New MyDoom Variants Could Forewarn Major Attack

New MyDoom Variants Could Forewarn Major Attack:
"The arrival of four new variants of the MyDoom worm within the last 24 hours has anti-virus experts worried that the virus creator may be preparing to release a major onslaught."

On Thursday afternoon, MyDoom.U, V, W and X all appeared within a couple of hours of one another. None of the variants is particularly worrisome or innovative on its own, but taken as a whole, the release of four versions so close together is of some concern, experts said. The last time so many variants of one virus were released in such a short period of time was in July when four minor versions of the Bagle virus emerged, followed by a major new strain. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1624970,00.asp

Anti-virus researchers say the MyDoom author could be following a similar pattern.

"The last time this happened was with Bagle, and the next one was a big one," said Sam Curry, vice president of the eTrust Security division at Computer Associates International Inc., in Islandia, N.Y. "Plus, we're getting close to the end of the alphabet and a lot of times the Z and AA variants have some extra impact."

Curry also noted that with the third anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks coming up Saturday, virus writers may be looking to make a splash.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1644713,00.asp