Re: here we go again... FYI

I reallydon't know if they could access your computer, but I would
imagine someone has or will come up with a way. (If they would only use
that brain power for something useful!)


Anyways, I never use those links/pop up to update my computers. I always
initiate the info by going to that companies website thru my favorites
or just opening a browser and typing it in. .. never clicking on a link!
What it does tell me is something is available to look for.


Donna


----- Original Message ----
From: Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net>
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 4:24:50 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] here we go again... FYI


Thanks.  I pretty much don't even read any email from anyone I don't know. 
But sometimes I wonder about those update notices that just appear on my 
screen.  Sometimes from Dell, sometimes from McAffee, sometimes Microsoft. 
They don't usually tell you what the update will do to your computer until 
it's too late.  And are they bonafide?  Can you always trust those update 
messages that just pop up like that?  Could anyone else out there access 
your computer that way?

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna" <gossiper@sbcglobal.net>
To: "gardenchat list" <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 1:00 PM
Subject: [CHAT] here we go again... FYI


> Malware disguising itself as IE 7 beta download
>
> That e-mail is lying; whatever you do, don't click the link
>
>
>
> March 30, 2007 (IDG News Service) -- If you receive an e-mail offering a
> download of Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2, delete it. A new virus is making
> the rounds that comes disguised as a test version of Microsoft Corp.'s
> current Web browser.
>
> Security experts reported no widespread damage Friday morning, but they
> said the virus is notable for a couple of reasons. The e-mail includes a
> convincing graphic that looks like it could really be from Microsoft,
> and the virus is delivered when recipients click on a link rather than
> in an attachment, which makes it harder to stop it from
>
> "The idea of sending a link seems to be a trend among attackers; it's
> still fairly new and it works much better than sending a file," said
> Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure Corp.
>
> The e-mails carry the subject line "Internet Explorer 7 Downloads" and
> appear to come from admin@microsoft.com. They include a blue,
> Microsoft-style graphic offering a download of IE 7 beta 2. Clicking the
> graphic will download an executable file called IE 7.exe.
>
> The file is actually a new virus called Virus.Win32.Grum.A, and security
> experts were still analyzing it Friday to see what it does. Sophos PLC
> said it can spread by e-mailing itself to contacts in a user's address
> book. The virus tampers with registry files to ensure it gets installed,
> and it tries to download additional files from the Internet, said Graham
> Cluley, a senior technology consultant for Sophos.
>
> Other specifics were unknown yet, but such viruses often install a
> keystroke logger to steal personal information, and establish a network
> of infected computers to launch a denial of service attack, Cluley said.
>
> "We don't know anything yet about where it is coming from," Hypponen
> said. "It's fairly well made and hard to analyze with normal tools."
>
> F-Secure had received many reports of the e-mail but few submissions of
> the virus itself, indicating that damage so far is limited. Cluely
> agreed: "I wouldn't classify this as one of the biggest viruses of the
> year, but that doesn't mean it isn't a threat" he said.
>
> Detection of Win32.Grum by antivirus programs was "mediocre" on Thursday
> evening, according to Sunbelt Software Inc., and some big vendors were
> still not picking it up Friday morning, Hypponen said.
>
> F-Secure and Sophos are blocking the virus and all major vendors are
> likely to do so soon, he said. Some e-mail filtering systems were also
> not blocking the virus on Friday morning.
>
> The virus is being hosted on several servers around the world, which
> will increase the time it takes to identify and clean them all. They
> appear to be Web servers that have been hacked, Hypponen said. The SANS
> Internet Storm Center asked administrators to check their logs to make
> sure they are not hosting the file.
>
> The virus affects only Windows users. "Microsoft is aware of this issue
> and is currently investigating this matter, including customer impact,"
> a spokeswoman said via e-mail.
>
> The final version of IE 7 was released last October, so Microsoft is
> unlikely to be advertising a beta of the product. Users can download a
> real version of the software at Microsoft's Internet Explorer home page
> <http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx> .
>
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