This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --part0_922638689_boundary Content-ID: <0_922638689@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII If any of you use MS Word, watch out about downloading something, even from a friend that you know would never knowingly send you a virus. This one is deadly! Anne --part0_922638689_boundary Content-ID: <0_922638689@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: IraHelms@aol.com Return-path: <IraHelms@aol.com> To: GHelms8093@aol.com, ahmack@redshift.com, Helms <jfultz19@idt.net>, Mid101074@aol.com, hpolk@vopmail.x-press.net, S.M.Grimshaw <S.M.Grimshaw@btinternet.com>, WHELMS/0002086864@mcimail.com, ANNEMEDLIN@aol.com, kmcgee03@earthlink.net Subject: Macro Viruses Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 07:58:06 EST Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hi, Today's Washington Post has an article about a new round of virus called the Melissa family. The virus is activated when a user opens an attachment to E-mail. Apparently an invader gets into your system and sends fragments of your files to all of those in your address book with the attached virus so it sets up a rapidly expanding set of victims. No longer is the admonition to only open mail from those you know enough to protect you. The basic mechanism is to use the macro capability in MS WORD 97 or 2000 where some virus scanners will not recognize a macro virus of this type. The virus containing item will have a subject title like "Important Message" or other innocous title trying to get you to open it; and, the body will have a starting line..."This is the Information you requested." The problem is that you will know the sender it will be one of your regular e-mail group. Any user infected must use one of the commercial virus detecting programs which can recognize macro viruses. The virus also infects the MS Word template file, Normal.dot. which can be deleted but the program will make another one the next cycle. Microsoft has softwear which will clean this up. at: www.microsoft.com/security/bulitins/ms99-002.asp The admonotion is to always be suspicious of attachments to E-mail. More information can be found at: www.cert.org/advisories/CA-99-04-Melisa-macro-virus.html The virus also infects those with Microsoft Outlook, whether or not it is in. With all of the above in mind, I am starting a two phase program for our sending attachments. 1) send a message sayung an attachment is coming and nameing it; then 2) sent the attachnent. Another way is to not use attachments unless it is necessary. One worry I have is that things like the automatic updates and such pass right through without your knowing what they are doing in your computer. I consider that a separate problem. AOL and others are reported to have sent out virus containing material, and my computer co. has received shrink-wrapped programs containing viruses. Nothing is safe. I use Norton Utilities which has a virus detection part. I notice in the updated Norton it is a separate program. Thanks, Ira --part0_922638689_boundary--