The Skype chat client is the latest Windows application to be targeted by hackers. The computer virus, called “w32/Ramex.A”, takes advantage of Skype to spread itself. An infected computer will use the Skype client to send messages to friends with a link that, if clicked, will infect the friend’s computer. The link looks to be a link to a JPEG image but, if clicked, points to a SCR file. If that file is run, the computer becomes infected.
“The chat message, of which there are several versions, is cleverly written and may appear to be a legitimate chat message, which may fool some users into clicking on the link,” said Arak in an alert on the Skype site.
Also, according to Skype, F-Secure, Kaspersky Lab and Symantec have already updated their antivirus products to detect and remove the worm. Or you can go the more technical route as dictated by Skype:
- Restart the PC in safe mode
- Run regedit
- Go to HKLM/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/runonce find entry with mshtmldat32.exe. Delete this entry.
- Go to Windows\System32 directory and delete following files: wndrivs32.exe, mshtmldat32.exe, winlgcvers.exe, sdrivew32.exe
- Go to windows/system32/drivers/etc
- Find file hosts
- Open it with notepad, ctrl+a and delete all entries (this will resume your antivirus updates), save, close.
- Restart the PC.
Better yet, just don’t be fooled. Don’t click on any image links sent via Skype.
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