There is a security issue with Yahoo! Messenger. Jeremy Kirk, in an article for PCWorld, states:

“…The vulnerability affects Yahoo Messenger version 8.1.0.413. It is triggered when a user accepts an invitation to use their Web camera. The type of vulnerability is called a heap overflow, where a piece of code can be executed with improper permissions, which can allow for further malicious behavior such as downloading other code, said Greg Day, a security analyst for McAfee in the U.K.”

Link: Yahoo! Messenger Hole Found

The suggestion has been to decline any Web cam invitations - or just limit Web cam use if possible. And check to see if your malware definitions are updated and installed.

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: security, yahoo messenger, web cam, malware