London, UK - 28 January 2004, 17:00 GMT - The MyDoom.b variant of the MyDoom.a (Novarg.a) malware, which has been spreading swiftly across the internet over the last 48 hours, has just emerged. The variant "b" has a larger payload and targets Microsoft's web site for a distributed denial of service attack along with the SCO Group. There are some minor changes to the text padding as well. It is possible that MyDoom.b is being disseminated via the infected computers turned into zombies by MyDoom.a as well as the file sharing system: Kazaa (as before). This could turn the whole MyDoom episode into a much more adverse series of unfortunate events.

"This is an extremely unwelcome development. MyDoom.b may have just multiplied the full impact of MyDoom.a a few fold," said DK Matai, Executive Chairman, mi2g. "We know that many large and small organisations as well as homes are struggling to cope with the deluge of emails originating from the A variant infections never mind the arrival of B, which shows signs of being just as vicious."

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Full details of the December 2003 report are available as of 1st January 2004 and can be ordered from here. (To view contents sample please click here).