Assante said Vigilinx detected the recent threat about a week ago while monitoring groups such as the Hacker's Union of China. Vigilinx keeps an eye on Chinese- language newsgroups and chat rooms as well as known hacker organizations. There have been no reports of problems at Web sites operated in central Ohio. We have a good feeling what this campaign will look like over the next seven days.'' It will include more hacking of large U.S. corporate sites, Assante said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning about the threat last week.
Worms are programs passed among computer networks, reproducing themselves as they move.
The hacker threats come at a time when U.S.-China relations are strained. In addition to the April accident, China is at odds with the United States over Taiwan. Also, Monday will mark the two-year anniversary of NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.