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New AIM Virus Spreads

There is a new virus on the net and it is spreading fast. The virus mainly affects America Online instant messenger users and is dangerous to computers everywhere. These days, Internet users need to always be aware of everything they read, see and do online in order to protect their computers and themselves.

America Online instant messenger users are being warned about a new worm spreading through the network. The Windows worm installs spyware programs and turns over control of the machine to the creator of the virus. The warning about the instant messaging worm came from FaceTime Security Labs which said that the program is a nastier version of an older Windows virus.

Figures gathered by instant messaging security firm IMLogic suggest the numbers of viruses written to attack such networks are growing fast. Because instant messages have no subject line and tend to resemble conversations, people are regularly caught out by malicious messages that hide their origins. Sean Doherty, a spokesman for IMLogic, says, `Users are much more likely to click on web links in an instant message than in an e-mail.`