Security firm: MyDoom worm fastest yet
The MyDoom virus has become the fastest-spreading virus yet, hitting hardest in the United States and Australia, security firm MessageLabs said Wednesday.
The British firm, which provides security to companies around the globe, had intercepted more than 1.8 million copies of the new mass-mailer worm in 168 countries, a spokesman said.
More than 100,000 copies are being intercepted every hour, he added. One in 12 e-mails handled by MessageLabs was infected with the worm.
Sobig.F, which struck last August and had been regarded as the most devastating virus, had a peak infection ratio of 1 in 17 e-mails.
"MyDoom has surpassed Sobig.F as the fastest spreading mass-mailer ever," said David Banes, MessageLabs' Asia Pacific technical director.
FBI agents are investigating the source of the worm, also known as "W32/Mydoom.A-mm," "Novarg" or "WORM_MIMAIL.R."