[vipin]

Another Information Link:-

http://www.playfuls.com/news_0446_On..._On_Virus.html

Yes, since Christmas is just about one week away, a worm called Dasher has just been unleashed onto the Internet. It targets primarily Windows 2000, and two different versions have already been spotted.
* According to the IDG news service, Dasher is based on an exploit for a recently patched bug in Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator, a component of the operating system that is commonly used by database software to help manage transactions. The company from Redmond has rated this vulnerability as "critical"* for Windows 2000 systems.
* "The Dasher worm wouldn't be able to spread at all if the security vulnerability in Microsoft's software didn't exist. It's important that all companies have a mechanism for rolling out security patches, as well as for automatically updating their anti-virus software," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos., in a statement "Microsoft will be fuming that a virus writer is successfully exploiting another vulnerability in their operating system."
* But things are actually worse. We're not talking about one malicious “reindeer”, but about two of them, since two different variants of Dasher are now in circulation, according to Finnish security company F-Secure. Both versions install software that then tries to infect other vulnerable systems, and that also can be used to log keystrokes and turn the computer into a remotely controlled "bot" system.
* So, once again, it seems that our own beloved OS can be the victim of worms, courtesy of the company from Redmond. Thanks again, Microsoft.