A Russian security company found a virus on Friday capable of infecting open-source Linux or Microsoft Windows systems. The virus has many solution providers preparing to manage this new outbreak, and more specifically others for which it opens the door.
The virus is called “Linux.Bi.a” and “Win32.Bi.a” and does no damage to systems; it is merely a proof-of-concept that outlines a cross-platform virus. According to solution providers and the security company, once codes like this are released, those that write viruses typically take the code and make it into new strains.
The SANS Institute’s Internet Storm Center agreed with the idea that this code will open new doors. Researchers claim that the emergence of this virus code is an indication that cross-platform ideas are becoming important, and that virus developers will soon start to create more cross-platform malware. Those creating malicious websites have already started to target those that use specific browsers and platforms, and these new codes are just a logical next step.
According to research, the Linux.Bi.a/Win32.Bi.a virus is capable of infecting either Linux ELF binaries or files in Windows with the “.exe” file extension.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
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