July 7 London terrorist attacks has been the focus for the past 1 week, therefore virus writers and scammers are taking advantage of this incident to launch a few viruses and scams in the cyberspace.

A Windows virus arrives in an e-mail message with “TERROR HITS LONDON” in the subject line has been created that claims to link to amateur video footage of the aftermath of one of the bombs on the London Underground, the BBC reported Monday, July 11, 2005. The message tells those receiving it to click on the attached file named “London terror moovie.avi” to see amateur video footage shot in the London Underground immediately after one of the bombs went off. The actual file name is hidden after a long series of blank spaces of the attached file.

Anyone clicking on the file will not be shown a video; instead their PC will be infected by the virus. As soon as the infected PC is restarted, it reports in to the virus creator and becomes part of a spam-sending so-called zombie network. The virus, which can affect Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP and Windows Server Latest News about Windows Server 2003.

Besides, Australians are being warned not to fall for a scam being perpetrated by crooks taking advantage of the London terrorist attacks after the Australian Red Cross has been contacted by a number of people who received emails seeking donations on behalf of the British Red Cross.

Quoted:
“It is shocking that anyone would seek to profit from the terrorist attacks which caused so much pain and suffering,” Australian Red Cross chief executive Robert Tickner said.

The warning comes as six of the nine Australians hurt in the blast remain in hospital.