What is the mechanism for this?

[Prew]

I turned off my firewall for a awhile and after about 30 minutes my computer was bombarded with the PE_nmida virus (PC-Cillin caught it and quarantined it-- about 120 files). At the time I was playing Serious Sam: Second Encounter on the internet through Gamespy- when a warning from PC-Cillin appeared saying that the virus had appeared. What would be the mechanism for this infection? Is it through Gamespy?

[Kento]

It's through your browser. If you want you can prevent nimda infection through websites by disabling file download in internet options--security tab--custom level button. But then if you wanted to download something you would have to first go back and enable it again.

[Prew]

Thanks, wondering where it comes from- evidently without a firewall, someone can put viruses on your computer even though you are not downloading anything doing anything on the internet?

[morriswindgate]

You cannot get the virus unless you execute the script. What it is doing is scanning looking for the right way to send itself to you. You can read more about it here.

http://ca.com/virusinfo/encyclopedia/descriptions/n/nimda.htm

[Prew]

Thanks- that was interesting. Luckily, PC-cillon quaratines the files as soon as they arrive.