Virus Warning: Aphex gets the message

NEWS Anti-virus specialists are warning UK companies of a new worm called Aphex which is spreading via messaging systems. The Aphex worm arrives as an email attachment with an obscure file name: "Psecure20x-cgi-install.version.6.01.bin.hx.com". When the file attachment is executed, the worm copies itself to the Windows folder "Explorer.exe" and changes the Windows registry so that the code activates every time the computer is switched on. Aphex can also connect itself to internet relay chat (IRC) channels and the AOL Instant Messenger (IM) chat tool. It posts a link to the messages which then leads back to the infected machine. Finnish anti-virus specialist F-secure said the virus is not prolific, but advised users to update their anti-virus software.