By Sally Watson, 13 June 2001 15:26
NEWS Hackers are preying on the morbid curiosity of internet users, by hiding a malicious program in a supposed video clip of the execution of the Oklahoma bomber, Timothy McVeigh. The fake video file is infected with a version of the SubSeven backdoor Trojan Horse, which allows a hacker to take over control of a computer remotely. According to anti-virus vendor Sophos, most AV software should already be able to detect the Trojan, which has been regularly updated and used by hackers since its discovery in May 1999. The program was written by a hacker known as Mobman, and allows access to most areas of the computer including files, passwords, address books, ports and drives. McVeigh was executed on Monday following a six-year wait on death row. Video footage of his execution was broadcast to the families of the 168 victims in Oklahoma. The FBI has said there is no indication that the signal was intercepted.
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