Worm and Virus Wars- the August Edition

various FR links & posts | 08-23-03 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[backhoe]

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/969301/posts

Beware of Hacker and Cracker Attacks!
Vanity ^ | 8/23/2002 | Myself

 

Go HERE and let ShieldsUp do a scan of your ports. It will determine if you are "in stealth mode" or vulnerable.

• Spyware removers:
  • Spybot S&D
  • AdAware
• Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE
• MailWasher: Good for pre-screening & bouncing SPAM
• AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Free anti-viral protection
• Windows Update: At least install the critical ones
• ZoneAlarm: Excellent Firewall
• Alternative browsers:
  • Mozilla
  • Opera
   

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968431/posts
MICROSOFT WORKING WITH THE FEDS, VIRUS ATTACKS MAY BE TERRORISM
World Tribune.com ^ | August 21, 2003 | special report staff
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/969064/posts
Net virus set for 9/11 blitz
The Sun UK ^ | August 23, 2003 | JONATHAN WEINBERG
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968993/posts
Sobig-F ready to download mystery program
SearchSecurity.com ^ | 8/22/03 | Edward Hurley,
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968866/posts
Investigators Zeroing in on Sobig Source
Washington Post ^ | Aug. 22, 2003 | Brian Krebs
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968749/posts
A potentially massive Internet attack starts today
F-Secure ^ | 8/22/03 | F-Secure
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968707/posts
The Next Worm Could Disable U.S. Communications and Computers
Yahoo Business News ^ | Aug. 22, 2003 | John Mariotti
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968746/posts
Will Sobig.F slow down the Internet in 45 minutes?
Internet Traffic Report ^ | Aug 22, 2003
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968830/posts
NY Times Shuts Down HQ Computers, Possible SoBig Victim
Wall Street Journal ^ | 8-22-3 | Matthew Rose
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/968093/posts
SoBig worm aims to turn PCs into spam machines
Reuters | August 21, 2003

 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/967670/posts
Sobig Virus Spread is Fastest Ever; Nachi Worm Continues
Dow Jones Newswires | Riva Richmond
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/967553/posts
VIRUS DETECTION AND ELIMINATION PROGRAM
McAfee ^
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/967049/posts
Slammer worm crashed Ohio nuke plant network
Securityfocus.com ^ | 8/19/03 | Kevin Poulsen
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/967051/posts
Sobig virus back...AGAIN...new variant.
USA Today | 8/19/2003
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/966924/posts
Profile of the Superworm: SoBig.E Exposed
TechNewsWorld ^ | Jack M. Germain

 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/966290/posts
New Email worm: W32.Dumaru@mm
IBM Global Services ^ | 0818/2003 | IBM
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/966182/posts
New Worm Installs Patches - new worm takes trys to repair systems infected by Blaster Worm
CRN ^ | 08/18/03 | Marcia Savage

 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/965888/posts
Windows Update Still Standing Despite Blaster
The Register ^ | 08/08/03 | John Leyden
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/965028/posts
Blaster rewrites Windows worm rules
The Register ^ | Aug 14th, 2003 | John Leydon
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/964880/posts
Microsoft kills Net address to foil worm [WindowsUpdate.com is dead for good]
CNet News ^ | August 15, 2003

 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/964809/posts
VeriSign: DNS Flood Shows Microsoft Blaster Worm Bigger Than Thought
ComputerWire ^ | August 15, 2003
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/962892/posts
Internet Worm Plaguing Computers Worldwide
Washington Post ^ | Brian Krebs
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/962785/posts
W32 Blaster Worm
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2003-20.html ^ | CERT
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/962206/posts
New Virus hitting hard and furious!!!
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.blaster.worm.html ^ | 08/11/03 | self
 
 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/957213/posts
Microsoft Warns Explorer Users of Worm
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030802_1246.html | Associated Press | Associated Press
 

[MizSterious]

I've been using MailWasher for several months without incident--this from a complete computer klutz. It's very good for intercepting spam and viruses before they can even get to your computer. You just zap 'em off the server. It doesn't, however, seem to stem the flow of spam--it just keeps your own computer from being contaminated by any of it that might be virus-ridden.

[MizSterious]

Backhoe, love Shields Up, and it said I was in stealth mode. I'll check it again tomorrow, cause it sure beats me how I got in stealth mode. I don't run any special software, just what came on the computer. If it's true, that's great though.

