Worm with rootkit hits AOL chat service
Links leading to a worm that eventually implants a nasty rootkit on a user’s computer are popping up on America Online Inc.’s Instant Messenger network, security researchers said. The URL is passed through instant messages on a person’s Buddy List and in AOL chat rooms. Clicking on the link starts a known worm which then transmits the lockx.exe rootkit, according to an advisory posted Friday by FaceTime Communications Inc., which is based in Foster City, Calif. The code allows an attacker to monitor the computer and upload or download files.