Storm Worm hits computers around the world

HELSINKI, Jan 19 (Reuters) Computer virus writers started to use raging European storms today to attack thousands of computers in an unusual real-time assault, head of research at Finnish data security firm F-Secure told Reuters.

The virus, which the company named ''Storm Worm'' is sent to hundreds of thousands of email addresses globally, with the e-mail's subject line saying ''230 dead as storm batters Europe.'' The attached file contains the so-called malware that can infiltrate computer systems.

''What makes this exceptional is the timely nature of the attack,'' Mikko Hypponen, head of research at F-Secure said.

Hypponen said thousands of computers around the world, most in private use, had been affected.

He said most users would not notice the malware, or trojan, which creates a back door to the computer that can be exploited later to steal data or to use the computer to post spam.

Reuters PB RN1751