Breaking News! New Worm-rbot.cbq Brings Windows 2000 Computers Crashing to a Screeching Halt Across the U.S. (Zotob - not “Zobot” - Also Implicated)   - 2,546 Views, 1 Comment

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A brand new worm being called worm-rbot.cbq, or rbot.ebq, possibly related to Win.32.rbot.ebq, may be what brought Win2k computers across the United States to a screeching halt. Many however believe it is the Zotob worm, also known as Botzor.exe (but not Zobot!), ramping up over the past few days, which is responsible for the mass crashing. According to CNN, it is worm-rbot.ebq, but many others are confirming Zotob sightings. Whatever it is, it’s wreaking havoc.

While some Windows XP systems are being affected, the worm is primarily crashing Windows 2000 computers.

Symptoms include repeated shutting down and rebooting.

According to CNN, its own computers in its New York and Atlanta offices started crashing about about 5:00pm Eastern time. ABC news reports that its computers were hit at about 1:30pm Eastern time.

Said Lysa Myers of security company McAfee, “How it’s spreading is it’s looking for machines that are unpatched and running itself.” Johannes Ullrich of the Sans Institute explained “It scans network neighborhoods and tries to infect them, as well.”

In Peoria, Illinois, there are reports that the worm took down the Caterpiller company, and Aunty has heard back-channel stories of companies with thousands of employees having to shut down as the worm got the better of their computer systems.
The worms are thought to be spreading primarily through infected laptops connecting to unsecure networks.

If it is Zotob, and for that matter even if it’s not, if you haven’t already, you should install the Microsoft patch for Zotob now!

Breaking News! New Worm-rbot.cbq Brings Windows 2000 Computers Crashing to a Screeching Halt Across the U.S. (Zotob - not “Zobot” - Also Implicated)

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Previous Article « Internet Exacerbates Illegal Trade in Rare and Endangered Species
Read Next Article » Microsoft Statement Regarding Zotob Worm that Crashed CNN, ABC, NYT and Congress: “Low Threat for Customers”

Read more:

»  Zotob Botzor.exe Worm Removal Tool Offered by Microsoft

»  Microsoft Statement Regarding Zotob Worm that Crashed CNN, ABC, NYT and Congress: “Low Threat for Customers”

»  Sasser Suspect Sven Speaks (and Confesses)

»  Windows Worm of the Day Zotob Attacks Plug and Play (a/k/a Botzor.exe, but not “Zobot”)

For additional similar stories check out our archives on Virus & AntiVirus, Windows, Worms

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