Virus writers have created proof of concept viruses targeting the scripting language behind prototype versions of Vista, the next version of Windows. An Austrian virus writer has published five simple viruses targeting Microsoft Command Shell (MSH), the command line interface and scripting language, in a virus writing magazine. None of these pieces of malware have been named as yet [How about phista - Ed?].

As MSH (codenamed 'Monad') is scheduled to ship as the default shell for Windows Vista (which was released in beta form last week), these five items of malware could be classified as the first viruses for Windows Vista. However anti-virus firm F-Secure is careful to note that it's still uncertain whether or not MSH will ship with Vista or not. MSH is a replacement for shells such as cmd.exe and command.com and although currently slated for inclusion in Vista it may end up in products such as the next version of Microsoft Exchange instead.

The possibility of MSH viruses was forecasted last year by anti-virus researcher Eric Chien, of Symantec, in a presentation at the virus bulletin conference. ®

Related stories

New Vista name, old Windows problem for Microsoft
Schwarzenegger virus terminated
MS faces court over Vista
First PocketPC virus found
First 64-bit Windows virus sighted
.NET virus is .NOT Microsoft
Donut virus highlights holes in .Net