WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM

Subject: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 12:02 PM

I've warned everybody on my email list, but thought you all might like to know, too. There is a worm which seems to be specific to Outlook Express, which reads your Received From list, copies a From addy, then sends you a new message, which looks legit because it appears to come from someone you've always emailed with. The one I got had an attachment which also showed up within the message, with a URL to click onto for "stuartsmessagemates" greeting cards, which is a legitimate site.

Anyway, once you've read it, it goes to your addy book and sends itself out to everyone in there, without your knowledge or any record of it in the Sent to file.

The worm is of the W23/NewApt variety and I guess MS has something at their website which can prevent it from happening again, I just haven't found it, yet.

I did shut my computer down, turned it back on and did scandisk which came up clean and I do not see any evidence or problems with my email as I had earlier today, so hopefully that took care of it.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Neil Lowe
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 12:36 PM

Thanks for the warning, kat.

Neil

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 12:54 PM

I am downloading a free TrialWare version of Norton 2000 Antivirus program, right now, from the Symantec site. If you go there and click on Norton Antivirus, then look VERY carefully, you will find the Trialware clicky thingie and can go from there. Sorry I don't have the addy to put a clickie thingie in here right now.

Thanks, Neil.

kat

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Easy Rider
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 02:01 PM

EVERYBODY should have an up to date copy of Norton Antivirus running on their computers at all times.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 02:15 PM

I don't know how the different anti-virus packages compare but I use InouculateIT Personal Edition for my PC which is free and has regualr free updates. It can be downloaded from http://antivirus.cai.com/

Jon

Subject: Virus and E-Mail Problems
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 02:51 PM

This might be a good opportunity to encourage people NOT to send attachments with e-mail, unless it's something you can't send as a text portion of your e-mail message, or as an embedded photograph. If what you're sending is text, just highlight, copy, and paste it into your e-mail message. If you do send an attachment, attach it to a message that says something personal and that describes the attachment, so the receiver knows it's a legitimate attachment. Also, don't send an attachment or forward information unless you know it's something safe and worthwhile. Don't forward and don't fall victim to the zillions of chain letters that jam the Internet with requests to flood a receiver with letters of sympathy or political protest or a school class that wants replies. If they're not fraudulent, they're at least ill-advised - jamming a receiver's e-mail is not a good way to get anything accomplished.

If you're on the receiving end, always view e-mail attachments with distrust - especially if it's an attachment to an e-mail that does not have a personal message written to you. If there are TWO messages from the sender, one with an attachment but without a specific personal message to you, that's a good indication the attachment may not be legitimate.

Common sense on the part of e-mail senders and receivers can eliminate a lot of the problems of e-mail worms and viruses.

One other hint: before you send e-mail or post forum messages relaying a warning about a virus, do some research and be sure you're sending good information. Check with an authoritative source to make sure the warning is not a hoax. There were hoaxes about the wonderfully silly Elf Bowling game, and another about a game I haven't tried called Frogapult. Don't make hoaxes worse by spreading virus warnings unless you're sure they're legitimate. Good places for virus information are http://www.microsoft.com/ (put virus in the search box on the main page), http://www.mcafee.com/, and http://www.norton.com/.

And yes, ALWAYS use up-to-date antivirus software, especially if you enjoy using the Internet. You owe it to all the friends you communicate with.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 04:12 PM

Just a comment on Joe Offers excellent post. Even though the most careful of us can get caught out, I feel that it is often forgotten that those of us who use the internet do have a responsibility towards our fellow users.

I have just performed my latest upgrade and I think I am virus free. I have just scanned thousands of files and the only thing it picked up was eicar.com (which is not a virus).

Jon

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 12:29 AM

I am posting here as I have received the same hoax regarding ICQ twice tonight from Mudcatters and thought that it might be a good idea to refresh this tread so that some of the newer people can read Joe Offers comments which are applicable to ICQ.

I know that the senders to me have been genuine and would suspect that holds true many steps down the line but I do ask, if you get a warning, try to check it out before forwarding.

Jon

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 12:40 AM

Further thougts, this was a chain letter rather than a virus warning but they still spread...

Jon

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 01:22 AM

Like so many of the Laugh Cat's postings, this too is a farce.

Previously, this month there was a fairly thorough discussion with good links to legitimate sites, places where you can authenticate whether the sky is falling or if it is just the lonsome blowing of the Wyoming wind.

Virus Thread

Howling about snake-oil rather than prowling for the truth is a common sign of a "newbie" so you are forgiven.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 01:26 AM

My sincere appologies Ms. KatLaughing

I did not recognize the header date....and its refresh

The e-mails have done a good job of keeping the forum clear of the crapola.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 02:01 AM

Yes gargoyle, a farce and I was responsible for refreshing it - perhaps misguidedly - just wanted to make sure people were aware of what happens... and after receiving the same hoax twice from members of this forum who I also chat with on ICQ, I felt it appropriate at the time - maybe I was wrong - I don't know.

Jon

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Crowhugger
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 02:23 AM

Well, I'm thoroughly confused.

A few days ago I went to download ICQ and got a warning (from Guard Dog) that if I proceeded with the download, the program I was loading would be able to read all files on my hard drive and execute any .exe files. Naturally, I hit cancel - confused but not fond of format c:\!!

We use Macaphee (sp?). Was it a hoax? Was someone out to trash the business at the ICQ site? Assuming that there are no absolutes in e-land -- there's a hacker born every second -- how to best identify a hoax?

Signed, Confused but still hugging those big black scavenging birds.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 02:38 AM

Crowhugger I have not read thread that gg has provided a link to so I don't know what is there but will read tommorw.

ICQ have their own pages on this here is one: http://www.icq.com/support/rumors.html . The link at the bottom of that page will take you to sites that appear to document ICQ hoaxes.

Jon

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 07:39 PM

CrowHugger...GuardDog is an EXCELLENT program...It is wise to first head their warning...note its precise wording...then search the newsgroups using deja.com...for information...along with GuardDog's Web Site.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: Crowhugger
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 09:51 PM

Thanks, Jon and gargoyle.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 12:04 AM

My hunch is that GuardDog is giving you a warning that you have not yet performed one of the most basic of protection measures....this should be done as SOP for anyone on the Internet.

You need to turn off the option that lets others look at your files and use your printer. To do so, click the window, "start" button, go to "settings" and select the "control panel." In the control panel window, double-click the "network" icon. In the network window, click on the "file and print sharing" button, and uncheck the two checkboxes in the new window.....(only if you opperating under an alias with bogus info.... would you want these to be open....or if your are on an INTRAnet system behind a good firewall.....also you can change these options at will.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: GUEST,_gargoyle
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 12:26 AM

Drop by http://www.grc.com Gibson Research Center

They will give you a free "on-the-net-evaluation" of the data sent by your machine and its vulnerabilty.

Subject: RE: WARNING-NEW EMAIL WORM
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 12:15 AM

Interesting, like the woman Jesus met at the well, it told me everything I every done.

If you think you are secure pay gg's site a visit to see how vulnerable you REALLy are.