New mass-mailing worm is spreading
The latest email worm to exploit a flaw in Internet Explorer is called 'Swen'.
The worm, also nicknamed 'Gibe', is spreading via email, Internet relay chat, shared networks, and the p2p network Kazaa.
The email claims to be from Microsoft, and offers to patch holes in Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Outlook Express.
It then mails itself to other addresses stored on the infected computer.
The worm also attempts to deactivate anti-virus and personal firewall programs running on a victim's computer.
Security firm Symantec classes containment of the threat as "easy', but removal of the worm as 'difficult'.
