Make sure to UPDATE all Anti Virus Protection

Merika · 02-02-2006, 06:55 PM

(I guess everyone has been following this in the news. I didn't think to post it. Just in case anyone wasn't aware...PLEASE update your AV.)

Some of you may have also seen media reports of another virus called BlackWorm, Win32.Nyxem, W32/MyWife, Blackmal among many other names. Some computer security experts estimate that more than 680,000 computers worldwide have the virus that will damage unprotected systems the third of each month (tomorrow).

If a computer is infected with BlackWorm, when the system clock reaches February 3rd the payload of the virus will run if the machine's protection (anti-virus) is not up to date. The most common problems are that the computer will try to mass-mail the virus to other computers, attempt to delete files associated with security related programs (shut down your anti-virus) but more important is that the worm will destroy all files with the following extensions by overwriting: .doc, .xls, .mdb, .mde, .ppt, .pps, .zip, .rar, .pdf, .psd, .dmp (pretty much all of your user data)

When you receive a questionable e-mail, especially from an unknown or un-trusted source, please don't open it - and more importantly, DON'T OPEN THE ATTACHMENT. When in doubt, delete it out! This is especially true if the subject or text seems out sorts for work that you normally do.

For home users, keep your anti-virus and personal firewall software up to date.

hezekiah · 02-02-2006, 07:59 PM

Anti virus-I thought this was about avatars-I'm glad you posted this though.I'm kind of bad about being curious,..

Merika · 02-02-2006, 08:11 PM

I'm glad you pointed that out Hezekiah. I'll change the title of the thread.

Duke · 02-02-2006, 08:15 PM

I don't ever open attachments regardless of who sent them because many people get their computers infected by friends.

If it's an image file attachment that opens as part of the message then my e-mail program previews by default but all attachments from anyone get deleted automatically. The only way I'll accept an attached e-mail is if I know its coming.

Merika · 02-02-2006, 08:18 PM

Well...just incase everyone isn't as safe as you are....I just thought I would share.

I guess if I lose all my documents in about 3 hours...I'll know I screwed up somewhere.

Duke · 02-02-2006, 11:27 PM

I'm not safe, just paranoid 8O

darkangelism · 02-02-2006, 11:37 PM

my parents computer is already taking up all my time trying to fix, it had better not get another virus, i just took 16 off yesterday.

Weiser · 02-03-2006, 01:25 AM

my dad asked me to back up all his important stuff...waste of a cd, but whatever.

Duke · 02-03-2006, 01:27 AM

Merika · 02-03-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weiser

my dad asked me to back up all his important stuff...waste of a cd, but whatever.

Lots of people I know did the very same thing. I keep all my pics of friends and family in Photobucket....the rest of the stuff I don't care if I lose or not. I can always get the puter rebuilt....not a biggie.