Virus makers continue to invent ever more cunning ways to sneak into your computer. This is evidenced by the latest assault on your computer's security, the Nimda worm. One of the worst yet, Nimda has spread faster and has done more damage than the infamous Code Red worm that preceded it. Like Code Red, Nimda is technically not a virus, but a worm. It has the potential to infect PCs running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, or 2000 and servers running Windows NT and 2000. It spreads aggressively and has four distinct propagation mechanisms, described in detail here. Like many other worms, Nimda targets known security holes in Internet Explorer, spreading via email and the Web as well as through open file shares. It exploits the user's Outlook and Outlook Express address books to spread and, like other recent worms, is executed automatically when an infected message is merely viewed — without even opening the attachment! These developments mean that Internet users must be more vigilant than ever. Protect your computer by installing the anti-virus and/or firewall software provided by the vendors below. Check the links below for more information about viruses, and don't miss our tips on configuring your computer to keep hackers, worms and viruses out.

8Wire: Nimda Worm a Cocktail of Trouble
Incidents.org: Nimda Propagation Mechanisms
Counterpane: Nimda Will Resurrect Itself Every 10 Days
ZDNet: How Code Red Revealed the Perils of Port 80
CERT Advisory: Malicious HTML Tags Embedded in Web Requests

War Vote: Masquerades as Email Poll
Kournikova: Disguised as Sexy Photo
Naked Wife: More Sexy Stuff
Stages Worm: Looks Like Harmless Humourous Text File
LoveBug: Declaration of Love
Mother's Day: Gift Order Confirmation
VBS.Hard: Masquerades as Alert from Symantec
Fake Nimda Fix: Disguised as Message from SecurityFocus & TrendMicro