New virus is VERY clever

[Allin1Joe]

Be VERY careful with this new virus. You get something that has a ZIP attachment and asks for a password, do NOT open it, no matter how real looking it is. Check this one out(I've edited out identifying info)...

From: support@`edit>.com [mailto:support@`edit>.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 12:18 AM
To: `edit>@`edit>.com
Subject: Notify about using the e-mail account.

Dear user of "`edit>.com" mailing system,

Our antivirus software has detected a large ammount of viruses outgoing
from your email account, you may use our free anti-virus tool to clean up
your computer software.

Further details can be obtained from attached file.

For security reasons attached file is password protected. The password is
"30173".

Have a good day,
The `edit>.com team
http://www.`edit>.com

[Hope]

Here is a general rule of thumb - DO NOT OPEN UNEXPECTED ATTACHMENTS!!!!

come on guys, use some common sense here, if there is a file called edit.zip or info.zip, pick up the phone and ask the person who sent it. Email back saying "I have just received a file from you, did you send it?". If they say no, then tell them they might be infected.

I am proud to say, I have been online since 1996 and I have never had a computer infected with a virus. Why? Because I don't open things I am not expecting.

I see more viruses spread at work recently than i have ever seen in my life. I can't believe how stupid some people can be. Even after getting an email saying there is a virus going around, don't open attachements called x. they open them and start the cycle all over again.

[CoastPC]

I think education is the key to reducing the virus issues we face today. Many people (especially new users), dont honestly know how dangerous a virus can be! You talk to these people and they dont seem to know what a virus is, let alone how to protect themselves against attack.
I work on many machines weekly (some new machines, only months old!) , only to find a large percent don't have virus protection! I think virus software should be compulsory with any new computer sold.  Also a small tutorial on the basics of virus protection and stratagy with dealing with a virus wouldnt go astray. I am sure it could be built into the price of the new computer.
*Not to many stupid people, sadly, many uneducated people!*
My 2 cents
Chris

[spherica]

LMAO, I got 2 of those today, was kind of funny since the email said that my email account was closed.

When I see something that says its from me, to me, I should have remeberes sending it.

Dear user  of Spheri.net,

Your e-mail account has been temporary  disabled because of unauthorized  access.

For  details see  the attached  file.

For security reasons  attached file is password protected. The password is "38185".

Cheers,
     The Spheri.net team

and this one

Dear user of Spheri.net,

We warn you  about some attacks on  your e-mail account. Your computer  may
contain viruses, in order  to keep your computer and e-mail  account  safe,
please, follow  the instructions.

For further details see the attach.

Kind regards,
     The Spheri.net  team

One had a zip file, the other had a text document.

[susieq]

I think that My ISP has pretty stringent anti-virus, virus checkers or filters becasue I rarely receive mail and I am not sure who it is from.  Also I have my own virus-guard.  Don't laugh, but then yesterday, some one told me that Windows XP (I have Home Edition) has its own virus checker anyway
Its a wonder anything at all can get through now   but I actually am unsure at this point what to not remove....

[Allin1Joe]

Most web hosts have virus filters as well.  I know that we have one that will strip the virus out of the message, then send the client a {Virus} message notifying them that action was taken on a message.  However, this one slipped through in the beginning.  It appears to be catching it now though.