Virus alert: Bagle_B
A second strain of the Bagle worm that appeared last month has been detected on home computers.
The original Bagle worm worried some experts because it was programmed to stop working after a specific date. Some experts believed this indicated that Bagle_A was released only to test how quickly it would spread and that another incarnation witha more deadly payload would soon appear.
It is too early to tell whether the swift appearance of a second strain has confirmed those fears, as studies have yet to reveal the worm's purpose. It should be assumed that it will seek to compromise home computers.
The worm arrives by email as an attachment with the suffix '.exe'. The subject header of the email is: "ID ****** thanks", with the stars replaced by random letters.
