AOL Confirms AIM Trojan

NEW YORK – America Online instant messenger users have been hit recently with a trojan, the company announced, and a select number of AIM screen names have been suspended as a result.

The New York-based media conglomerate would not disclose the number of accounts infected by the malware, but said that its in-house instant messenging spim unit first identified the problem as the Oscarbot trojan and took action by shutting down certain accounts to stop the spread. Users whose accounts were suspended reportedly lost the entire contents of their buddy lists.

The Oscarbot, which first emerged as Doyorg, is programmed to specifically wreak havoc on AOL's AIM product and quickly spreads through buddy lists. According to eWeek, the trojan spreads through a URL embedded in the infected IM that uses the lure "Check out this" or "I thought you'd want to see this" to get the user to click through. Once the user clicks through, they are asked to run an executable file that installs the trojan.

Oscarbot can also contact a remote Internet relay chat server and log on to a specified channel and wait for further instructions from a remote user. Once installed on a computer, the malware creates a copy of itself in the Windows system folder and edits certain registry keys to ensure that it is run as a service when the system starts up.

Since the trojan was first discovered, AOL's AIM unit has been flooded with angry calls and emails from users who have had their accounts suspended and buddy lists wiped clean. AOL has requested that users whose accounts have been suspended contact the company's IM department for further instructions.

In the meantime, Graham Cluley of Sophos is urging companies to consider whether using IM is worth the risk of having corporate networks invaded.

"Fundamentally, many businesses will have to ask their staff if they really need IM for their day-to-day work, and if not, it may be more sensible to take it away," he told ComputerWorld. "We're certainly seeing more instant messaging malware being written, although they haven't yet had the same kind of impact as email-aware worms or Internet worms."

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More