New 'Homepage' virus opens porn Web sites

By Richard Stenger
CNN

(CNN) -- Unlike some predecessors, a virulent new computer virus doesn't use sexual intrigue to entice people to open infected e-mail. Instead, this worm, once unleashed, attempts to open numerous X-rated Web pages.

Known as "Homepage," the application has been rated a serious threat by Internet security professionals and caused major infections in Europe, Australia and Asia on Wednesday.

"This is an extremely dangerous worm, similar to the ("Anna Kournikova" virus), but spreading even faster," warned anti-virus company F-Secure Inc. in an alert Wednesday morning.

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The virus, first detected late Tuesday, will probably infiltrate more computers worldwide than the Kournikova outbreak, which struck about 500,000 PCs in February, said F-Secure's Mikko Hypponen.

But advance warning should prevent the new infection from gaining a foothold in North America, according to the Finish anti-virus expert.

"We don't expect things to be as bad in the United States as it was in Australia, New Zealand and Europe because the anti-virus programs have been updated and because of the press coverage," Hypponen said.

Spreads through Microsoft Outlook

The new executable, created with a Visual Script worm generator, propagates only through Microsoft Outlook. It sends itself -- as an e-mail attachment -- to all addresses listed in an infected user's address book. Then it tries to open at random a number of pornographic Web sites using Internet Explorer, according to Trend Micro Inc.

Other security companies issued similar alerts.

"While this particular worm has a minimally destructive payload, it does have the capability to crash e-mail servers and so immediately disrupt business because of its fast-spreading nature," said Hank Dugan, CEO of Norman Data Defense Systems.

The e-mail arrives with the subject line "Homepage" and the attachment "HOMEPAGE.HTML.VBS." The message of the e-mail reads: "Hi! You've got to see this page! It's really cool ;O)"

After it sends out infected e-mails, the worm deletes them to prevent detection, Trend Micro said.

Anti-virus companies, some of which posted Homepage disinfectants Wednesday, caution Internet users to avoid opening suspicious e-mails attachments.

Virus infects Microsoft support server
April 27, 2001
Security firm aims to wipe out computer viruses
April 25, 2001
'Naked Wife' virus wreaks havoc on Internet
March 6, 2001
Security experts: Virus proves systems still vulnerable
February 19, 2001
Kournikova virus slams U.S., Europe, misses Asia
February 13, 2001

Norman Data Defense Systems
Network Associates
McAfee.com
F-Secure
Symantec

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