Lisa Sasser wrote:

>To all,
>
>I received a virus, which appears to be trying to propagate itself.  Please
>don't open any attachements from me until I get this cleared up.  Sorry for
>the trouble.
>
>Lisa
>
>

Lisa: is it this? ][<



Earlier this morning, ITS staff identified a new virus called
*worm_sobig.e* that has infected some university computers. The virus
runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, and XP systems. It installs a
small e-mail program on infected machines which can be used later by
spammers.

The virus propagates via email and network shares disguised as a ZIP
file attachment. It does not automatically activate; you would have to
open the .ZIP archive in order to launch it.

The virus has worked its way onto some computers at the university
through various email systems.  *Users of the new ITS Exchange email
system are unaffected, as the worm_sobig.e virus has been detected and
blocked by the anti-virus software protecting the Exchange environment.*
* *
The worm propagates itself through an email with any one of the
following attachments. *If you receive an email with any of the
attachments below, please do not open it, even if you know the person
who sent it to you.*

     your_details.zip
     application.zip
     movie.zip
     document.zip
     screensaver.zip

We are now blocking all of the above attachment names that this virus
has been identified as using, to stop any further spread of the virus.

Please make sure your antivirus software is up to date with the latest
antivirus pattern file, and scan your system periodically. Both of these
functions can be set up on your computer to happen automatically. If you
are not sure how to update your antivirus software, or to scan your
system for viruses, or how to set up automatic updates and scans, please
contact the ITS HelpDesk at 5-4357 (5-HELP), the TTY line at
5-2810, or send an email to [log in to unmask]

Additional general information on the virus can be found on the MSNBC
site at http://www.msnbc.com/news/931205.asp .

--
This is a signature file: "Beaver had invented a 'portable kitchen garden weighing no more than a pound. It was a mica box containing a synthetic earth in which he planted certain fast-growing seeds. Every other day each one of these devices produced a ration of green vegetables sufficient for one-man -- plus a few delicious mushrooms. He had also tried to exploit modern methods of tissue culture. Instead of raising cattle, he said to himself, why not raise beefsteaks directly? But his experiments had not advanced beyond the stage of requiring heavy and fragile equipment that produced a revolting slime, and he gave up the effort. We would do better going without meat." René Daumal, Mount Analogue.

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>