WARNING!! New Virus

[Magic Merlin]

I wanted to warn everyone of a new virus affecting email attachments. It was discovered yesterday and mostly affected companies in Israel and the US.

Because of the talk on here recently about email attachments, I wanted to let everyone know to be on the lookout for this new email virus, that connects to your attachments.

The new virus is activated when a recipient clicks on an e-mail attachment, wiping out all data on a user's hard drive, except for the files in current use. You machine can be completely trashed by this virus.

This is a complex polymorphic virus, which changes each time it replicates. It emails itself to all addresses listed in the recipient's Microsoft Outlook address book, randomly selecting a file from the user's hard drive as its new subject line and attachment name. Unlike the "I Love You" virus, this new virus's identity is not exposed in the email subject line. Instead, the actual code of the attachment changes each time. The only common thing at this time is that the subject line starts with 'FW:" but otherwise will have a different random phrase each time it is sent. The subtle change is its attempt to avoid detection by anti-virus software.

This one is very malicious! It can destroy all data on your computer..

What to do? DO NOT OPEN any email attachments, particuarily if you have Microsft Outlook.

Watch the news, update your virus software daily, maybe more often, and check with the major antivirus software companies websites to keep yourself informed of any new information: Symantec (Norton), McAfee, etc..

MM



[This message has been edited by magic merlin (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

[MunchinMark]

Thankyou for sharing. (MM, not whoever released the virus)
Anyone know if this will affect story submissions? They get sent in as attachments.
Mind you, I shouldn't think anyone would send in one as a forward. But it is certainly worth a moment's thought.

 

[Magic Merlin]

MunchinMark,

This virus is similar to the 'I Love You' virus, but not as widespread. However, the file extension is the same ".vbs". If you receive an attachment with this file extension delete it immediately. Also after deleting it, empty your trash bin.

You still may not be safe however. Most of the major anitvirus software companies
now have an update to their antivirus software to detect this virus. Download the
update as soon as possible, follow the directions for activating the new update
(usually to restart your computer) and rescan you entire hard drive(s). The virus may
be lurking somewhere on your hard drive....

We deleted the 'I Love You" virus and then emptied the mail trash, but our virus
software still found it buried in two other places on our hard drive.

This virus is mostly affecting only Microsoft Windows Outlook email program, however
if you another email program you can still receive the virus, you just won't
unknowingly email to people in your address book.

Remember, the file extension is - .vbs - if you see this file extension as an
attachment delete the email and attachment immediately. While this virus is not as
prevalent as the 'I Love You', this one is much more diabolical...Its goal is to wipe out your entire hard drive...

As to whether this will affect your story submission, I would not think so as the antivirus software is looking for this particular file extension. Anything else about this site's particulars on this matter, I don't know.

MM