FYI - Soffie
> New "Trojan Horse" Seeks to Infiltrate Computer Systems 
> Now that the Melissa virus and Explore.Zip worm have been plucked from
> most systems, computer security companies are updating their
> virus-detection software to defend against a new, corrupting "Trojan
> Horse" application unleashed July 10 at a hacker convention in Las Vegas. 
> The hacking tool, called "BO2K," or Back Orifice 2000, was created by the
> hacker group named Cult of the Dead Cow and is targeted at NT
> Windows-based computer systems. 
> This new "backdoor" or "Trojan Horse" software program is designed to be
> invisible to its victims. Unlike a virus, BO2K is not self-replicating and
> must trick users into installing the program. BO2K can be introduced when
> users click on an attachment to an e-mail or download software from the
> Internet. 
> Once installed BO2K can easily be used to perform unauthorized actions
> without the knowledge of the user. For example, it can delete files,
> reconfigure machines, steal passwords, and redirect network traffic. Its
> primary purpose is to gain unauthorized control over another machine for
> reconfiguration and data collection. 
> "Back Orifice 2000 represents a significant threat," says Dan Schrader,
> Director of Trend Micro's E-Security Division. "It is a tool specifically
> designed for cyber-espionage." 
> Back Orifice 2000 is now widely available on the Web and its authors have
> even made the source code open to the public, which increases the
> likelihood that variants of the code will soon follow. 
> Computer security experts urge users to take the following precautions: 
> ... Do not open files attached to e-mails unless you know the person who
> sent it to you - and why they sent it. 
> ... Do not accept files from Internet Chat Systems as they inherently
> introduce vulnerabilities. 
> ... Regularly back up your data. 
> ... Do not download software from non-trusted sources. 
> © National Security Institute, Inc. 
> 

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