Skype Worm Bubbles Up

The latest worm wriggling from Skype (for Windows) user to Skype user by way of the network's chat function gives a good opportunity to remind employees not to click on unexpected messages or images on free VoIPware any more than they should anywhere else.The worm distributes itself by way of a seemingly legitimate Windows image in a chat message. Most reports note that the worm uses the Windows wallpaper Soap Bubble image to mask a malicious link -- click the bubble and the worm pops loose.

A message from Skype states that major anti-virus vendors have been notified, with several already having updated their virus defintions to include the Skype scamp.

So far, the worm's overall threat level and damage potential appears to be low. The worm is easily detected and, once the user's anti-virusware is updated, removed.

But it offers a good reminder -- and a good chance to remind employees -- that the money they're saving using Skype doesn't mean they can skimp on security, and that peer-to-peer need not mean infection-to-infection.

According to Skype, anti-virus vendors with Skype worm removal info and tools include:

F-Secure

Kaspersky

Symantec