>X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 16:47:30 -0800
>To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>From: David Luckhardt <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: You have GOT to read this!
>
>
>Well, mayties, after all our playful bashing of the idiots that send out
>the panic email-virus warnings ( and boy, am I EVER tired of reading them
>over the past 4 years!! ), there is finally one that is true. Is this in
>the "Truth is stranger than Fiction" hall o' fame???
>
>For everyone's peace of mind, let's try to keep the rest of our internet
>community from absolute run-in-circles-scream-and-shout panic on this one,
>OK? If anyone asks you about it, remember to clearly inform them of the
>conditions:
>
>1. They _must_ be using Microsoft Mail as an email reader....no other
>email product is hit.
>2. They _must_ be using Microsoft Word version 6...no other word processor
>_or_ version is hit.
>3. They _must_ be stupid enough to open the attachment, and MS Word 6 must
>startup.
>4. They _must_ be in an office where the email servers/PC's are NOT
>virus-scanned with updated anti-virus software...and these shops are few
>and far between.
>
>- Thorne the Incredulous
>
>(If the story looks wonky, try making your email window reeeeal wide)
>
>Fresh off the internet ( http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,8134,00.html ):
>
> Macro virus afflicts MS Mail
> By Janet Kornblum
> February 20, 1997, 2:30 p.m. PT
>
> This virus is no hoax.
>
> McAfee has found a new macro virus that will randomly send
> mail from people who use Microsoft MS Mail, a company
>email
> system.
>
> Internet bulletin boards are filled with dire warnings
>about email
> that will infect your computer with viruses that will
>then destroy
> data and send nasty email out to everyone in your email
> program.
>
> Those are hoaxes. This one isn't.
>
> Before you panic: "ShareFun," as it's called, is
>easily detectable
> and preventable. Like all viruses transmitted through
>email, it is
> sent through an email attachment. And to get it, the
>user must
> execute it--usually by double clicking on the
>attachment icon
> within the email.
>
> Most virus-savvy people won't open attachments unless they
> know who sent them.
>
> And therein lies the danger in this particular virus.
>By definition,
> it always comes from someone you know, so you're more
>likely
> to trust it when you get it.
>
> "That's part of the problem in all this," Jimmy Kuo,
>director of
> antivirus research for McAfee, said today. "You
>receive it from
> a friend."
>
> McAfee learned about the virus through a customer. A large
> multinational corporation suspected its email system was
> infected.
>
> Kuo discovered they were right. Here's the way it
>works, he
> explained: You receive an email from a friend with a
>subject line
> reading "You have GOT to see this!"
>
> When you open the email message it is blank. You see
>there is
> an attachment so you double-click on it. When your
>computer
> launches Microsoft Word to read the attachment, the
>virus is
> launched.
>
> The virus then has a one-in-four chance of going back
>to the MS
> Mail program and automatically sending out new
>messages with
> attachments of itself to three people on your nickname
>list.
>
> Whether or not it sends the email the first time, each
>time you
> open Microsoft Word, the virus is launched. And each
>time, it
> has a 25 percent chance of sending itself out through
>your email,
> Kuo said.
>
> Here's the security risk inherent in the virus: Every
>time it sends
> out the virus, it will send it out whatever document
>you happen
> to be working on at the time. In other words, you could be
> working on a sensitive document that would be
>automatically
> launched to three people in your email program.
>
> The virus just reinforces the need to be careful about
>what
> programs you execute and how you execute them.
>
> "With the increase in shared files and sending
>documents back
> and forth people need to always be careful when opening
> documents," said Tom Williams, Microsoft product
>manager for
> Office.
>
> MS Mail, he added, is being phased out and replaced with
> Microsoft Exchange, so it isn't as prevalent. However,
>he could
> not say how many offices use MS Mail.
>
> Williams encouraged users to follow the rules of safe
> computing: Be careful and also to make use of built-in
> protections. Word 97 has a built-in function that will
>detect any
> macros--whether or not they are viruses. Those who
>don't have
> word 97 can nevertheless download the function.
>
> He also recommended a good virus protection program.
>
> Although this virus happened to hit MS Mail, the fact
>is, it could
> have hit any email program. Macro viruses are
>incredibly simple
> to write.
>
> "This is an industry-wide problem," Williams said.
>"Because
> Microsoft products are the most prevalent, it's most
>often heard
> about through Microsoft products, but everyone needs to be
> concerned about spreading viruses and protecting
>themselves."
>
>
>
>
>
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