Just an FYI on the worm... this one actually does not arrive via email. It connects directly to a Windows NT4 (workstation & server), Me, 2000, XP, or 2003 server via Port #135. If it gets a response on that port it uses a windows vulnerability that was announced in June to copy and execute itself on your machine. Because it arrives in this fashion, most anti-virus utilities do not even notice it coming into your computer. And since it isn't email related, all of the advice about not opening attachments doesn't do any good since it doesn't arrive that way. It is similar to the Code Red worm that hit Windows servers several months back (last year?) which exploited a windows vulnerability that had been announced a few months earlier... The writers of these worms/viruses are exploiting the fact that Microsoft does not have a very good system in place for informing users about vulnerabilities and the patches to fix them. And if end users don't know the patch is there, they tend not to know until it is too late...

One thing to do to help out with this is go to the Automatic Updates control panel (it might be something different in WinXP). Put a check next to keep my computer up to date. Then choose one of the three options for staying up to date. My preference, because I have control issues about my computer, is to have it notify me before downloading and notify my before installing any updates. If you don't consider yourself very tech oriented, the automatically download and automatically install option can be a lifesaver since it will do everything for you... but keep in mind that if you don't have a high-speed connection, either of the last two options might slow you down as your computer connects to the internet to check and download the updates.

And to tie this to teaching, does anyone know of psychology research on the motivations of virus writers, hackers, etc.? I think it might make for an interesting discussion topic in one of my classes when talking about attribution and motivation. In fact, as I think about it, just brainstorming possible motivations from the perspective of different theories might be a fun exercise too.

Hope this helps.
- Marc






============================================= G. Marc Turner, MEd, Network+, MCP Instructor & Head of Computer Operations Department of Psychology Southwest Texas State University San Marcos, TX 78666 phone: (512)245-2526 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]


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