Online Valentine cards may contain worm

Feb 13, news.com.au

VALENTINE'S Day e-greetings from a stranger could deliver more than the recipient bargained for in the shape of a destructive "Trojan horse" that hijacks computers, the FBI warned today.

"If you unexpectedly receive a Valentine's Day e-card, be careful," the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement, warning internet users to "be on the lookout for spam emails spreading the Storm Worm malicious software (malware)".

"The Storm Worm virus has capitalised on various holidays in the last year by sending millions of emails advertising an e-card link within the text of the spam email. Valentine's Day has been identified as the next target," the FBI said.

The bogus email directs the recipient to click on a link to retrieve an electronic Valentine's Day card.

If the user falls for the ruse, malware will infect their computer or the device they used to connect to the internet and make it become part of a Storm Worm botnet, according to the FBI.

Read more this news quote

photo: I love ewww ... Storm Worm malware causes far more damage than these beach worms / Gary Graham