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Meet the Peeping Tom worm
By John Leyden
Published Monday 23rd August 2004 14:56 GMT
A worm capable of using webcams to spy on users is circulating across the Net.

Rbot-GR, the latest variant in the prolific worm series, spreads via network shares, exploiting a number of Microsoft security vulnerabilities to drop a backdoor Trojan horse program on vulnerable machines as it spreads. Once a backdoor program is installed on a victim's PC it's always game over - an attacker can do whatever takes their fancy. But Rbot-GR comes pre-loaded with functionality specifically designed to control webcam and microphones. Other variants of the worm do not come with this "Peeping Tom" routine, according to AV firm Sophos.

"If your computer is infected and you have a webcam plugged in, then everything you do in front of the computer can be seen, and everything you say can be recorded," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "It would be like having a regular Web cam conversation except you wouldn't know you're taking part in it."

Aside from its voyeuristic behaviour, the Trojan component of the worm attempts to steal registration information for games and PayPal passwords from infected machines. It's a thoroughly nasty piece of code; so it comes as some relief that Rbot-GR isn't particularly widespread. Sophos has received only a handful of reports about the worm. Most vendors rate it as a medium-risk threat. As usual, Rbot-GR is a Windows-only menace. ®

lol, thats crazy, i need to do things more often on camera, might make them stop

oh man, thats creepy, I have my webcam pointed right at me, that means they could be looking at me typing right at this very moment.......

Even if ur not using ur webcam like i mean ur not using it in msn and messenger and stuff!! thats crazy.... im going to run antivirus just in case

i never trust the internet and viruses so unless im using it, my webcam is always pointed at the wall away from from face....they virus mite like walls or it cud be an easy way to wipe it out...

(must stop smoking that sh*t)

lol im so paranoid i always have my webcam facing up unless i need to use it

eek where do you get a patch? (if made) and oh god, do you think this could have anything to do with this program on my puter when i click it and it starts recording or takes pictures, and it saves it in my documents called "spying" ? ahhh

LoL i have the cover over the front of my webcam unless im using it just in case haha, would it show the connected status light?

i just unplugged

It should do and it doesn't really bother me what harm is it causing me? I ain't bothered about some person watching me thats possibly why i have a webcam feed on my website ( www.niles-lair.tk )
and stuff. Who cares other than strip-tease girls and boys.

Anyway they'd probably just see boring old me fiddling with a blob of blue tack if they did watch me