Adobe Next Virus Front? -- Redmondmag.com

Adobe Next Virus Front?

By Scott Bekker
08/13/2001

The Peachy virus, unveiled last week, may signal a new frontier for virus writers -- the previously untapped Adobe Acrobat file format.

Several anti-virus companies upgraded their engines last week to scan for the proof-of-concept Peachy virus, a Visual Basic Script.

Aladdin and other security companies rated the virus threat level as low. The virus cannot harm computers that have only the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed, greatly minimizing the potential damage. The virus only affects computers with the full version of Adobe Acrobat, the software for creating Acrobat files.

The vandal exploits an Acrobat feature allowing users to embed other files in PDF-attachments that can only be opened by other users will the full version of Acrobat.

If the script, which can be named Peach.vbs, Peach.wsf or Peach.vbe, infects a system, it will email 100 users in the Outlook address book. The attachment opens as a game instructing users to find the peach among dozens of small photographs.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

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