Tech Alert Briefing for 1/15/2002

Trojan.StartPage Alters Web Browsers

A new trojan horse, named Trojan.StartPage, is working its way through the Internet.Discovered earlier today, several anti-virus companies have yet to provide an update to their signature files.Symantec reports that they expect their signature files for detecting the trojan to be updated by tomorrow, January 16, 2002.

Symantec reports damage from the trojan is currently low and its removal easy.They also indicate thatthe reported incidence of distribution is relatively low.BankersOnline is reporting this virus however,because one of our own staff was inadvertently infected earlier today.

According to Symantec, the Trojan.StartPage may present itself as a valid program, however when it is run, it changes the registry to set your Internet Explorer or Netscape home page to a Web site that was chosen by the creator of the Trojan.

For more information and for removal instructions visit the Security Responsefrom Symantec.


Previous Tech Alerts:
01/12/02 New Internet Worm Gigger Masquerades as Microsoft Outlook Upgrade
01/08/02 Microsoft Universal Plug and Play Vulnerability
12/20/01 Holiday Themed Computer Virus Unleashed