SAN FRANCISCO: A new computer worm has surfaced that purports to contain revealing photos of Catherine Zeta-Jones and other celebrities but actually installs a backdoor program that could allow someone to take over the computer, anti-virus company Sophos informed. Users of the Kazaa file-sharing service and IRC instant messaging are at risk, although there have been no reports of infections yet, U.K. Sophos Plc. said.
The worm-infected file claims to contain compromising photos of female celebrities including, Zeta-Jones, Britney Spears and Shakira. Once the file is opened, a backdoor "Trojan horse" is downloaded onto the victim's computer.
The use of Zeta-Jones' name comes as she and husband Michael Douglas are waging a legal battle against a U.K. tabloid over unauthorized wedding photos, the company noted. Zeta-Jones was also recently nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress for her sultry role in the film "Chicago".
Sophos recommends that people update their anti-virus software to prevent infection. The technique is not new. Previous computer worms have spread by tricking e-mail users with supposed photos of Russian tennis start Anna Kournikova and ambiguous subject lines.
© Reuters