Linux OS facing Trojan attack

Security experts are warning companies of a Linux virus variant.

The virus has similarities to a virus bearing the Remote Shell Trojan (RST), discovered in October last year, according to security newsgroup SecurityFocus. It is designed only to attack systems running Linux OS.

Once the virus, titled RST.b which spreads via email, has gained a foothold in the system, it installs a back door Trojan which tries to achieve root access privileges and gain access to all information on the network.

The main difference to the October version is that the variant virus tries to communicate with the attacked machine from a different IP address and it has different operating protocols to the original version of the RST.

Companies worried about the virus should update their anti-virus software.