A newly discovered computer virus threatens to throttle business and creativity on the Internet as it infects Shockwave Flash files commonly used to animate many Web sites.
This is the first virus of its kind to affect the files, which were previously considered safe from infection, anti-virus experts said yesterday.
'Computer users visiting snazzy sites would get more than they bargained for if they downloaded this virus,' said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for anti-virus maker Sophos.
The Shockwave virus targets Webmasters and application developers who use files based on Macromedia's Shockwave Flash software to enliven Web sites with applications such as 3D games and entertainment, interactive product demonstrations, and even online learning programs.
'This is a proof-of-concept virus and not in the wild at this time, which is why it is still categorised as a low risk,' said Abby Tang, North Asia regional engineering manager at Network Associates, maker of McAfee anti-virus products. 'However, this development allows virus writers to not only widen the scope on how computer users can get infected, but also harms the creative ways in which the Internet has been transformed into an entertainment medium, a productivity tool, and as a new platform for doing business.'
She said the virus - which carries similar-sounding aliases such as SWF.LFM.926, SWF/LFM-926 and SWF/LMF-926 - infects only computers that run Windows NT, 2000 and XP operating systems. No infections have been reported since the virus was first tracked by Sophos on Tuesday, and most anti-virus experts classify the infection as a low risk.
According to anti-virus program vendor Panda Software, the Shockwave virus can reach other computers in a local network through the usual means of propagation, which include use of infected floppy disks and CD-ROMs, and opening e-mail messages with infected attachments.