WARNING-- DANGEROUS EMAIL VIRUS!
Category: Health, Science & Technology
Via: the-irascible-harry-krishner • 14 years ago • 14 comments
(This is not a hoax)
There is a dangerous email virus going around. (I just got sent a copy via email).
I forget the name of it-- will find it and post it. (Although its not necessary to know the name)
Here's how it works:
1. You get an email from a friend. So of course you aren't suspicious because you know the sender well. (However, this one is nasty-- it gets into your email programme-- and sends itself to several people in your address book!
2. When you open the email there's a link. Since it appears to be sent by a friend, you are not suspicious. So you click on it.
3. A window opens telling youu that "suspicious objects have been found in your computer"-- or words to that effect. It then asks if you would like to do a free sca nof your computer. (At this point you are still OK).
But-- do NOT do the free scan-- that's when your troubles will start. Merely close the window and delete the email!!!
4. This virus is particularly insidious because:
A-- It looks like a friend sent the email so you think you have no cause for alarm.
B-- And worse: Most commercial anti-virus programmes often do NOT pick up this virus when they scan your computer!
C-- Finally, its a bitch to get rid of once infected.
So-- the best thing to do is NOT to accept any offers of "free virus scans" (Besides-- why do you need them anyway? You should have a good anti-virus programme installed-- use that when you want to scan!)
5. Another tipoff-- I don't know if this is always true-- but often the email purporting to be from your friend-- and containing the link to the virus-- has this subject: Re: (and nothing else).
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Key points:
1- Virus comes in an email that looks like its from a trusted friend (But its not).
2- Any time you get are offered a "free virus scan"-- don't do it! (If you click yes you want it-- that's when th infection comes into your computer).
3- It often comes in an email thay looks like its from a friend with this subject:
Re:
4- What to do: When it tells you your computer is infected and asks if you want a free scan, merely close the window, don't do the "scan". Then delete the email.
Well-- you may get an email from a friend you don't trust
(Of course its not just friends-- it could appear to be from anyone who has your email address).
Thanks fore the heads-up.
Double thanks; I just checked and yeah, mail from Kevin. Deleted and thanks again!
Actually I saw that that email was Cc'd to a few people. (The only one who had NT accts besides myself was you.). Glad you found out in time--- that virus is really nasty (I got it a while back-- had to pay for professiosal help in removing it)
Ggggrrrrrrr........
McAfee was totally useless in this case.
Download the free version of this :
I have Malwarebytes-- its really good.
I never knew about that. Thanks for the heads up! Hey get smarter here... wait... no... Speak your mind!
I just got another suspicious email from kpr.
I was suspicious because it had no subject.Also sent 6:49 AM on a Saturday morning...
It may be that this particular virus automatically forwards email to people from the address book of infected computer AND uses either Re: as the the subject or has no subject).
Also-- the email was sent to the same 5 people as the first one-- to: himself, me, larry, & also to "josh" and "leejayteach".
It is probably ok to open emails from kpr-- but to be on the safe side may not be a good idea to open them at all. I don't know.
However, if you do open the email, do not open any files it contains.
(I opened both emails, but did not open files. Each time I immediately did a quick scan then a full scan with Malwarebytes asn was OK-- in addition, since the first email i have had no computer problems that the virus causes. So I think opening email may be OK (?)-- but its the link in email that causes problems.
Thanks for the heads up! I will keep an eye out. Once in a while I get an e-mail saying say "yes" and I know right there that's when I just delete it to be safe. Also I find junk like that when sites offer free stuff, so I don't bother because it is not worth the risk.