First virus for 64-bit Windows trapped

Virus and worm writers have made a fairly potent statement by releasing the first proof of concept bit of malware for 64-bit Windows executables. W64.Rugrat.3344, detected by Symantec, was the first known threat to attack such executables successfully, according to Vincent Weafer, senior director of Symantec Security Response. "The threat does not infect 32-bit executables and will not run on 32-bit Windows platforms. It only targets Win64-bit systems," Weafer said. Weafer said W64.Rugrat.3344 was a direct-action infector - a threat that exited memory after execution. It was written in IA64 assembly code and that mean it was done by someone proficient.

He said it would infects files in the same folder as the virus as well as all files within subfolders.

"Currently, there isn't a broad penetration of 64-bit systems. Most home and business systems deployed today are running on 32-bit platforms and are not affected by this threat," he said.

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