Conficker worm changes tactics again

The Conficker/Downadup worm continues to evolve, with the release of a new variant of the worm.

The newly detected E variant attempts to update the current C variant, with a number of new features that appear in part to be intended to steal data and to con users.

The latest version installs a fake anti-spyware tool called Spyware Guard 2008 or Spyware Protect 2009 which informs users that their PC has been infected with spyware, and tries to get them to pay $50 for removal.

Researchers have noted that the level of infection has dropped off considerably, with only one or two million PCs still infected, down from a peak of around nine million.

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