The authors of Nuwar -- <a href="http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/07/10/Storm_worm_exploits_US_Iran_tensions_1.html">also known as the Storm worm</a> -- are exploiting the escalating political tensions between the U.S. and Iran to encourage users to download the malware, according to McAfee Avert Labs.
The security firm has warned people to be wary of e-mails with the headers "The beginning of World War III" and "USA declares war on Iran." The e-mails promise to link to a video showing the beginning of World War III, but clicking on the link actually triggers an automatic download of the file iran_occupation.exe, McAfee said.
The Storm worm was first detected in January 2007, but has reappeared in various guises several times over the past 18 months.