Freaking Disinformation....

[iGary]

OK, they call it a virus, and then a worm in the first three paragraphs.

Apple users may find worm

Virus spread through instant messaging is the first to attack the Mac OS X platform.

February 17, 2006: 5:51 AM EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A malicious computer worm has been found that targets Apple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS X operating system, believed to be the first such virus aimed specifically at the Mac platform.

The worm is called OSX/Leap-A, according to a posting on the Web site of antivirus software company Sophos, which said the worm is spread via instant messaging programs.

The worm attempts to spread via Apple's (Research) iChat instant messaging program, which is compatible with America Online's popular AIM instant messaging program, according to the Sophos Web site.


Link.

 

[rdowns]

I got this press release in my email this morning.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - A malicious computer worm has been found that targets Apple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS X operating system, believed to be the first such virus aimed specifically at the Mac platform.

The worm is called OSX/Leap-A, according to a posting on the Web site of antivirus software company Sophos, which said the worm is spread via instant messaging programs.

The worm attempts to spread via Apple's iChat instant messaging program, which is compatible with America Online's popular AIM instant messaging program, according to the Sophos Web site.

The worm sends itself to available contacts on the infected users' buddy list in a file called "latestpics.tgz," according to the Sophos Web site.

The vast majority of malicious hacks are aimed at Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system and some of its products, largely because Microsoft has more than 90 percent of the market for computer operating systems.

"This first Macintosh OS X threat is an example of the continuing spread of malicious code on to other platforms," said Vincent Weafer, senior director at Symantec Security Response, in a statement.

The worm will not automatically infect Mac computers, but will ask users to accept the file, Weafer said.

Symantec ranked the new worm as a Level 1 threat (with 5 being the most severe).

An Apple spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.


Emphasis mine.

 

[jacobj]

It doesn't really matter on a technical basis as most people reading it will not know any real difference.

The issue is the word "virus". The BBC says that it is a virus in their headline but then goes on to clarify that sophos et al say that it is not really a virus, it is actually a worm or a trojan...

the word "virus" is too emotive and the objective press should not use it.