New 'Star Wars' IM worm

Just another reminder to instant-messagers not to click on links in IM messages, even if they look like friends sent them. The new worm targets AIM users and comes in a message that goes something like, "hehe, i found this funny movie," with the word "this" a link, CNET reports. If an IM-er clicks on the link, they download the worm, which then sends itself to everyone on his/her buddy list (that's why the IM looks like it's coming from a friend). The best way to check is, before clicking on anything, to open a separate "conversation" with that buddy and ask if s/he sent the IM. If s/he either says no or is offline, the IM is bad news - log off and start over. For more on this, see "IM tips from a tech-savvy dad"). Also this week, a Star Wars phishing attack on Yahoo Messenger users. The link in the Yahoo IM goes to a site that is designed to look like a real Yahoo Web site but is actually a phishing scam to steal people's Yahoo user name and password, CNET says. These are just the latest in a growing number of IM-borne scams and attacks, CNET adds.