Virus writer targets 11 September anniversary

A virus writer is trying to exploit the interest surrounding the anniversary of the 11 September terror attacks in the US.

Anti-virus firm Sophos is warning users about a worm, called Chet (W32/Chet), which arrives in an email purporting to contain startling new evidence relating to last year's assault on the Twin Towers.

The email claims the FBI and US government were in cahoots with Osama Bin Laden over how to best carry out an attack on New York to cause maximum damage. It even claims to include an attachment showing pictures of a "friendly dialogue" between Bin Laden and the US "secretary of a state security". It then urges recipients to open the .exe attachment to see all this for themselves.

Of course, anybody duped by the sensational claims will not see such pictures when they double click the attachment, called 11September.exe.Instead, the Chet virus - which replicates and spreads via Microsoft Outlook - wil launch.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: "The implausibility of the allegations contained in the worm's email will hopefully mean most people will instantly recognise this as suspicious.

"The Chet worm author is the latest to use psychological tricks to try to dupe users into opening malicious code. However, this in probably the sickest and lamest trick to date."