Linda,

The kak WORM (not a virus) is not new,
it was discovered sometime between
Thanksgiving and Christmas last year.

McAfee has had an extensive writeup on-line since late
December 1999.  You can view the details at:
http://vil.mcafee.com/vil/wsh10509.asp

The worm targets Outlook Express 5.0 (5.01 users have nothing to fear)
BUT may also infect via other mail programs that are capable of
using both HTML mail formats *AND* Active X components.
As you pointed out, it activates merely by previewing the
message --- but ONLY IF your mail program uses both of the above.

Microsoft never specifically mentions any virus or worm by name,
in any of their security updates, but this particular problem was addressed
in a release on 12/30/99.  The below link has all the MS details.
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q240/3/08.ASP?LNG=ENG&SA=AL
LKB&FR=0

Hope this helps resolve the confusion.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda" <[log in to unmask]>

> The answer to this is a resounding  YES!  The current virus making the
rounds called the
> Kak.worm is indeed embedded in a rich-text e-mail and you are infected
just by reading the
> e-mail in the preview pane.

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