Users of the Kazaa file-sharing network were today warned about the second virus in as many months to infect users.

The virus, known as the Kowbot worm, is able to take control of the victim's computer as well as update itself automatically and send information out from the host machine. It can also be used as a remote control internet relay chat (IRC) bot and to attack IRC chat servers.

The worm tricks users into downloading it by masquerading as appealing media files such as popular MP3s of films. Once it has infected a user's machine it makes 150 copies of itself in the Kazaa shared files directory in a bid to lure other victims.

vnunet