A new virus, dubbed Virkel.F, is posing to be a new version of MSN Messenger. When users click on the download tab and runs the .exe file, the user’s existing MSN Messenger will send download links to the contact list.


A new virus, dubbed Virkel.F, is posing to be a new version of MSN Messenger.

Users receive an email stating that “Messenger 8 Beta has been leaked!” and asks the user to download the new version. The email also lists new features of Messenger 8.

When the user clicks on the download tab and runs the BETA8WEBINSTALL.EXE file from the site, the user’s existing MSN Messenger will send download links to all the names in the user’s contact list. It will also connect the user’s computer to a botnet server.

The download link contains the recipient’s email address. “For example, if you’d have a friend with email address huuhaa@foobar.com, he would get a download link like msgrbeta8.com/im.php?msn=huuhaa@foobar.com.” [Source]

To view screenshots of the email and the download window, click here.

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