posted 07-20-2001 04:08 PM         

------------------
Rich Ware

posted 07-20-2001 04:39 PM         

July 19 — Anti-virus companies have raised their risk rating on a new computer virus making the rounds called “Sircam.” The virus is particularly troublesome because it arrives with random subject lines and attachment names, meaning there’s no easy way to warn computer users. The bug also has a nasty payload — it can expose private corporate information. The number of infections around the world has risen sharply during the day Thursday, leading anti-virus firms to raise the warning flag.

posted 07-20-2001 04:41 PM         

The info below is not presented as an excuse ( clearly I had my guard down) but as a reminder of how careful we should be.

The email which infected my computer came from the computer of a friend here in Jax. My MacAfee software did not catch it, it was not an exe. file and it was from a known friend so I opened it. This was several days ago. I had no idea there was a problem till I got home yesterday and saw over 100 emails in my inbox. Many of them were undeliverable mail notices. It did not send emails to people in my address book but to names in the temp file cache in MSIE. Most of the emails went to people who would not recognize my name.

I had not updated the MacAfee files in the past 60 days. I assume it would have caught if I had. Once I downloaded the most recent files it quickly identified the corrupted files.

It infected one of my registry files and the software would not clean it so I had to delete it. Now I will have to restore my hard drive to its original condition and reinstall all of the programs I have added. I have backups of most of the data, but it still will be a chore.

The moral of the story keep your antivirus software up to date,turned on and stay ever vigilant.

------------------

I got the e-mail from ed this morning it had 3 pictures in zip file i opened the zip file no problems looked at pictures and replied to ed i had seen these pictures on line before.Now i have gone and deleted all the files. my pc seems to be working fine however i have not rebooted..

What should i do next? how can i know for sure that my pc has the virus or not??

------------------

davidn

------------------

davidn

posted 07-20-2001 05:16 PM         

Either update your virus definitions on your current virus software, or if you are not running virus software get it now and scan your entire hard drive. The site that Cliff suggested http://cws.internet.com/virus.html has a free program called Innoculte.

I think this would be a good time for everyone to scan their system to prevent any further spreading of this virus.

Also don't open any attachments in any email that has the following information in the body of the email:

*************************************************
Hi! How are you?

I send you this file in order to have your advice

See you later. Thanks
*************************************************

------------------

posted 07-20-2001 08:57 PM         

BUT I got e mail from Ed, it was a reply from mail I sent him. Hope I'm OK...If you never hear from me again.....THANKS ED

------------------
Larry & Sue Mayes

posted 07-21-2001 09:31 AM         

At the office I handle the Virus scanning for the network and there is a new virus which acts like this one. DO NOT OPEN THE FILES!! What it does is gets all the .JPG, .GIF files on your pc and sends them out to everyone in your address book... UNless you want everyone to see what you have, I repeat do not open the attachments... The tip off for this virsu is that it always is asking for advice from you... Hope this helps someone..