And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Rule of thumb: NEVER open attachments ask that they be copied and pasted into a mail message rather than being sent as an attachment (for text type files)... This message is forwarded to you as a service of Zapatistas Online. Comments and volunteers are welcome. Write [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 06:34:32 -0800 Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Commandante Null <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: E-Mail Virus Threatens to Flood Global Networks, Experts Say E-Mail Virus Threatens to Flood Global Networks, Experts Say By John Schwartz Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, March 28, 1999; Page A09 A devious new computer virus threatens to flood electronic networks around the world with electronic mail containing its victims' own word processing files, according to a federally funded security group. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) at Carnegie Mellon University, which tracks hacker mischief, issued a rare weekend advisory about the virus. "When the work force comes back to work on Monday, this is going to be a problem" because so many copies of the virus have made their way to computers in businesses and homes around the world, said Jeffrey Carpenter of CERT. The new virus, known as Melissa, is part of a family of digital bugs that prey on the "macro" functions -- that is, mini-programs that people use to automate repetitive tasks -- in newer versions of Microsoft Word. The virus is activated when a user opens an "attachment," the files that sometimes accompany e-mail. The message accompanying the attachment generally bears this attention-getting subject line: "Important Message From" the sender. The body of the message reads: "Here is that document you asked for . . . don't show anyone else ;-)." Once the attachment has been opened, the program sends out e-mail to the first 50 people on the user's electronic address book, attaching random word processing documents that it has infected, and the cycle begins anew. The virus only affects computers using Microsoft Word 97 or Word 2000 that also have the e-mail program Microsoft Outlook installed (whether ornot that program is used to send e-mail). The simplest way to avoid problems with Melissa and other macro viruses is to turn off the automatic macro function. In Word 97 that means clicking on the "Tools" menu, choosing "Options," then "General" and clicking the "Macro virus protection" check box. In Word 2000, the menu items to click are "Tools," then "Macro," then "Security," and then click the "High" option. Any user whose computer has become infected should use the newest versions of the major commercial anti-virus programs, which can eliminate macro viruses. Since the virus also infects the Microsoft Word "template" file, called "normal.dot," users also have to either delete that file (the program will automatically create a new copy, but users who have customized their program will have to go through the process again) orclean it using software provided by Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/ms99-002.asp. Most important, Carpenter said, computer users should always be wary of attachments that come with e-mail: "You should not open up an attachment unless you verify with a person that they have really sent this attachment to you." More information can be found at www.cert.org/advisories/CA99-04-Melissa-Macro-Virus.html. CR Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Company ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NPC Information Associates "Intelligence for the Underdog!" [EMAIL PROTECTED] 770-457-6758 -- To unsubscribe from this list send a message containing the words unsubscribe chiapas95 to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Previous messages are available from http://www.eco.utexas.edu/faculty/Cleaver/chiapas95.html or gopher://eco.utexas.edu. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
