The latest variant is dangerous because it's encrypted to hide from antivirus programs and uses a hard-to-squash peer-to-peer network.

Unlike the original Storm malware, which was hidden in an executable file, this one is hidden in the encrypted zip file. Ullrich explained in an interview that means it's much more difficult for antivirus software to detect the malicious code. If they can't detect it, they can't stop it.

If a user opens the file, his machine is infected with the malware and it then connects to a peer-to-peer network where it can upload data, including personal information from the infected computer, according to researchers at Postini, who noted that the new Storm variant drove Thursday's virus level to 60 times the average. It also can download additional malware onto the infected system.

Sorgalim,

Thank you so much for this clip. I saw it, looked it up under SmartComputing.com and realized that could have been my computer problem. Ran a virus scan. Found 11 infected files. My daughter found it had changed a setting. Now everything (CD burner) works like it's suppose to. It's been a rough 2-3 weeks. Spent $105 to replace burner. Now it looks like nothing was wrong with it.

Sure wish these people could find something constructive to do besides ruin innocent people's computers.

Thanks for joining my followers. That's what made me find your clip. Came at just the right time.

btw, we think she picked up the virus on MySpace. She opened a message from someone she didn't know.

Now, back to reading and clipping.