Sobig
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The Sobig Worm was a computer worm that infected millions of Internet-connected, Microsoft Windows computers in August 2003.[1]
Although there were indications that tests of the worm were carried out as early as August 2002, Sobig.A was first found in the wild in January 2003. Sobig.B was released on May 18, 2003. It was first called Palyh, but was later renamed to Sobig.B after
The worm was most widespread in its "Sobig.F" variant.
As of 2018[update], Sobig is the second fastest computer worm to have ever entered the wild, being surpassed only by Mydoom.
Sobig was not only a
- Re: Approved
- Re: Details
- Re: Re: My details
- Re: Thank you!
- Re: That movie
- Re: Wicked screensaver
- Re: Your application
- Thank you!
- Your details
It would contain the text: "See the attached file for details" or "Please see the attached file for details", as well as an attachment as one of the following names:
- application.pif
- details.pif
- document_9446.pif
- document_all.pif
- movie0045.pif
- thank_you.pif
- your_details.pif
- your_document.pif
- wicked_scr.scr
Technical details
The Sobig viruses infected a host computer by way of the above-mentioned attachment. When this is started they will replicate by using their own
- .dbx
- .eml
- .hlp
- .htm
- .html
- .mht
- .wab
- .txt
The Sobig.F variant was programmed to contact 20 IP addresses on UDP port 8998 on August 26, 2003 to install some program or update itself. It is unclear what this program was, but earlier versions of the virus had installed the WinGate proxy server software—a legitimate product—in a configuration allowing it to be used as a backdoor for spammers to distribute unsolicited e-mail.
The Sobig worm was written using the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, and subsequently compressed using a data compression program called tElock.
The Sobig.F worm deactivated itself on September 10, 2003. On November 5 the same year, Microsoft announced that they will pay $250,000 for information leading to the arrest of the creator of the Sobig worm. Ruslan Ibragimov is attributed to be the original creator of the worm, however this is not confirmed. [1]
References
- ^ "CNN.com - SoBig.F breaks virus speed records - Aug. 22, 2003". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
See also
- Timeline of notable computer viruses and worms