Internet e-mail worm targets Tony Blair
A new Internet worm has surfaced that criticizes British Prime Minister Tony Blair and launches an attack attempting to knock a UK government Web site off the Internet, according to anti-virus software provider Sophos.
The worm, dubbed "Quaters," spreads via e-mail using a variety of subject lines, such as "Your Account Information," and spreads in Internet chat relay systems posing as an attempt to break an Internet chain mail world record.
It overwrites files on a user's computer and displays a message that accuses Blair of wasting taxpayer money on immigrants instead of spending it on the national health service and schools.
"Think about it Mr. Blair. Your career depends on it, we've had enough," the message says in part.
Quaters also tries to launch a denial-of-service attack on the Web site of the prime minister's office, http:/www.number-10.gov.uk, Sophos said on Thursday.
There have been few reports of the worm circulating on the Internet, British-based Sophos said.