[gitmo]

ShieldsUp said I failed the ping test.

Anyone know how I can turn PING off on my machine?

[WVNan]

Well, I'm pretty dumb about computers so bear with me. When I hit the download on the mailwasher the file popped up, but it says ...."if the file information below looks suspicious, or you do not fully trust the source, do not open or save this file.......and, This type of file could harm your computer if it contains milicious code." So I was afraid to download it.

[WVNan]

In that case, it would be no different from my Norton. Norton captures the virus but the stuff still keeps coming through. I want to stop the spam from getting to my computer in the first place. I do not have a penis, therefore I have no need to enlarge it.

[FreedomPoster]

In addition to your 1, 2 & 3

4) Run spyware zapping software weekly. The best approach is to run both Spybot Search & Destroy and Lavasoft Ad-Aware weekly. This zaps tracking cookies, as well as spyware like Gator.

Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/

5) If you have a high speed connection, buy a hardware router/NAT appliance (Linksys, Netgear, D-Link). This shields your PC from a lot of direct attacks coming across the Internet. These devices are now in the $20-$40 range.

[lilylangtree]

Thank you! Yesterday I rec'd 17, today I've rec'd over 65 spam mail trying to send me the Sobig Worm. What's scary is that if I'm sending email I've got to do it ASAP because while I have my email program running here comes in one of those Sobig Worm email. It's been a fretful day. Mailwasher program has been working overtime bouncing and deleting.

[MizSterious]

What it does: it checks your isp's server for mail. You mark the mail you don't want, then you "process" your email: it deletes the stuff you don't want and bounces it back to the senders. None of that ever gets to your computer. You view it ONLY, no graphics, etc. It never even touches your computer. That's what I like about it.

Then you collect the mail you do want. This email DOES come to your computer.

The MailWasher download site: The message you are getting is standard for downloads. If you are running Norton's, Nortons should scan it for viruses. If not, scan it once it's downloaded. I think the MailWasher site is safe, but I don't mind a few extra steps if it means I won't get some crummy virus.

[Gracey]

THANK YOU sooo much for sharing this great info and for having it consolidated. You're a dear, considerate man. We Owe you dearly. He He. Thanks XOXOXO

However, my major problem is that I just upgraded to Windows XP from 98 2nd edition. My Outlook Express mail did not upgrade.

[WVNan]

Okay. Thank you very much. I think I will give it a try. If I mess up I'll just call... SON!

[Paulus Invictus]

My concern is that the Chicoms are carrying out their threat to mess up US computers and that they have the expertise to do it. Could this be true?

[martin_fierro]

Hey, I recognize some of those links. <|:)~

[backhoe]

Hey, I recognize some of those links...

Yeah, I know-- I copied your links without picking up your name at the bottom-- but I did mention this to Just_Piper on another post. I do try to give credit where it is due!

I have used most of those at one time or another, and can vouch for them.

[backhoe]

However, my major problem is that I just upgraded to Windows XP from 98 2nd edition. My Outlook Express mail did not upgrade.

Humm... not sure if it will help, but have you tried logging on to Microsoft's upgrade webpage? They do a scan of your PC and will install updates. I use Win98, and went there yesterday- to my surprise, it upgraded IE from 5.5 to 6, and OE from 5 to 6.

[Gracey]

Sorry... To be more accurate my old downloaded mail did not show up.... Apologies for my poor explanation.

Do you know if it's completely lost? The address book is still intact but the mail went "adios."

[backhoe]

Try running a "find files" search for *.mbx, which is the generic group of fileneames for the OE databases of various email groups... like inbox.mbx, where your incoming mail is stored. This will at least reveal if your old email is still on the drive somewhere. To tell the truth, I'm not sure what you do with that if you find them- I'm more of a DOS than Windows guy!

[Cindy]

An Interesting Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding an ABCnews.go.com article by Alexandra Salomon: "Terrorists' Twin Tower Images, Secret Porn Messages" (May 8, 2003)

[backhoe]

Link's appreciated- I recall that story.

[Cindy]

You're welcome, backhoe.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/970240/posts
Yet another virus alert
University of Pennsylvania | 08-25-03 | Jeff Douthett