By Moon Gwang-lip
Staff Reporter


The National Security Cyber Center on Wednesday alerted computer users over a rising number of computer virus attacks during the Christmas holidays and year-end season.

The center alerted the public to the latest email mass mailing worm ``Zafi.D virus,’’ also called ``Merry Christmas.’’

The virus arrives as an attachment to e-mails bearing the subject line ``Merry Christmas’’ and delivers a worm code that infects Microsoft Windows systems to those who open it, it said.

In Russia, the Zafi.D worm, launched in April, was reported to have already infected around 10% of emails as of Dec. 17.

The center also mentioned ``phishing,’’ saying it would be rampant in the coming two weeks when people will buy Christmas, year-end or New-Year gifts on the Internet.

Phishing means using ``spoofed’’ e-mails and fraudulent websites to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords and social security numbers.

In some cases, phishers use e-mails disguised as Electronic Christmas cards, which steal users’ personal data if they click the attachment file.

``Get rid of dubious e-mails as soon as you spot them,’’ said an official of the center.

``If e-mails from well-known online shopping malls or credit card companies advertise events providing you with large gifts or premium coupons, you should check the genuineness of the events in the companies’ Internet Homepage,’’ he added.

joseph@koreatimes.co.kr