Home Malware Programs Backdoors IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a

IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a

Posted: February 7, 2011

A virtual plague on social networking, IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a is a malicious worm that spreads itself through Instant Messaging software. IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a may steal information, degrade your system performance, and hijack your browser. Although this worm isn't as obviously damaging an infection as some, it's no less dangerous than more flamboyant malware and should be deleted quickly. One should also take care to make sure the worm doesn't spread to other online contacts!

Avoid Catching the IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a Disease

IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a is specific to the Windows operating system. IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a is also known by Backdoor.Win3.IRCBot and Zeroll. IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a has a preference for popular IM software such as ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messenger, and MSN Messenger. Once it infects a computer, IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a will send a copy of its executable file to all the contacts the user has on these Instant Messaging programs. The worm can infect operating systems as old as Windows 95 and ones as new as Windows 7. IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a may also spread through email in a similar fashion. Recently, IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a has been noted to use Facebook redirection techniques, as well!

Initial infection by IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a can be avoided just by not trusting links, even those sent by friends, without full communication. Despite the worm's use of social mediums to reproduce, it lacks the discretion of many other types of malware, and because of this it's a snap for canny users to avoid.

Has IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a Worm Wriggled Onto Your System?

The IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a worm is able to hijack your computer, wresting control of it away from you to redirect you towards hostile websites. System instability is another warning sign, as IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a will slow down your computer more and more, the longer it's allowed to survive. Strange files may start appearing on your hard drive without clear reasons, alterations to your registry may be made, and applications may start acting oddly.

All this pales in comparison to the potentially worst threat IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a offers. IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a has the potential to leak your personal and financial information to criminals. This security risk aspect is the most potentially dangerous part of IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a, and the major reason why you shouldn't underestimate it.

De-Worming Your System

Deleting IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a doesn't require any unusual procedures. Standard techniques, such as using recently updated anti-malware software, will usually cleanse the infection. However, users should remain vigilant against the possibility of additional infections! All scanning and removal attempts should be done in Safe Mode, or IM-Worm.Win32.XorBot.a may render the process incomplete.

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