Experts Play Down Nolor Worm Threat

A new ‘garden variety’ worm is spreading on the Internet, but infection levels are remaining low – partly because users are getting smarter about attachments. Antivirus companies have played down the threat from the Nolor (aka Cailont) mass-mailing email worm — a “garden variety” virus that spreads by sending itself to Windows address book entries through an executable attachment. The worm had received the highest distribution rating from Symantec, despite low levels of infections. The high rating was given to the virus because it has the capacity to spread rapidly, John Donovan, managing director of Symantec in Australia and New Zealand, told ZDNet Australia. “We’re not seeing a great infection rate… the ratings are set (according to) the ability of the virus or worm has to send itself out,” he said. One of the reasons the mass-mailer isn’t spreading rapidly is because users have finally learned not to open executable attachments, Donovan says. Full Story