Virus attack
Two big Aberdeen computer systems have already been
closed down in the battle against the latest internet virus. Don't be caught
out!
I have been all too aware of this weeks new virus,
Sobig.
I have been caught in a ping-pong of the virus e-mails sent to me and ones that I have supposedly (but not in actuality) sent. I reckon the count over the last 48 hours must be close on 100 virus e-mails toing and froing between my mailboxes.
Being on a Mac has meant that this barrage has been a little less worrying than if I was using a more vulnerable PC.
A good point, therefore at which to consider your virus defences! Have you downloaded the latest virus information for your virus software? If not, do so now!
Don't open any attachments you are not 100% sure of. In particular don't open any attachments with a double suffix (eg .jpg.exe). Don't open anything with .pif on the end (most of this week's have had that suffix), delete them immediately. Be extremely wary of anything with .exe as it can also be a virus.
Don't be fooled by the virus creators ability to have the e-mails supposedly coming from someone you know, or even - apparently - from yourself. Just as with junk mail, you can make an e-mail appear to come from anyone.
In this respect watch out for the virus which supposedly comes from your e-mail provider and tells you your e-mail address is to be terminated. The virus simply puts your domain name into the sender box and, intrigued, you could very easily click on the attachment to find out why your e-mail address is to be given the chop. Then it is too late, the virus is sending out more e-mails to catch more people out.
And don't assume you will be in the clear from e-mails only. The blaster worm infects PCs just through connection to the internet. (Fortunately it is relatively benign and a visit to Microsoft's website can easily send it packing.)
I have been caught in a ping-pong of the virus e-mails sent to me and ones that I have supposedly (but not in actuality) sent. I reckon the count over the last 48 hours must be close on 100 virus e-mails toing and froing between my mailboxes.
Being on a Mac has meant that this barrage has been a little less worrying than if I was using a more vulnerable PC.
A good point, therefore at which to consider your virus defences! Have you downloaded the latest virus information for your virus software? If not, do so now!
Don't open any attachments you are not 100% sure of. In particular don't open any attachments with a double suffix (eg .jpg.exe). Don't open anything with .pif on the end (most of this week's have had that suffix), delete them immediately. Be extremely wary of anything with .exe as it can also be a virus.
Don't be fooled by the virus creators ability to have the e-mails supposedly coming from someone you know, or even - apparently - from yourself. Just as with junk mail, you can make an e-mail appear to come from anyone.
In this respect watch out for the virus which supposedly comes from your e-mail provider and tells you your e-mail address is to be terminated. The virus simply puts your domain name into the sender box and, intrigued, you could very easily click on the attachment to find out why your e-mail address is to be given the chop. Then it is too late, the virus is sending out more e-mails to catch more people out.
And don't assume you will be in the clear from e-mails only. The blaster worm infects PCs just through connection to the internet. (Fortunately it is relatively benign and a visit to Microsoft's website can easily send it packing.)
Posted: Thu - August 21, 2003 at 06:08 PM
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Published On: May 17, 2007 01:49 PM
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Published On: May 17, 2007 01:49 PM