W32.HLLW.Epon@mm

W32.HLLW.Epon@mm is a worm that attempts to spread through file-sharing networks and mIRC. It also uses Microsoft Outlook to send itself to all the contacts in the Outlook address book.

The email has the following characteristics:

Subject: Britney Spears poses nude in the Playboy!
Attachment: Britney Spears.jpg<many spaces>.exe

The worm is written in Microsoft Visual C++ and is packed with UPX.

Protection

• Initial Rapid Release version December 3, 2003
• Latest Rapid Release version July 19, 2008 revision 019
• Initial Daily Certified version December 3, 2003
• Latest Daily Certified version January 20, 2009 revision 048
• Initial Weekly Certified release date December 3, 2003

Click here for a more detailed description of Rapid Release and Daily Certified virus definitions.

Threat Assessment

Wild

• Wild Level: Low
• Number of Infections: 0 - 49
• Number of Sites: 0 - 2
• Geographical Distribution: Low
• Threat Containment: Easy
• Removal: Moderate

Damage

• Damage Level: Medium

Distribution

• Distribution Level: High