, said officials at UK-based Sophos.

"More and more hackers are interested in spying on the people they manage to infect," said senior technology consultant at Sophos, Graham Cluley, in a statement.

"In the workplace, this worm opens up the possibilities of industrial espionage. At home it's equivalent to a Peeping Tom who invades your privacy by peering through your curtains."

Rbot.gr is a multi-threat worm, spreading through a number of Microsoft Windows vulnerabilities -- including those exploited by MSBlast and Sasser -- and through network shares. Once it lands on a Windows PC, it installs a back door trojan that can then lead to the planting of password stealers, key loggers, and webcam hijackers.

"If your computer is infected and you have a webcam plugged in, then everything you do in front of the computer can be seen, and everything you say can be recorded," said Cluley.

Cluley sees Rbot.gr and its ilk as evidence of a trend of malware spying on unprotected PCs.

"With many home users keeping poorly defended PCs in their bedroom, there is considerable potential for abuse," he said.

Rbot.gr can be deflected with up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall, said Cluley, but if users are still nervous, they should unplug webcams when not using them for audio/videoconferencing.

[FireBball972]

woah, seriously?

[2Slow4U_Noob]

I read about that in a book once. I mean not about this particular worm, but that hackers can hijack your web cam or microphone, and the light won't even come on in the webcam. This book was written a while back so this has been out for a while it looks like.

[ghostguy6]

Why not they have virues for everything, those ti -83 scinentific calculators and even cell phone can have viruses.

[2.2 Straight six]

i can't see why hackers get such pleasure from fucking up our lives, ok we'd all like to see a seriously fit person get undressed (male or female we don't discriminate) but i'd rather they allowed us to do it than we were being a peeping tom. what do they gain out of fucking up our computers and spying on us. WE'RE INNOCENT CITIZENT WE DESERVE PRIVACY AN NOT THE SHIT THE GIVE US. every government already monitor evert phone call sms/ text message internet convo forum ect. all communication is monitored (except person to person in a non public place, even then there's no definite protection)