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Window Wide Open
To Viruses
Posted
23th Oct 2001
Over the last month there has been a surge
in virus problems for PCs
running Windows. Two viruses in particular are being sent around
by email.
Anti-virus software is no longer an option, its a requirement
for people
running windows and doing email who don't want to be part of a
disease
rather than part of its cure. Anti-virus software most commonly
used and
available from even small computer retailers is McAfee and Nortons,
PlaNet
recommends the former.
The viruses of late are called Sircam, and magistr, but you will
not see
them as that because they're hidden in attachments. Magistr grabs
a random
piece of text from a random document on your computer, uses part
of it as
the subject line and sends an email of all that off to everyone
in your
address book. If you are sent it, you will see an odd fragment
of text in
the email and usually two attachments - one a doc, and one which
is
actually a programme.
Sircam sends an email that reads approximately like this: "Hi!
How are you?
This is the file with the information that you ask for. See you
later.
Thanks" But the message has several different forms. An attachment
which is
actually a programme comes along with it.
Both of these are potentially quite dangerous, and appear to be
spreading
rapidly. The answer - Don't open attachments unless you use a
virus
programme, and don't use Outlook if you can help it. Outlook makes
it much
easier for these viruses to be opened and to spread.
The USA in general and Microsoft in particular is the bullseye
target for
the digitally disaffected. Your move...
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